Abstract
Preliminary analysis of the Drosophila genome sequence reveals important similarities and differences between the functioning of mammalian and invertebrate immune systems.
Highlights
The innate immune system uses a set of germline-encoded receptors, sometimes called pattern recognition receptors, that evolved to recognize conserved pathogen-associated molecules, such as bacterial lipopolysacharide (LPS), peptidoglycan, and mannan [4]
In the case of pattern recognition, at least three types of protein domain are most commonly found to mediate the recognition of microbial structures: the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of the C-type lectin family, the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, and the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain
A search of the Drosophila genomic sequence with the mannan-binding lectin (MBL) CRD sequence readily identifies a large number of proteins with the CRD, including two that have Glu-Pro-Asn residues in the positions corresponding to residues 185-187 in the mammalian MBL
Summary
Terminal mannose residue, which is characteristically exposed on the surface of microbial carbohydrates. This, in turn, will certainly help to identify novel receptors involved in mammalian innate immunity This approach has already paid off in the recent past with the identification of the human homologs of the Drosophila Toll receptor [8,9]. The induction of antimicrobial peptides is by far the best understood defense mechanism in Drosophila [6] The genes encoding these peptides are induced by the NF-κB signaling pathway which, in turn, is activated by Toll receptors in response to infection [6]. One notable difference between Drosophila and human Toll signaling pathways was thought to be at the level of the adaptor proteins, because Tube and MyD88 are not homologs of each other and yet perform a similar function - the recruitment of the kinases Pelle and IRAK, respectively.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
