Transglutaminase-Catalyzed Protein-Protein Crosslinking Maintains the Gut Epithelial Immunity in Drosophila.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24570164
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Functional biochemistry
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: KAWABATA Shun-ichiro 九州大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (90183037)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SHIBATA Toshio 九州大学, 高等研究院, 助教 (00614257)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: トランスグルタミナーゼ / ショウジョウバエ / 腸管 / 腸内細菌 / ペプチドグリカン / タンパク質架橋反応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

RNA interference directed against transglutaminase (TG) caused a short life span in flies reared under conventional non-sterile conditions, but not under germ-free conditions. TG RNAi enhanced the expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides in the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway. Wild-type flies that ingested gut lysates prepared from conventionally reared TG RNAi-treated flies had shorter life spans. In conventionally reared flies, TG RNAi triggered apoptosis in the gut and induced the nuclear translocation of Relish, the NF-κB-like transcription factor of the IMD pathway. Wild-type flies that ingested synthetic amine donors, which inhibit the TG-catalyzed protein-protein crosslinking reaction, showed nuclear translocation of Relish and enhanced expression of genes encoding IMD-controlled antimicrobial peptide genes in the gut. We also found that TG enhances the structural strength of the peritrophic matrix by crosslinking chitin-binding proteins.

Free Research Field

生化学