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Two novel ficolin-like proteins act as pattern recognition receptors for invading pathogens in the freshwater

Chenglin Wu1, Kenneth Söderhäll, Irene Söderhäll

  • 1Department of Comparative Physiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Proteomics
|May 21, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered novel ficolin-like proteins (FLPs) in crayfish that bind to bacteria and aid in immune defense against Gram-negative pathogens. These FLPs act as pattern recognition receptors, crucial for the crayfish innate immune system.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Invertebrate Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Crustaceans possess innate immune systems to combat pathogens.
  • Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are recognized by host immune molecules.
  • Ficolins and mannose-binding lectins (MBLs) are key pattern recognition receptors in vertebrates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel bacteria-binding proteins in crayfish plasma.
  • To characterize the structure and function of newly identified ficolin-like proteins (FLPs).
  • To investigate the role of FLPs in the crayfish immune response.

Main Methods:

  • Affinity chromatography using Staphylococcus aureus to isolate proteins.
  • Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (MS) for protein identification.
  • Phylogenetic analysis, tissue distribution studies, and functional assays (agglutination, bacteria adsorption, cell viability).

Main Results:

  • Two novel bacteria-binding ficolin-like proteins (FLPs) were identified in Pacifastacus leniusculus plasma.
  • FLPs possess a fibrinogen-related domain (FReD) and exhibit structural similarities to vertebrate ficolins and MBLs.
  • Recombinant FLPs agglutinated Gram-negative bacteria, bound to both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and enhanced crayfish immune cell survival against Gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • The identified FLPs function as pattern recognition receptors in the crayfish innate immune system.
  • FLPs play a role in recognizing and potentially clearing Gram-negative bacterial infections.
  • These findings contribute to understanding invertebrate immunity and the evolution of immune recognition molecules.

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