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Automated Separation of C. elegans Variably Colonized by a Bacterial Pathogen
Published on: March 21, 2014
Differential inducibility of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) by bacterial challenges in the
Beom Jun Park1, Yoo Bin Yoon1, Soon Cheol Park1
1Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are highly conserved pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Earthworms possess genes encoding TLRs that specifically respond to Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, several PGRPs have been recently identified, which are predicted to exhibit amidase activity but lack receptor function. In lophotrochozoans, a membrane-bound PRR responsible for detecting Gram-negative bacteria remains unidentified. This study reveals several novel transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (Ean-PGRPLs) in earthworms, whose mRNA expression increases in response to Gram-negative but not Gram-positive bacteria. This indicates that Ean-PGRPLs may serve as a PRR associated with intracellular signaling for Gram-negative bacteria.
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