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EMBO reports 6, 11, 1088–1094 (2005)
doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400542
AOP Published online: 30 September 2005
Helicase89B is a Mot1p/BTAF1 homologue that mediates an antimicrobial response in Drosophila
Yoshimasa Yagi* & Y Tony Ip
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Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 373 Plantation Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
To whom correspondence should be addressed
Y Tony Ip Tel: +1 508 856 5136; Fax: +1 508 856 4289; E-mail: tony.ip@umassmed.edu
* Present address: Laboratory of Animal Development, Group of Developmental Biology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
Received 29 October 2004; Accepted 17 August 2005; Published online 30 September 2005.
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Abstract
We have identified a novel component, Helicase89B, that is required for the inducible antimicrobial response in Drosophila larvae by means of a P-element insertional genetic screen. Helicase89B belongs to the Mot1p/BTAF1 subfamily of SNF2-like ATPases. This subfamily can interact with TATA-binding proteins, but whether the interaction leads to gene activation or repression is being debated. We found that Helicase89B is required for the inducible expression of antimicrobial peptide genes but not for the inducible expression of heat-shock genes. The antimicrobial peptide genes are activated by the Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) signalling pathways. Genetic experiments show that Helicase89B acts downstream of DIF and Relish, the two nuclear factor- B (NF-B)-related transcription factors that mediate Toll- and IMD-stimulated antimicrobial response. Thus, Helicase89B positively regulates gene expression during innate immune response and may act as a link between NF-B-related transcription factors and the basal transcription machinery.
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