Michelob_x is the missing inhibitor of apoptosis protein antagonist in mosquito genomes
Autor(es): Zhou, L; Jiang, GH; Chan, G; Santos, CP; Severson, DW; Xiao, L
Resumo: Apoptosis is implicated in the life cycle of the malaria parasite in mosquitoes. The genome project for the primary malaria vector Anopheles gambiae showed a significant expansion of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) and caspase gene families in comparison with Drosophila. However, because of extensive Sequence divergence, no orthologue was identified for the reaper/grim-like IAP antagonist genes that have a pivotal role in cell death regulation in Drosophila. Using a customized searching strategy, we identified michelob_x(mx), a gene not predicted by the genome project, as the missing IAP antagonist in the An. gambiae and other mosquito genomes. Mx has a highly conserved amino-terminal IAP-binding motif. Expression of Mx induces rapid cell death in insect cell lines and is a potent tissue ablator in vivo. Its proapoptotic activity is totally dependent on the IAP-binding motif. Like reaper in Drosophila, mx is transcriptionally induced by ultraviolet irradiation to mediate cell death.
Palavras-Chave: Reaper; Grim; Apoptosis; Anopheles Gambiae; Aedes Aegypti
Imprenta: Embo Reports, v. 6, n. 8, p. 769-774, 2005
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1038/sj.embor.7400473
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Cell ; Aedes aegypti - Genome ; Aedes aegypti - Proteins
Data de publicação: 2005
