AgDscam, a hypervariable immunoglobulin domain-containing receptor of the Anopheles gambiae innate immune system.

ABSTRACT: Activation of the insect innate immune system is dependent on a limited number of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) capable of interacting with pathogen-associated molecular pattern. Here we report a novel role of an alternatively spliced hypervariable immunoglobulin domain-encoding gene, Dscam, in generating a broad range of PRRs implicated in immune defense in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. The mosquito Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule gene, AgDscam, has a complex genome organization with 101 exons that can produce over 31,000 potential alternative splice forms with different combinations of adhesive domains and interaction specificities. AgDscam responds to infection by producing pathogen challenge-specific splice form repertoires. Transient silencing of AgDscam compromise

SUBMITTER: Dong Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1479700 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature