Abstract
A genetic screen for Caenorhabditis elegans mutants with enhanced susceptibility to killing by Pseudomonas aeruginosa led to the identification of two genes required for pathogen resistance: sek-1, which encodes a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase, and nsy-1, which encodes a MAP kinase kinase kinase. RNA interference assays and biochemical analysis established that a p38 ortholog, pmk-1, functions as the downstream MAP kinase required for pathogen defense. These data suggest that this MAP kinase signaling cassette represents an ancient feature of innate immune responses in evolutionarily diverse species.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / enzymology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans / immunology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / microbiology
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
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Genes, Helminth
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Immunity, Innate*
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MAP Kinase Signaling System*
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / genetics
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
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Mutation
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Phenotype
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa / immunology*
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
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Pmk-1 protein, C elegans
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
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pmk-2 protein, C elegans
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases