Short Communication

The c-src Homologue Src64B Is Sufficient to Activate the Drosophila Cellular Immune Response
Michael J. Williams

Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

J Innate Immun 2009;1:335-339 (DOI: 10.1159/000191216)

  Key Words

• Innate immunity
• Tyrosine kinase
• Haemocyte
• Src

  Abstract

The Drosophila larval cellular immune response involves cells (haemocytes) that can be recruited from a haematopoietic organ known as the lymph gland, as well as a sessile population of cells found just underneath the larval cuticle arranged in a segmental pattern. Overexpression of the Drosophila c-src homologue Src64B disrupts the sessile-haemocyte banding pattern. Though Src64B overexpression induced the formation of specialized haemocytes known as lamellocytes, its hyperactivation had no effect on circulating plasmatocyte concentration. Also, there is evidence of non-autonomous regulation as Src64B activity was observed in non-overexpressing plasmatocytes. Finally, Src64B overexpression induced F-actin formation and Jun kinase activation in plasmatocytes.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Michael J. Williams
Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen
Tillydrone Avenue
Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ (UK)
Tel. +44 1224 273 697, Fax +44 1224 272 396, E-Mail m.j.williams@abdn.ac.uk

  Article Information

Received: May 9, 2008
Accepted after revision: October 10, 2008
Published online: January 8, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 28