Overexpression of a pattern-recognition receptor, peptidoglycan-recognition protein-LE, activates imd/relish-mediated antibacterial defense and the prophenoloxidase cascade in Drosophila larvae.

In Drosophila, microbial infection activates an antimicrobial defense system involving the activation of proteolytic cascades in the hemolymph and intracellular signaling pathways, the immune deficiency (imd) and Toll pathways, in immune-responsive tissues. The mechanisms for microbial recognition are largely unknown. We report that, in larvae, the imd-mediated antibacterial defense is activated by peptidoglycan-recognition protein (PGRP)-LE, a PGRP-family member in Drosophila. Consistent with this, PGRP-LE binds to the diaminopimelic acid-type peptidoglycan, a cell-wall component of the bacteria capable of activating the imd pathway, but not to the lysine-type peptidoglycan. Moreover, PGRP-LE activates the prophenoloxidase cascade, a proteolytic cascade in the hemolymph. Therefore, PGRP-LE acts as a pattern-recognition receptor to the diaminopimelic acid-type peptidoglycan and activates both the proteolytic cascade and intracellular signaling in Drosophila immunity.