Genes encoding cuticular proteins are components of the Nimrod gene cluster in Drosophila

Abstract

The Nimrod gene cluster, located on the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster, is the largest synthenic unit of the Drosophila genome. Nimrod genes show blood cell specific expression and code for phagocytosis receptors that play a major role in fruit fly innate immune functions. We previously identified three homologous genes (vajk-1, vajk-2 and vajk-3) located within the Nimrod cluster, which are unrelated to the Nimrod genes, but are homologous to a fourth gene (vajk-4) located outside the cluster. Here we show that, unlike the Nimrod candidates, the Vajk proteins are expressed in cuticular structures of the late embryo and the late pupa, indicating that they contribute to cuticular barrier functions.

Regulators of Long-Term Memory Revealed by Mushroom Body-Specific Gene Expression Profiling in Drosophila melanogaster

“…The vajk-1 gene is located within the Nimrod gene cluster on chromosome 2, the largest syntenic unit in the genome ( Somogyi et al 2010 ; Cinege et al 2017 ). Genes of the Nimrod cluster have been suggested to contribute to innate immune response ( Kurucz et al 2007 ).…”

“…However, vajk genes are not related to the Nimrod genes, which are involved in the innate immune defense. The vajk gene members are conserved in insects, but their function is unknown ( Somogyi et al 2010 ; Cinege et al 2017 ). Our results suggest that vajk-1 could be involved in the memory formation process.…”

Two Nimrod receptors, NimC1 and Eater, synergistically contribute to bacterial phagocytosis inDrosophila melanogaster

“…NimC1 was initially identified as an antigen for the plasmatocyte specific monoclonal antibody P1. It belongs to the Nimrod gene family that has been implicated in the cellular innate immune response in Drosophila [46], [47]. A previous study pointed to the importance of NimC1 in the phagocytosis of bacteria, since RNAi-mediated silencing of this gene resulted in decreased S.…”

Mushroom body-specific profiling of gene expression identifies regulators of long-term memory inDrosophila

“…The vajk-1 gene is located within the Nimrod gene cluster on chromosome 2, the largest syntenic unit in the genome (Somogyi et al 2010; Cinege et al 2017). Genes of the Nimrod cluster have been suggested to be contributing to innate immune response (Kurucz et al 2007).…”