ELICITORS TRIGGERING THE SIMULTANEOUS GENE-EXPRESSION OF ANTIBACTERIAL PROTEINS OF THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX-MORI

Various elicitors were examined by Northern blot analysis to investiga te the simultaneous induction of gene expression of antibacterial prot eins such as cecropin B, attacin and lebocin from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipid A, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO) and peptidoglycan (PG) triggered efficiently and simultaneously the g ene expression of antibacterial proteins. Effects of inhibitors for si gnal transduction on the gene expression of Bombyx mori (Bm) cecropin B triggered by lipid A were observed using isolated adherent hemocytes consisting of granular cells and plasma cells. H-7, H-89 bur not W-7 inhibited gene expression, suggesting that protein kinase C and A but not myosine light chain kinase may participate in signal transduction. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.