General overview on the role of Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins in insect immunity

Abstract

The insect immune system is responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of organisms. If the pathogen is able to breach the defensive barriers of the host, cellular and humoral mechanisms are triggered. Initiation of effective defence response is possible thanks to pathogen-associated molecular patterns, among which peptidoglycan recognition proteins play a prominent role. They recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and some of them also have enzymatic activity. The main aim of peptidoglycan recognition proteins is to activate pathways regulating the synthesis of immune peptides. Some of the peptidoglycan recognition proteins are involved in the phagocytosis process, activation of the prophenoloxidase cascade, and regulation of the xenophagy process. The structural diversity and high specificity of peptidoglycan recognition proteins suggests that they can serve many previously unknown functions in insect’s systemic response.