The effects of the Anopheles gambiae CLIPC3 and CLIPC1 genes on melanization of an abiotic target

Abstract

Melanization is a mechanism of innate immunity in arthropods wherein a thick capsule of melanin is formed around foreign objects. Little is known about this pathway biochemically though serine proteases are known to playa critical role. In this paper we began to address the roles of CLIPC3 and CLIPC1. Both are potential components of the melanization pathway in A. gambiae. Knockouts are achived through injections of dsRNA. After 4 days, sephadex beads were injected and after 24 hours, mosquitoes were dissected and beads were scored for degree of melanization. Knockout of CLIPC1 showed little variation in the melanization levels observed compared with the control GFP injections. CLIPC3 knockouts showed an increase in lack of melanization and a decrease in complete melanized of bead comparison with the control. We conclude CLIPC3 is involved in the melanization pathway of A. gambiae and it is unlikely CLIPC1. plays a critical role