Drosophila imaginal disc growth factor 2 (IDGF2) is a member of chitinase-like protein family (CLPs) able to induce the proliferation of imaginal disc cells in vitro. In this study we characterized physiological concentrations and expression of IDGF2 in vivo as well as its impact on the viability and transcriptional profile of Drosophila cells in vitro. We show that IDGF2 is independent of insulin and protects cells from death caused by serum deprivation, toxicity of xenobiotics or high concentrations of extracellular adenosine (Ado) and deoxyadenosine (dAdo). Transcriptional profiling suggested that such cytoprotection is connected with the induction of genes involved in energy metabolism, detoxification and innate immunity. We also show that IDGF2 is an abundant haemolymph component, which is further induced by injury in larval stages. The highest IDGF2 accumulation was found at garland and pericardial nephrocytes supporting its role in organismal defence and detoxification. Our findings provide evidence that IDGF2 is an important trophic factor promoting cellular and organismal survival.

Developmental and Cell Biology School of Biological Sciences University of California Irvine USA

Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Entomology Biology Centre CAS Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Molecular Genetics CAS Videnska 1083 142 20 Prague 4 Czech Republic

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Transcriptome of pleuropodia from locust embryos supports that these organs produce enzymes enabling the larva to hatch

Expansion of Imaginal Disc Growth Factor Gene Family in Diptera Reflects the Evolution of Novel Functions