Pelle, a serine/threonine kinase, is an intracellular component of the Toll pathway and is involved in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production due to pathogenic infection. It is known that the Pelle phosphorylates Cactus and activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in Drosophila, but it is not studied in Tenebrio molitor. In this study we investigated the tissue-specific expression patterns of the Pelle following pathogenic infection at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours. Additionally, larval mortality and AMP expression against microbial injection were investigated in dsPelle-treated T. molitor larvae. Our results may help to understand the antimicrobial function of TmPelle.

• Sung Min Ku(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University)
• Ho Am Jang(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University)
• Seo Jin Lee(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University)
• Jea Hui Kim(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University)
• Dong Woo Kang(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University)
• So Yeon Choi(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University)
• Yong Seok Lee(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization Convergence Research Institute (KNAR), Soonchunhyang University)
• Yeon Soo Han(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University)
• Yong Hun Jo(Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University)