A new insect member of the STAT family of transcription factors (HcSTAT) has been cloned from the lepidopteran, Hyphantria cunea. The domain involved in DNA interaction and the SH2 domain are well conserved. The gene is transcribed at a low level during all stages of development, and transcribed in hemocyte, fat body, midgut, epidermis, and Malpighian tubule. Especially, hemocyte and Malpighian tubule showed transcriptional activation of HcSTAT upon Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge. Gram-negative and -positive bacteria challenge specifically results in nuclear translocation of HcSTAT protein and induction of DNA-binding activity that recognizes a STAT target site in H. cunea hemocyte. In vivo treatment with sodium orthovanadatetranslocates HcSTAT to the nucleus in hemocyte cells.

• Yong Min Kwon(Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 program), Gyeongsang National University)
• Hong Ja Kim(Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 program), Gyeongsang National University)
• Yong Il Kim(Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 program), Gyeongsang National University)
• In Hee Lee(Department of Life Science, Hoseo University)
• Byung Rae Jin(College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University)
• Yeon Soo Han(Department of Agricultural Biology, Chonnam National University)
• Hyang Mi Cheon(Southern Forest Research Center, Korea Forest Research Institute)
• Young Jin Kang(Department of Pharmacology, Yeungnam University)
• Sook Jae Seo(Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 program), Gyeongsang National University)