Manduca sexta moricin promoter elements can increase promoter activities of Drosophila melanogaster antimicrobial peptide genes

► AMP gene promoters from M. sexta and D. melanogaster show species-specific regulation. ► A κB-GATA element from M. sexta moricin gene promoter can increase activities of D. melanogaster AMP gene promoters. ► κB and GATA factors alone cannot activate M. sexta moricin gene promoter. ► MPAE (MsMoricin Promoter Activating Element) may be related to species-related activities. ► The κB-GATA element and the endogenous κB site2 act cooperatively to increase drosomycin promoter activity.