cDNA cloning of an adult male putative lipocalin specific to tergal gland aphrodisiac secretion in an insect (Leucophaea maderae)

FEBS Letters

Bouhin, Hervé¹  Delachambre, Jean¹  Brossut, Rémy¹  Korchi, Ahmed¹ 

[1] Développement-Communication chimique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5548 du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Bourgogne, 6 Bd Gabriel, 21 000 Dijon, France

关键词: Cockroach;    Cuticle surface protein;    Lipocalin;    Sex behavior;    Tergal gland;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(99)00414-7

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

Lma-P22 is a cuticular surface protein specific to the tergal gland secretion of Leucophaea maderae adult males which is ingested by females just before copulation. The complete Lma-P22 cDNA sequence was determined by RT-PCR using primers based on Edman degradation fragments. The recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli was recognized by an anti-Lma-P22 antibody. Northern blot analysis indicates that the corresponding mRNA is transcribed only in the epidermis of male tergites. Sequence analysis indicated that Lma-P22 deduced protein belongs to the lipocalin family. Lipocalins are extracellular proteins which carry hydrophobic compounds and some of them can bind sexual pheromone in vertebrates. Lma-P22 is the first example of a lipocalin-like protein involved in insect sexual behavior.

【 授权许可】

Unknown