cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of LIM protein gene homologue from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

LIM protein cDNA, from Bombyx mori that contains an open reading frame of 622 bp encoding 94 amino acids, was identified and characterized. The B. mori LIM protein homologue is classified into group 2 LIM proteins that contain glycine-rich LIM domain. B. mori LIM protein mRNA is up-regulated at late embryogenesis and detected in the mid-gut of 5th instar larvae.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a transferrin homolog from Bombyx mori

We isolated a cDNA representing a message that was strongly induced by injection with E. coli in Bombyx mori. The 2160 bp cDNA has an open reading frame of 644 amino acids and the deduced product a predicted molecular mass of 71 kDa. The cDNA sequence shared high homology with the transferrins known so far, and its deduced peptide had unique features of transferrins, that is, sites of cystein residues and iron binding. We suggest that the B. mori transferrin plays an important role in the self-defense system.     

Purification, kinetic characterization, and molecular cloning of a novel enzyme, ecdysteroid 22-kinase

This is the first report succeeding in the isolation and characterization of an enzyme and its gene involved in the phosphorylation of a steroid hormone. It has been demonstrated that ecdysteroid 22-phosphates in insect ovaries, which are physiologically inactive, serve as a "reservoir" that supplies active free ecdysteroids during early embryonic development and that their dephosphorylation is catalyzed by a specific enzyme, ecdysteroid-phosphate phosphatase (Yamada, R., and Sonobe, H. (2003), J. Biol. Chem. 278, 26365-26373). In this study, ecdysteroid 22-kinase (EcKinase) was purified from the cytosol of the silkworm Bombyx mori ovaries to about 1,800-fold homogeneity in six steps of column chromatography and biochemically characterized. Results obtained indicated that the reciprocal conversion of free ecdysteroids and ecdysteroid 22-phosphates by two enzymes, EcKinase and ecdysteroid-phosphate phosphatase, plays an important role in ecdysteroid economy of the ovary-egg system of B. mori. On the basis of the partial amino acid sequence obtained from purified EcKinase, the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA encoding EcKinase was determined. The full-length cDNA of EcKinase was composed of 1,850 bp with an open reading frame encoding a protein of 386 amino acid residues. The cloned cDNA was confirmed to encode the functional EcKinase using the transformant harboring the open reading frame of EcKinase. A data base search showed that EcKinase has an amino acid sequence characteristic of phosphotransferases, in that it harbors Brenner's motif and putative ATP binding sites, but there are no functional proteins that share high identity with the amino acid sequence of EcKinase.     

家蚕组织蛋白酶D基因的克隆、序列分析及其表达谱研究

组织蛋白酶D (cathepsin D,CtD)是溶酶体内天冬氨酸内切蛋白酶,参与机体多种生理病理过程,尤其在昆虫的发育变态过程中起着重要作用。利用NCBI上登录的组织蛋白酶D基因核酸序列和家蚕Bombyx mori表达序列标签（expressed sequence tags, EST）数据库,进行电子克隆获得家蚕组织蛋白酶D (BmCtD) 基因的全长cDNA (DQ010007)。该cDNA大小为1 543 bp,其中ORF长1 152 bp,同源性分析表明BmCtD与其他物种的CtD具有较高的相似性。BmCtD的mRNA存在选择性拼接,另外一种mRNA形式命名为BmCtDⅠ。RT-PCR实验表明该基因在本实验所调查的家蚕不同发育时期和组织中都有表达。     

家蚕磷酸吡哆醛激酶cDNA的克隆和酶活表征

吡哆醛激酶 (EC 2.7.1.35) 在 ATP 和 Zn2 的存在下,催化吡哆醛的磷酸化反应生成磷酸吡哆醛 (PLP)。在生物体内许多酶促反应中,PLP 是一种重要的辅酶因子。家蚕和哺乳动物一样,需依赖食物中的维生素 B6前体来合成 PLP。文章描述了利用家蚕基因组数据库序列信息及使用 PCR 方法,克隆出编码家蚕吡哆醛激酶的 cDNA (GenBank 登录号:DQ452397)。克隆到的 cDNA 含有一个 894 bp 的完整可读框,编码一条分子量为 33.1 kDa,含 298 个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。序列比对显示此蛋白质序列与人类吡哆醛激酶蛋白序列具有 48.6%的同一性,包含吡哆醛激酶家族共有的特征保守序列,但其氨基酸残基数比哺乳动物和植物克隆到的吡哆醛激酶残基数均少 10 多个残基。多序列比对结果显示,吡哆醛激酶中几个有关键功能且在哺乳动物和植物中均保守的氨基酸残基在此蛋白中被替换为其他种类氨基酸残基。采用 T7 启动子和 T7 聚合酶表达系统对克隆到的 cDNA 进行了原核表达并对表达粗提产物进行了酶活检测。实验结果显示表达得到的可溶性蛋白产物占其总蛋白量为 10%,细胞粗提物具有活力为 30 nmol/min/mg 的吡哆醛激酶活性,结果证实了克隆到的 cDNA 编码家蚕中的吡哆醛激酶。     

家蚕雌激素相关受体基因的克隆与表达分析

【目的】黑腹果蝇 Drosophila melanogaster 雌激素相关受体（estrogen-related receptor, ERR）通过调节糖酵解过程进而控制果蝇的能量代谢。本研究在克隆家蚕Bombyx mori ERR 基因 (BmERR) 的基础上,对其分子特性和系统演化进行生物信息学分析, 并检测该基因在家蚕生殖腺中的表达,为进一步研究ERR功能奠定基础。【方法】采用PCR技术克隆 BmERR 基因的全长cDNA序列,进行生物信息学分析;利用半定量RT-PCR检测该基因在停食后家蚕幼虫生殖腺中的表达情况。【结果】BmERR 基因全长cDNA序列为1 296 bp,编码431个氨基酸残基;具有ERR蛋白家族典型的结构特征;系统进化分析显示BmERR与其他昆虫ERR氨基酸序列一致性较高;半定量 RT-PCR 检测表明,BmERR 在家蚕上簇到化蛾期间的精巢和卵巢中均有表达,表达具有时期特异性,化蛹第1天达到表达高峰。【结论】本研究首次从鳞翅目昆虫中克隆获得ERR cDNA序列。ERR基因在家蚕生殖腺中表达量无明显性别差异,但具有发育时期特异性。     

家蚕吡哆醛激酶cDNA的克隆、表达和基因结构分析

吡哆醛激酶（pyridoxal kinase,PLK, EC2.7.1.35）是维生素B₆关键代谢酶,其cDNA的克隆在昆虫类还未见报道。利用生物信息学原理和使用PCR方法,克隆出编码家蚕Bombyx mori吡哆醛激酶的cDNA (GenBank登录号DQ452397),体外原核表达成功,并对表达粗提产物进行了酶活检测。克隆到的cDNA含有一894 bp的完整可读框,编码一条分子量为33.1 kD,含298个氨基酸残基的蛋白质。序列比对显示此蛋白质与人类吡哆醛激酶具有52.84%的同一性,包含吡哆醛激酶家族共有的特征保守序列,但比哺乳动物和植物克隆到的吡哆醛激酶均少10多个氨基酸残基,几个有关键功能且在哺乳动物和植物中均保守的氨基酸残基在此蛋白中被替换。依据家蚕基因组数据库信息和PLK的cDNA,家蚕PLK基因包含5个外显子和4个内含子,跨越10 kb DNA序列,所有外显子/内含子交接点都遵从gt/ag剪接规则,基因的5′端启动子调控区发现有TATA-box和CAAT-box保守基序。     

家蚕瘫痪肽结合蛋白基因克隆与分析

ENF肽家族具有保守的N末端结构（Glu—Asn—Phe-）。该家族成员肽大多具有重叠功能活性,在鳞翅目昆虫的免疫反应,生长调控和自体调节等方面都发挥着重要的作用。在昆虫的免疫反应中,血细胞尤其是淋巴液的黏附性是针对外来侵入物的免疫应答过程中的重要因素。家蚕瘫痪肽（paralytic peptide）是ENF肽家族的一种,其具有多种的生物学活性,包括致瘫痪性及在家蚕血细胞免疫反应中的促吞噬细胞扩散活性。ENF肽家族的另一成员,粘虫（Pseudaletia separata）的生长阻抑肽（Growth-blocking peptide）,同家蚕瘫痪肽一样能够在粘虫的血细胞免疫反应中起到调节吞噬细胞的功能。目前,关于昆虫细胞免疫应答的终端调控分子机制的研究还比较少,有文献报道粘虫的生长阻抑肽结合蛋白（GBP—BP）能够起到沉默生长阻抑肽活性的功能,从而可能参与调节细胞免疫应答的终端调控。在本研究中,利用荧光差异显示技术（FDD）分析了家蚕感染BmNPV病毒后基因表达差异情况,在血淋巴中获得了一条差异条带G12782＊通过5＇-RACE技术,首次在家蚕中克隆得到了该基因的全长cDNA序列。通过同源性分析得知,该基因所编码的蛋白质与粘虫的生长阻抑肽结合蛋白具有很大的同源性,并被命名为家蚕瘫痪肽结合蛋白（Bmori paralytic peptide binding protein,PP-BP）。通过RT-PCR研究发现,该蛋白基因在血淋巴中大量表达。同时,利用实时荧光定量PCR（Real-time quantitative PCR）技术分析了该基因在正常饲养家蚕与添食BmNPV病毒的家蚕中的表达差异,结果显示该基因在家蚕添食BmNPV病毒后的表达量大大增强,这就暗示该基因可能与BmNPV病毒刺激后所引起的家蚕血液细胞免疫反应相关。利用生物信息学方法对该基因的结构进行了分析,发现该基因具有两个外显子和一个内含子。这个基因已经登入GenBank数据库,收入号为DQ306881。     

家蚕羧酸酯酶基因BmCarE-9的鉴定与表达分析

羧酸酯酶是一个多功能超家族酶类, 为研究羧酸酯酶基因在家蚕Bombyx mori组织中的功能, 利用5′/3′RACE和RT-PCR方法克隆了一个家蚕羧酸酯酶基因BmCarE-9, 其GenBank登录号为EU523534。该基因含有一个1 680 bp的ORF, 编码559个氨基酸。BmCarE-9预测的分子量64.2 kD, 等电点7.13, 结构分析表明BmCarE-9存在一个类似的催化三联体, 其中两个残基发生改变。利用实时荧光定量PCR方法研究了该基因在家蚕5龄第3天幼虫不同组织以及在5龄期各日龄幼虫丝腺组织中的表达水平。结果表明, 该基因在丝腺中特异性高表达, 且主要在中部和后部丝腺中表达。该基因在5龄期随着丝腺的生长发育表达量逐渐增高, 到末期表达水平逐渐降低。据此推测该基因可能与丝腺的生长发育或丝蛋白的合成相关。     

家蚕细胞凋亡相关基因BmICAD的克隆、序列和功能分析及其在精巢中特异表达的初步研究

DREP-1基因在果蝇的细胞凋亡过程中对DNA的降解有重要调控作用。本研究将该基因序 列在家蚕EST数据库中进行同源性检索,把检索到的EST序列进行电子延伸和克隆重叠群拼接,根据拼接结果设计引物进行PCR扩增并克隆测序验证,首次成功克隆了家蚕第一个ICAD基因BmICAD的cDNA： 该cDNA全长844 bp,ORF长522 bp, 编码含有174个氨基酸的蛋白;预测分子量为19.6kD,等电点为4.23,所编码蛋白与果蝇DREP-1的一致性(identity)为36%;虽然Northern印记杂交未检测到信号,但是RT-PCR结果显示,该基因在精巢中特异表达。     

Cloning and sequence analysis of membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase cDNA of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The nucleotide sequence (1974 bp) of cDNA coding for membrane-bound alkaline phosphatases (m-ALP) of Bombyx mori was isolated. The cDNA clone contained an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide (547 amino acids), which contains a hydrophobic signal peptide of 36 amino acids and the mature protein of 511 amino acids (Mr = 56,163). We found a highly hydrophobic domain presumed to be a membrane anchoring region at the C-terminus. Comparing analysis between Bombyx m-ALP and mammalian and Escherichia coli ALPs suggested an evolutionary relationship of sharing a common ancestral gene.     

Isolation of a cDNA encoding a CHH-family peptide from the silkworm Bombyx mori

The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) peptide family includes four types of neuropeptide in decapod and isopod crustaceans, and the ion-transport peptide in orthopteran insects. To identify a new member of this family in Insecta, a PCR-based search for cDNAs encoding CHH-family peptides was carried out in the silkworm Bombyx mori. A cDNA, named BmCHHL (Bombyx mori CHH-like protein), with an open reading frame of 110 amino acids was isolated. Sequence analyses suggested that the conceptual protein was a precursor of a peptide of 72 amino acids which was amidated at the carboxy terminus. The BmCHHL sequence exhibited significant similarities to members of the CHH family including the orthopteran ion-transport peptide. BmCHHL expression was detected in five or six cells (per hemisphere) in the frontal area of the brain in day 4 fifth instar larvae.     

Beta-1,3-glucan inducible expression of prophenoloxidase-activating proteinase from eri-silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini

A cDNA clone encoding possible prophenoloxidase-activating serine protease (PAP) was isolated by screening the cDNA library from immunized larval fat body of the wild silkmoth, Samia cynthia ricini. The cDNA encodes a 438 amino acid open reading frame with a predicted 20 residue signal peptide. Samia PAP has high sequence similarity to Bombyx mori and Manduca sexta PAPs, which contain two amino terminal clip domains followed by a carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain. The expression of the gene was barely detectable in the fat body of naive larvae, but induced after injection of the larvae with beta-1,3-glucans or bacterial cells.     

棉铃虫HaKettin1基因的全长cDNA克隆、序列分析和表达谱

【目的】为了克隆棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera编码肌肉蛋白Kettin基因的全长cDNA序列以及鉴定该基因在棉铃虫发育周期内的表达模式。【方法】利用兼并引物,通过分段RT-PCR和5′-和3′-RACE的方法克隆全长cDNA序列。利用半定量RT-PCR进行表达谱分析。【结果】编码棉铃虫Kettin蛋白的基因HaKettin1全长cDNA序列为13 805 bp,包含一个13 365 bp的开放阅读框,编码4 454个氨基酸,蛋白分子量约为504.3 kD。组织表达结果显示HaKettin1基因在棉铃虫的整个生育周期都有表达,幼虫期的表达尤为显著。【结论】HaKettin1与家蚕的Kettin蛋白具有90％的同源性,表明鳞翅目昆虫的Kettin蛋白之间具有很高的保守性。表达谱结果显示HaKettin1基因在棉铃虫的整个发育过程中都发挥重要作用。     

Molecular cloning of cDNA for antimycin A-inducible mRNA and its role in cyanide-resistant respiration in Hansenula anomala

A cDNA for mRNA induced by antimycin A in Hansenula anomala was cloned. The mRNA for the cDNA was expressed in the yeast under the conditions expressing the cyanide-resistant respiration activity. The nucleotide sequence revealed a long open reading frame of 342 codons encoding a protein with a molecular weight of 40,282 in the cDNA. An antibody recognizing the protein encoded by the open reading frame was produced. Immunoblotting of H. anomala proteins with this antibody showed that a 36 kDa protein localized in mitochondria was a mature form of the protein encoded by the cDNA. It is suggested that the cloned cDNA encodes a protein involved in the cyanide-resistant respiratory pathway.