title: Isolation and characterization of bacteria-induced protein P4 from hemolymph of Manduca sexta.
abstract: Insects synthesize several types of hemolymph proteins in response to bacterial infection. The objective of this study was to characterize a 48,000 dalton hemolymph protein induced in larvae of Manduca sexta after injection of bacteria. The protein, isolated by cation exchange and gel filtration chromatography from hemolymph of larvae injected with Micrococcus lysodeikticus, was found to be a glycoprotein with pI = 8.4. The molecular weight, isoelectric point, amino acid composition, and NH2 terminal sequence of the protein are similar to bacteria-induced protein P4 from Hyalophora cecropia, and the M. sexta protein is also designated P4. The hemolymph concentration of M. sexta P4 (35 +/- 7 micrograms/ml in day 3 fifth instar larvae) increases 30- to 45-fold by 48 h after injection of bacteria, but it does not increase in response to injection of distilled water. Lower levels of induction occur after injection of peptidoglycan fragments, zymosan, and lipopolysaccharide. The properties of M. sexta P4 are very similar to those of a previously characterized M. sexta hemolymph protein known as postlarval protein, and antibodies against P4 bind to post-larval protein.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
authors: N E
authors: NE
authors: Ladendorff
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Kanost
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism*; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019476:Insect Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007814:Larva; D008837:Micrococcus / Q000502:physiology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D019476:Insect Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C073489:protein P4, Manduca