title: Isolation and characterization of the lysozyme-encoding gene from the silkworm Bombyx mori.
abstract: We have isolated and characterized a Bombyx mori (Bm) cDNA encoding a lysozyme (Lyz). A 90-bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR using degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotide primers derived from the known amino acid (aa) sequence of the Bm Lyz. These PCR fragments were used to screen a fat body cDNA library. A clone containing the complete lys cDNA (1294 bp) was isolated and completely sequenced. The deduced 137-aa sequence showed high homology with other chicken-type Lyz. Bm lys gene expression was constitutive in fat body, cuticular epidermal tissue and at a very low level in hemocytes. This gene expression was up-regulated in fat body, hemocytes and cuticular epidermal tissue following the injection of Gram+ bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Ecologie des Systèmes Vectoriels, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Brey
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D012831:Bombyx / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002645:Chickens; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009113:Muramidase / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009113:Muramidase