title: The bilin-binding protein of Pieris brassicae. cDNA sequence and regulation of expression reveal distinct features of this insect pigment protein.
abstract: The bilin-binding protein (BBP) is a blue pigment protein which is abundant in the butterfly Pieris brassicae. In an attempt to clarify the physiological role of this member of the lipocalin family of proteins, its complete cDNA was cloned and expression of the BBP gene in P. brassicae was investigated. It was found that synthesis of the BBP mRNA is highly regulated during the insect's ontogenesis. In larvae after the third ecdysis as well as in pupae and adults, large amounts of the mRNA are present. Each of these stages itself displays a distinct time course of mRNA synthesis. In addition, BBP is expressed tissue specifically, with the fat body being the major source of this secretory protein in the larvae. Hence, the expression pattern of BBP in this organism is markedly different from the closely related pigment protein insecticyanin in Manduca sexta. Finally, the bacterial expression of BBP in a functional state was established as a basis for the future analysis of its ligand-binding functions by protein engineering.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skerra
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002080:Butterflies / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011679:Pupa / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C053849:bilin-binding protein, insect