title: Organization, evolution and expression of a multigene family encoding putative members of the odourant binding protein family in the medfly Ceratitis capitata.
abstract: A multigene family encoding male specific serum polypeptides (MSSPs) that show significant structural similarity to the family of insect odourant binding proteins, has been characterized in the medfly Ceratitis capitata. This family comprises seven members classified in three subgroups, MSSP-alpha, MSSP-beta and MSSP-gamma. The genes of subgroups alpha and beta are clustered in tandem in a 35-kb genomic region, and present an exceptionally high degree of similarity not only in their coding but also in the surrounding regions, while the genes of the gamma subgroup are drastically divergent. Although MSSPs are predominantly expressed in the male fat body, detailed expression studies suggest that individual members of this family are expressed in a distinct sex- and tissue-specific manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Christophides
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mintzas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komitopoulou
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004175:Diptera / Q000235:genetics*; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012737:Sex Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; C115404:male specific serum polypeptides, Ceratitis capitata; C045648:odorant-binding protein