title: Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding a novel cuticle protein in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.
abstract: We have cloned the full length of a novel cDNA named Bombyx mori cuticle protein that contains an AlaAlaProAla/Val-repeat (BMCPA) from a cDNA library of integument in the larval silkworm. Both a typical tandem repeat (A-A-P-A/V) for cuticle protein and a unique tandem repeat with Ser, Ala, Gly, Pro, Val, Tyr and Thr were observed in the predicted amino acid sequence of the cDNA encoding BMCPA. Approximately 80% of the amino acids in BMCPA were composed of Ser, Ala, Gly, Pro, Val and Tyr. Northern-hybridization analysis indicated that BMCPA mRNA is expressed only in the larval epidermis and that the expression pattern of the BMCPA gene in the developmental stage was observed mainly at the larval stage. We propose BMCPA may be a novel component of cuticle, and may play an important role in the integument of the larval silkworm.
authors.affiliation: Biological Laboratory, Center for Natural Science, Kitasato University, Kitasato 1-15-1, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa 228-8555, Japan. sawada@clas.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakato
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togawa
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagoshi
authors.forename: Shin-Ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takikawa
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dohke
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iino
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izumi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C047663:cuticle proteins, insects