title: Isolation and characterization of a novel venom protein from an endoparasitoid, Cotesia rubecula (Hym: Braconidae).
abstract: Insects are important vectors of diseases with remarkable immune defense capabilities. Hymenopteran endoparasitoids are adapted to overcome the host defense system and, therefore, are useful sources of immune-suppressing proteins. Not much is known about venom proteins in endoparasitoids, especially those that have a functional relationship with polydnaviruses (PDVs). Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a small venom protein (Vn4.6) from an endoparasitoid, Cotesia rubecula, which interferes with the activation of the host hemolymph prophenoloxidase. The coding region for Vn4.6 is located upstream in the opposite direction of a gene coding for a C. rubecula PDV-protein (Crp32).
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia. sassan.asgari@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Sassan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asgari
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zareie
authors.forename: Guangmei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000201:enzymology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000235:genetics; D013112:Spiders; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014863:Wasps / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C111651:Crp32 protein, Cotesia rubecula; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D019476:Insect Proteins; D013111:Spider Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C038451:pro-phenoloxidase; D004156:Catechol Oxidase