Identification of two isoforms of aminopeptidase N in Aedes aegypti larval midgut.
The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces toxin inclusions that are deleterious to target insect larvae. These toxins are believed to interact with a specific receptor protein(s) that is present on the gut epithelial cells of the larvae. In various insect species (in particular those belonging to the lepidopteran class), aminopeptidase N (APN) is one of the two receptor proteins that are considered to be involved in toxin-receptor interactions. However, in mosquitoes, the nature and identity of the receptor protein is unknown. Here, using RT-PCR, we identified two isoforms of the APN transcripts in the Aedes aegypti mosquito larval midgut. These results are congruent with a previous report of multiple isoforms of the APN gene expression in lepidopteran larvae. Which of the two isoforms (or other yet unidentified receptor proteins) is involved in the killing of mosquito larvae remains to be elucidated.
Pootanakit
Kusol
K
Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand. mbkpn@mahidol.ac.th
Angsuthanasombat
Chanan
C
Panyim
Sakol
S
D000330:Aedes / Q000201:enzymology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D007527:Isoenzymes; D018826:CD13 Antigens