Characterization of a novel repetitive secretory protein specifically expressed in the modified salivary gland of Hydropsyche sp. (Trichoptera; Hydropsychidae).
Here, we report the cloning and characterization of a common salivary gland-specific gene, Nf-1, from late instar Hydropsyche sp. larvae, and show that the corresponding gene product is translated in the gland and secreted to the gland lumen. The deduced Nf-1 protein is primarily composed of five repetitive sequence units of 63-65 amino acids, and contains a putative signal sequence composed of 19 amino acids. Secreted Nf-1 (approximately 37 kDa) was localized to the gland lumen by Western blotting of gland and lumen fractions. Together, the structure, expression pattern and protein localization of Nf-1 indicate that this protein is likely to be a major component of the silk shields and nets produced by the aquatic insect, Trichoptera.
Eum
Jai-Hoon
JH
Cell Engineering & 3-D Structure Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea.
Yoe
Sung-Moon
SM
Seo
Young-R
YR
Kang
Seok-Woo
SW
Han
Sung-Sik
SS
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*
D019476:Insect Proteins