title: Identification and molecular characterization of a prophenoloxidase involved in Aedes aegypti chorion melanization.
abstract: Chorion melanization is a vital biochemical event for the survival of mosquito eggs in the environment. This study describes the identification and molecular characterization of a prophenoloxidase (proPO) involved in chorion melanization in Aedes aegypti by various biochemical and molecular techniques. Results revealed that transcription of the chorion proPO occurs only in adults, blood feeding greatly stimulated its transcription and haemocytes are responsible for its transcription. Our study provides a solid basis for suggesting an essential role of the isolated proPO in chorion melanization during chorion hardening and also raises fundamental questions regarding its transportation and distribution in the chorion. This study should serve as a useful reference towards functional elucidation of other proPOs in mosquitoes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champain, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002823:Chorion / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D008543:Melanins; C038451:pro-phenoloxidase; D004156:Catechol Oxidase