title: Purification and cDNA cloning of a cecropin from the longicorn beetle, Acalolepta luxuriosa.
abstract: We have cloned and characterized a novel antibacterial peptide from the hemolymph of the coleopteran insect Acalolepta luxuriosa, of the superfamily Cerambyocidea. This peptide is active against Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli, and the amino acid sequence deduced by cloning of the cDNA identifies it as a coleopteran cecropin. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses performed using Clustal X suggest that this cecropin is evolutionarily intermediate between dipteran and lepidopteran cecropins. The results of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicate that the mature form of this antibacterial peptide is 35 amino acid residues in length and has an amidated C-terminal isoleucine. This report is the first description of a cecropin from a coleopteran insect.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Naka-cho 2-24-16, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Morikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atsumi
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabunoki
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Madoka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitami
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000737:chemistry; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins