title: Molecular characterization and functional distribution of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor in Helicoverpa armigera.
abstract: N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) is an essential component for the neurotransmitter or neurohormone release apparatus present in all eukaryotic cells. Here, a new NSF orthologue was characterized from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Har). Northern blot exhibited a high expression in larval brain. Southern analysis indicated that a single copy of the gene is present in a haploid genome. Using antibodies labeled with fluoresceins, we directly proved that NSF is co-localized with two crucial neurohormones, prothoracicotropic hormone and diapause hormone, both of which regulate insect development. These findings suggest that Har-NSF may be involved in regulating insect neurohormone release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
authors.forename: Shuai-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths; D052066:N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D052066:N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins