title: Molecular cloning and characterization of a transferrin cDNA from the white-spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis.
abstract: A full-length cDNA clone with high homology to insect transferrin genes was cloned by screening a Protaetia brevitarsis cDNA library. This gene (PbTf) had a total length of 2338 bp with an open reading frame (ORF) of 2163 bp, and encoded a predicted peptide of 721 amino acid residues. Like known cockroach, termite, and beetle transferrins, PbTf appears to have residues comprising iron-binding sites in both N- and C-terminal lobes. The deduced amino acid sequence of the PbTf cDNA was closest in structure to the beetle Apriona germari transferrin (68% protein sequence identity). Northern blot analysis revealed that PbTf exhibited fat body-specific expression and was upregulated by wounding, bacterial or fungal infection and iron overload, suggesting a functional role for PbTf in defense and stress responses.
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Yeon
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwang Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Moo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Iksoo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hung Dae
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Byung Rae
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D014168:Transferrin