title: Pr-lynx1, a modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the insect.
abstract: Insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are targets for insecticides. Despite the importance of the nAChR as a major target for insecticide action, modulators of nAChRs in insects remain unidentified. Here we describe the cloning and identification of a nAChR modulator gene in an insect. This gene was isolated by searching the firefly Pyrocoelia rufa cDNA library, and the gene itself encodes a protein 120 amino acids in length, named Pr-lynx1. Pr-lynx1 shares all the features, including a cysteine-rich consensus motif and common gene structure, of the Ly-6/neurotoxin superfamily. The recombinant Pr-lynx1, which is expressed as a 12-kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells, is normally present at the cell surface as a GPI-anchored protein. Northern and Western blot analyses revealed that Pr-lynx1 is expressed in various tissues, such as the ganglion, brain, mandibular muscle, proventriculus, leg muscle, and epidermis. This expression pattern is similar to the distribution of nAChRs as assayed by alpha3 nAChR immunoreactivity. Co-expression of Pr-lynx1 in Xenopus oocytes expressing alpha3beta4 nAChRs results in an increase in acetylcholine-evoked macroscopic currents, indicating a functional role of Pr-lynx1 as a protein modulator for nAChRs. This study on Pr-lynx1 is the first report of a modulator of nAChRs in an insect species.
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan 604-714, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Moo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Byung Hwan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bo Yeon
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jong Gill
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hung Dae
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Seung Yeol
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: Byung Rae
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D048888:Fireflies / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012908:Snails; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins