title: Identification and characterization of globin genes from two lepidopteran insects, Bombyx mori and Samia cynthia ricini.
abstract: We describe the characterization of hemoglobin-like genes from two lepidopteran insects, Bombyx mori (Bmglobin) and Samia cynthia ricini (Scglobin). Bmglobin and Scglobin are predicted to be intracellular proteins and contain amino acids required for heme and oxygen binding. Expression profiles of two lepidopteran globins, especially Bmglobin, were different from that of other insect globins. Although other insect globins are mainly associated with the tracheal system, Bmglobin was expressed almost exclusively in the Malpighian tubules, and the strongest signal for Scglobin was detected in the fat body. Furthermore, biochemical fractionation analysis revealed that both Bmglobin and Scglobin were localized in the cytoplasm. These results suggest that each lepidopteran globin has a distinct role in the tissues in which it is expressed and that the functions of insect globins are more divergent than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Katsuma
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Nobumitsu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Kazuei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mita
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D021381:Protein Transport; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005914:Globins