title: Bombyx mori transferrin: genomic structure, expression and antimicrobial activity of recombinant protein.
abstract: Transferrin (Tf) is a multifunctional, iron binding protein found in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Although transferrin has been suggested to play a role in innate immunity, its immunological function during infection has not been characterized. In this study, we identified and characterized Bombyx mori transferrin (BmTf). The promoter region of BmTf has numerous putative NF-kappaB binding sites, suggesting its possible function in innate immunity. Analysis of BmTf gene expression shows that it is highly inducible in response to a wide variety of pathogens including bacteria, fungus, and viruses. Recombinant BmTf protein produced in a baculovirus system exhibits iron binding capacity and antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Taken together, our results indicate that BmTf is an inducible immune effector molecule that may play an important role in pathogen clearance of insect innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Suwon 441-100, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jae-Keum
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: O-Yu
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jae-Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Iksoo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Won-Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeak L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Kwan-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Tae-Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Goo
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D018411:Spodoptera; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014168:Transferrin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron