title: Characterization of the molecular features and expression patterns of two serine proteases in Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae.
abstract: To investigate the molecular scavenging capabilities of the larvae of Hermetia illucens, two serine proteases (SPs) were cloned and characterized. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic tree analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of Hi-SP1 and Hi-SP2 were suggested that Hi-SP1 may be a chymotrypsin- and Hi-SP2 may be a trypsin-like protease. Hi-SP1 and Hi-SP2 3-D homology models revealed that a catalytic triad, three disulfide bonds, and a substrate-binding pocket were highly conserved, as would be expected of a SP. E. coli expressed Hi-SP1 and Hi-SP2 showed chymotrypsin or trypsin activities, respectively. Hi-SP2 mRNAs were consistently expressed during larval development. In contrast, the expression of Hi-SP1 mRNA fluctuated between feeding and molting stages and disappeared at the pupal stages. These expression pattern differences suggest that Hi-SP1 may be a larval specific chymotrypsin-like protease involved with food digestion, while Hi-SP2 may be a trypsin-like protease with diverse functions at different stages.
authors.affiliation: National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Wontae
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sungwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Ayoung
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwanho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sangbeom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Youngcheol
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sangmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Younghan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Youngho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004175:Diptera / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011487:Protein Conformation; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D057057:Serine Proteases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014357:Trypsin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D057057:Serine Proteases; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D014357:Trypsin