title: Cloning and characterization of a riboflavin-binding hexamerin from the larval fat body of a lepidopteran stored grain pest, Corcyra cephalonica.
abstract: In the present study, a riboflavin-binding hexamerin (RbHex) was cloned and characterized from the larval fat body of Corcyra cephalonica. The complete cDNA (2121bp) encodes a 706-amino acid protein with a molecular mass ~82kDa. Expression of RbHex 82 was predominant in fat body among larval tissues. Further, it is prominently expressed during the last instar larval development. Homology modeling and docking studies predicted riboflavin binding site of the hexamerin. Spectrofluorimetric analysis further confirmed riboflavin release from the hexamerin fraction. Quantitative RT-PCR studies demonstrated hormonal regulation of RbHex 82. 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20HE) had a stimulatory effect on its transcription whereas JH alone did not show any effect. However, JH in the presence of 20HE maintains the RbHex 82 expression which indicates the JH's role as a status quo factor. This study is the first to report the characterization of riboflavin-binding hexamerin in a lepidopteran pest. Further, the possibility of RbHex 82 as a pest control target is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
authors.forename: V Venkat
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Manipur University, Canchipur, Manipur 795003, India.
authors.forename: Thuirei Jacob
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ningshen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Animal Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bhatinda, Punjab 151001, India.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chaitanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Senthilkumaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India. Electronic address: apdgsl@uohyd.ernet.in.
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dutta-Gupta
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005216:Fat Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D007194:India; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008726:Methoprene / Q000494:pharmacology; D062105:Molecular Docking Simulation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C041137:storage proteins, Insecta; D004441:Ecdysterone; D008726:Methoprene; D012256:Riboflavin
keywords: 20-Hydroxyecdysone; Fat body; Hexamerin; Juvenile hormone; Riboflavin; Stored grain pest management