Autor(es): Krebs, K. C.; Lan, Q.

Resumo: Trafficking of cholesterol in insects is a very important process due to the fact that insects depend on dietary cholesterol to fulfil their physiological needs. We identified a putative mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) cDNA from fourth instar subtracted cDNA library. The AeSCP-2 protein has high degree homology in the sterol transfer domain to both rat and human SCP-2. Transcripts of AeSCP-2 in fourth instars were detected strongly in the midgut, and weakly in the head and hindgut. In the early pupae, AeSCP-2 transcription was observed in the thorax, head and body wall of abdomen, but not in the gut. The interaction of mosquito sterol carrier protein-2 (AeSCP-2) with cholesterol was examined. The K sub(d) of purified recombinant AeSCP-2 to cholesterol was 5.6 plus or minus 0.6 x 10 super(-9) m using radiolabelled cholesterol-binding assay. The results suggest that AeSCP-2 has high affinity to cholesterol and may function as a carrier protein in mosquitoes.

Palavras-Chave: Biological vectors; Gene expression; Instars; Human diseases; Transcription; Proteins; Aquatic insects; Public health; Diets; Hindgut; cDNA; Yellow fever; Cholesterol; Midgut; Aedes aegypti; Culicidae

Imprenta: Insect Molecular Biology, v. 12, n. 1, p. 51-60, 2003.

Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Proteins ; Aedes aegypti - Public health

Data de publicação: 2003