Molecular characterization of a defensin gene from the mosquito, Aedes aegypti
Autor(es): Cho, Wen-Long; Fu, Tsai-Feng; Chiou, Jia-Yia; Chen, Cheng-Chen
Resumo: Insect immune proteins, defensins, are inducible anti-Gram-positive bacterial peptides. We report here the identification of two defensin genes from the mosquito, Aedes aegypti, which encode a large 541 bp transcript (AaDef A sub(la)) and a small 473 bp transcript (AaDef A sub(sm)). The cDNA corresponding to AaDef A sub(la) was cloned, sequenced, and compared with the previously reported AaDef A sub(sm) cDNA. The AaDef A sub(la) gene was isolated through genomic library screening and characterized. Its putative regulatory region contains a 64 bp intron, a TATA box and a putative arthropod initiator. Two 150 bp long direct and several palindromic repeats are present in this sequence. Similar to other insect immune peptide genes, the AaDef A sub(la) gene contains numerous putative regulatory motifs with impressive similarity to elements of vertebrate acute phase response protein genes.
Palavras-Chave: Aedes aegypti; Defensin; Antibacterial peptides; Insect immunity
Imprenta: Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, v. 27, n. 5, p. 351-358, 1997.
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Immune response ; Aedes aegypti - Molecular Structure ; Aedes aegypti - Proteins ; Aedes aegypti - Molecular screening ; Aedes aegypti - Immunology
Data de publicação: 1997
