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Organ‐specific distribution of the calcium sensor CaMKII in Locusta migratoria
Author(s) -
Braak Sandra,
Fährmann Michael
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.10077
Subject(s) - biology , calmodulin , microbiology and biotechnology , acrididae , polyclonal antibodies , myofibril , orthoptera , endocrinology , biochemistry , antibody , zoology , enzyme , immunology
The Ca 2+ /calmodulin‐dependent kinase CaMKII is a key signaling component in Ca 2+ ‐dependent physiological processes. The expression and function of CaMKII in insect brain is well documented but less investigated for other tissues of insects. The present study demonstrates that in the locust Locusta migratoria CaMKII is widely expressed in various tissues. Relatively high expression levels of CaMKII were found in the brain, upper part of the digestive tract (pharynx, esophagus), and the flight and leg muscles. The different expression patterns of CaMKII in various tissues, as well as different molecular masses of CaMKII between 48 and 60 kDa indicate a tissue‐specific expression of CaMKII variants. The expression was monitored with a polyclonal anti‐(rat)CaMKII antibody. About 60% of total CaMKII activity in flight muscle cells is associated to the myofibril‐rich, particulate fraction suggesting an important role of CaMKII in sarcomeric function. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 52:155–162, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.