Isolation and expression analysis of a homolog of the 14–3–3 epsilon gene in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

A full‐length 14–3–3 gene homolog (also referred to as the Px14–3–3 epsilon “ ε ” or Px14–3–3 ε gene) was cloned from cDNA of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella . The Px14 – 3 – 3 transcript is 789 nucleotides in length, and the predicted polypeptide is 263 amino acids in length, with a calculated molecular mass of 29.6 kDa. The Px14–3–3 gene contains the typical and predicted 14–3–3 domains and motifs. The amino acid sequence of the diamondback moth 14 – 3 – 3 gene is very similar to that of other insect epsilons ( ε ) but not to other insect zetas ( ζ ). In particular, the protein sequence of the Px14 – 3 – 3 gene shows high identity to the Bombyx mori epsilon (96.2%). Western blot analysis using an antibody against Px14–3–3 ε verified the expression of 14–3–3 ε in the larval, pupal, and adult stages. The Px14–3–3 ε expression patterns in all the different tissue types were examined in the fourth instar larvae. Px14–3–3 ε was detected in every tissue examined, including the body fat, hemocytes, brain, gut, and cuticle. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.