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Cloning and sequence of a gene for the homologue of the stearoyl CoA desaturase from salivary glands of the tick Amblyomma americanum
Author(s) -
Luo C.,
McSwain J. L.,
Tucker J. S.,
Sauer J. R.,
Essenberg R. C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2583.1997.00182.x
Subject(s) - amblyomma americanum , biology , complementary dna , tick , stearoyl coa desaturase , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , salivary gland , cloning (programming) , cdna library , gene expression , virology , genetics , biochemistry , ixodidae , computer science , programming language
A 1488 base pair cDNA clone has been isolated from a cDNA library made from salivary glands from 3‐day feeding adult female ticks. The sequence of this cDNA suggests it is the gene for the tick homologue of the stearoyl CoA desaturase. This gene is expressed in eggs and all feeding stages of the adult examined, but appears to be transcribed to an 8 kb mRNA as well as a 1.5 kb mRNA. Because ticks have the ability to synthesize monounsaturated fatty acids and demonstrate a large increase in salivary monounsaturated fatty acids during tick feeding, we hypothesize that stearoyl CoA desaturase may be a key enzyme in the morphogenesis of tick salivary glands during feeding.