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Isolation and characterization of a neprilysin‐like protein from Venturia canescens virus‐like particles
Author(s) -
Asgari S.,
Reineke A.,
Beck M.,
Schmidt Otto
Publication year - 2002
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.1365-2583.2002.00356.x
Subject(s) - biology , calyx , host (biology) , virus like particle , phylogenetic tree , capsid , gene , genetics , virology , botany , recombinant dna
Maternal protein secretions from endoparasitoid wasps are evolutionary adaptations to regulate host physiology as part of an extended wasp phenotype. Virus‐like particles (VLPs) produced in the calyx region of Venturia canescens wasps are involved in immune evasion of the developing parasitoid inside the host. In contrast to polydnaviruses (PDVs), VcVLPs are devoid of any nucleic acids. To understand the role of these particles in the regulation of host physiology and phylogenetic relationship between VLPs and PDVs, it is essential to identify particle proteins. In this paper, we describe the isolation and molecular cloning of a neprilysin‐like gene (VcNEP) coding for a 94 kDa VcVLP protein and discuss its possible role in host regulation.