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Identification of two sterol carrier protein‐2 like genes in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti
Author(s) -
Vyazunova I.,
Wessley V.,
Kim M.,
Lan Q.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2007.00729.x
Subject(s) - aedes aegypti , biology , identification (biology) , gene , yellow fever , virology , aedes , dengue fever , sterol , genetics , computational biology , botany , cholesterol , larva , biochemistry , virus
Two genes encoding sterol carrier protein‐2 like proteins are identified from fourth instar cDNAs of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti . The predicted AeSCP‐2like1 (AeSCP‐2L1) and AeSCP‐2like2 (AeSCP‐2L2) proteins are small, acidic and lacking the peroxisomal targeting sequence at the C‐termini. Purified recombinant AeSCP‐2L1 and ‐2L2 bind to cholesterol with a K d of 5.4 × 10 −6 M and 2.6 × 10 −6 M, respectively. The K d values of AeSCP‐2L1 and ‐2L2 to palmitic acid are 3.7 × 10 −7 M and 2.6 × 10 −7 M, respectively. Both genes are expressed predominantly in gut tissues. The transcripts of the AeSCP‐2L1 gene are only detected in larval stages, whereas AeSCP‐2L2 is expressed in larval and adult stages. AeSCP‐2L2 transcription increases within 5 h after a bloodmeal and stays at high levels during vitellogenesis. In in vitro larval gut tissue cultures, AeSCP‐2L1 transcripts were increased in the presence of juvenile hormone III, whereas AeSCP‐2L2 mRNA levels increased in the presence 20‐hydroxylecdysone. The results suggest that transcription of AeSCP‐2L1 and ‐2L2 genes are regulated differently through the mosquito life cycle.