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The Role of Ecdysteroid 22‐Kinase in the Accumulation of Ecdysteroids in Ovary of Silkworm Bombyx mori
Author(s) -
Ito Yoichi,
Sonobe Haruyuki
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04465.x
Subject(s) - bombyx mori , ecdysteroid , oocyte , ovary , biology , follicle , microbiology and biotechnology , laser capture microdissection , medicine , kinase , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene , gene expression , embryo , hormone
In the silkworm Bombyx mori , ecdysteroid 22‐kinase (EcKinase) has been shown to catalyze the conversion of free ecdysteroids to physiologically inactive ecdysteroid 22‐phosphates. First, a phylogenetic analysis of EcKinase showed that many proteins homologous to B. mori EcKinase are found mainly in Ecdysozoa, including insects and nematodes. Next, by RT‐PCR analysis combined with laser microdissection and by immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that free ecdysteroids in the B. mori ovary are synthesized in follicle cells and transferred into the oocyte where they are phosphorylated by EcKinase whose mRNA originates from nurse cells and the oocyte itself.