A NOVEL MEMBER OF LEBOCIN GENE FAMILY FROM THE SILKWORM, BOMBYX-MORI

We screened genomic clones encoding lebocin, an antibacterial peptide from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Two positive clones were obtained and their nucleotide sequences indicated that they contain no introns. The deduced amino acid sequences revealed that one clone (Leb 3) encoded lebocin 3 and another (Leb 4) is a new member of the lebocin gene fami ly. Gene expression of both Leb 3 and Leb 4 was shown to be induced by lipopolysaccharide and to occur tissue-specifically in the fat body a nd hemocytes. Our results suggest that lebocin as well as cecropin for ms a multiple gene family in B. mori. (C) 1997 Academic Press.