Mn. Yokoyama et al., A NEW FEMALE-SPECIFIC FAT-BODY PROTEIN OF ANTHERAEA-PERNYI - PURIFICATION, IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES, DEVELOPMENTAL PROFILE AND SYNTHESIS, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. B. Comparative biochemistry, 107(3), 1994, pp. 381-388
A new female-specific protein has been discovered to be a major compon
ent of fat body proteins of the last larval instar of Antheraea pernyi
and Antheraea yamamai. The new female-specific protein was purified t
o homogeneity by gel-permeation chromatograpies, DE-52 cellulose colum
n chromatography and hydroxyapatite column chromatography. The molecul
ar weight of the protein was estimated to be 24,000 by SDS-PAGE and 43
,000 by gel-permeation chromatography, suggesting that the protein is
a homodimer protein. The protein was temporarily named ''24 kDa peptid
e'' (24K). Developmental changes in 24K titer were followed from the f
inal larval ecdysis to adult emergence by immunoblotting with a specif
ic antiserum against 24K. 24K appeared in the fat bodies at day 9 fift
h instar and remained at an almost constant level up to adult emergenc
e. Immunoblot analysis using antisera against Bm 30K proteins and BmLS
P showed that the immunological properties of 24K were different from
those of these proteins. In vitro culture to label fat body proteins w
ith [S-35]-methionine showed that the synthesis of 24K occurred in onl
y female fat bodies. The function of 24K remains unknown.