STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION OF THE TENECIN-3 GENE IN TENEBRIO-MOLITOR

A genomic DNA fragment encoding tenecin 3, an antifungal protein, was cloned from the genomic DNA library of Tenebrio molitor. The DNA seque nce analysis showed that the coding region is divided into two exons b y an intron of 49 bp in the middle of the putative leader peptide codi ng region. Southern blot analysis suggests that the gene is present as a single copy. The transcription initiation site was determined by pr imer extension analysis and S1 mapping, The TATA box and CCAAT box seq uences were found at -30, and -121, respectively, from the transcripti on initiation site. Tenecin 3 mRNA is abundantly expressed in larvae a nd adults, while little was detected in RNAs from pupae, suggesting th at the expression of the tenecin 3 gene is developmentally regulated. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.