CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF A CDNA-ENCODING A LARVAL-PUPAL-SPECIFIC CUTICULAR PROTEIN IN TENEBRIO-MOLITOR (INSECTA, COLEOPTERA) - DEVELOPMENTAL EXPRESSION AND EFFECT OF A JUVENILE-HORMONE ANALOG

A cDNA clone encoding a larval-pupal cuticular protein, named TMLPCP-2 2, has been isolated by screening a library in expression vector with a monoclonal antibody made against pupal cuticular proteins of Tenebri o molitor: Northern-blot and in situ hybridization analyses showed tha t the expression of TMLPCP-22 is regulated in a stage-specific and tis sue-specific manner; the transcript was present during the secretion o f preecdysial larval and pupal cuticles and was restricted to epiderma l cells. No expression was observed during adult cuticle deposition. I n supernumerary pupae obtained after application of a juvenile hormone analogue, which is known to inhibit the adult programme, TMLPCP-22 mR NA was expressed again, confirming its larval-pupal specificity.