M. Maibeche-coisne et al., Molecular cloning and bacterial expression of a general odorant-binding protein from the cabbage armyworm Mamestra brassicae, EUR J BIOCH, 258(2), 1998, pp. 768-774
A cDNA clone encoding a general odorant-binding protein (GOBP2) was isolate
d from antennal RNA of Mamestra brassicae by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-
PCR) and RACE-PCR. The cDNA encoding the GOBP2 was further used for bacteri
al expression. Most of the recombinant GOBP2 (>90%) was found to be insolub
le. Purification under denaturing conditions consisted of solubilisation of
inclusion bodies, affinity chromatography, refolding and gel filtration. T
he: refolded rGOBP2 was cross-reactive with a serum raised against the GOBP
2 of the Lepidoptera Antheraea polyphemus. The purified refolded rGOBP2 was
further characterised by native PAGE, IEE N-terminal sequencing, and two-d
imensional NMR. A functional characterisation of the rGOBP2 was carried out
by testing its ability to bind pheromone compounds. The yields of producti
on and purification fulfil the requirements of structural studies.