Kd. Clark et al., PLASMATOCYTE SPREADING PEPTIDE IS ENCODED BY AN MESSENGER-RNA DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED IN TISSUES OF THE MOTH PSEUDOPLUSIA-INCLUDENS, Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Print), 250(2), 1998, pp. 479-485
It has long been known that blood cells (hemocytes) are an essential c
omponent of the invertebrate immune system, yet little is known about
the molecules mediating their function. Recently, we identified plasma
tocyte spreading peptide (PSP1) from the moth Pseudoplusia includens w
hich regulates the trafficking and adhesion of a hemocyte subclass cal
led plasmatocytes. Here, we report the cloning of a cDNA (p15) that en
codes a PSP1 precursor protein. Northern blot analysis revealed that a
homologous prepro-PSP1 mRNA is expressed in fat body, and that other
PSP1-related transcripts are expressed in nervous tissue and hemocytes
. Coupled in vitro transcription/translation reactions indicated that
p15 produces a protein recognized by a PSP1 polyclonal antibody. Immun
oblotting experiments further revealed that a putative pro-PSP1 protei
n is present in P. includens plasma and fat body. (C) 1998 Academic Pr
ess.