A novel member of the RING-finger gene family associated with reproductivetissues of the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

The RING finger is a zinc-binding domain that is found in proteins from vir uses, plants and animals. Here we report the characterization and tissue-sp ecific expression of a mosquito gonadal protein gene, mgp, from the mosquit o, Aedes aegypti. The putative gene product, MGP, contains two RING fingers , a B-box, and a hydrophobic core. These mosquito MGP structural motifs are highly conserved in proteins found in mouse and nematode. Northern blot an alysis and in situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of multiple mgp RNA transcripts in male and female reproductive tissues. Expression of mgp in the ovary is constitutive, but an increase in message was observed in th e ovaries of female mosquitoes previously exposed to a blood meal. These re sults suggest that MGP is a protein that might play a role(s) in mosquito g ametogenesis.