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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-3-13
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
Plant seeds have biodefense systems for protection against insects. One of these systems may be based on the occurrence of phytocystatins, cysteine proteinase inhibitors of plant origin, that probably inhibit insect cysteine proteinases involved in digestive functions. To elucidate a molecular mechanism for this biodefense phenomenon, we isolated a gene encoding a putative digestive cysteine proteinase from Drosophila melanogaster, a suitable model species. The cloned genomic DNA fragment contained a sequence encoding a cysteine proteinase. The mature enzyme from the encoded protein, termed Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1, consisted of 218 amino acid residues. Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1 showed 67% similarity in its amino acid sequence to a lobster cysteine proteinase-3 contained in the digestive juice. This enzyme also showed significant similarities to cysteine proteinases of animal origin such as cathepsins H and L, and to proteinases of plant origin such as rice oryzains alpha and beta. In situ hybridization studies for the embryo showed that the mRNA for Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1 was predominantly expressed in the midgut. Larval alimentary organs, such as the salivary gland and the midgut including the gastric caeca, also expressed the mRNA at significant levels. These observations, suggesting that Drosophila cysteine proteinase-1 is a digestive cysteine proteinase which can be used as a model target of phytocystatins, will hopefully lead to new strategies for the regulation of pest insects.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0014-2956
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
227
pubmed:geneSymbol
CP1
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
582-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-7-23
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
A putative digestive cysteine proteinase from Drosophila melanogaster is predominantly expressed in the embryonic and larval midgut.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article