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de Almeida E, Dittz U, Pereira J, Walter-Nuno AB, Paiva-Silva GO, Lacerda-Abreu MA, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Ramos I. Functional characterization of maternally accumulated hydrolases in the mature oocytes of the vector Rhodnius prolixus reveals a new protein phosphatase essential for the activation of the yolk mobilization and embryo development. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1142433. [PMID: 36923285 PMCID: PMC10008894 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1142433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Yolk biogenesis and consumption have been well conserved in oviparous animals throughout evolution. Most egg-laying animals store yolk proteins within the oocytes' yolk granules (Ygs). Following fertilization, the Ygs participate in controlled pathways of yolk breakdown to support the developing embryo's anabolic metabolism. While the unfolding of the yolk degradation program is a crucial process for successful development in many species, the molecular mechanisms responsible for yolk mobilization are still mysterious and have mostly not been explored. Here, we investigate the functional role of the oocyte maternally accumulated mRNAs of a protein phosphatase (PP501) and two aspartic proteases (cathepsin-D 405, CD405 and cathepsin-D 352, CD352) in the yolk degradation and reproduction of the insect vector of Chagas disease Rhodnius prolixus. We found that PP501 and CD352 are highly expressed in the vitellogenic ovary when compared to the other organs of the adult insect. Parental RNAi silencing of PP501 resulted in a drastic reduction in oviposition and increased embryo lethality whereas the silencing of CD352 resulted only in a slight decrease in oviposition and embryo viability. To further investigate the PP501-caused high reproduction impairment, we investigated the Ygs biogenesis during oocyte maturation and the activation of the yolk degradation program at early development. We found that the Ygs biogenesis was deficient during oogenesis, as seen by flow cytometry, and that, although the PP501-silenced unviable eggs were fertilized, the Ygs acidification and acid phosphatase activity were affected, culminating in a full impairment of the yolk proteins degradation at early embryogenesis. Altogether we found that PP501 is required for the oocyte maturation and the activation of the yolk degradation, being, therefore, essential for this vector reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa de Almeida
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Uilla Dittz
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Pereira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana B Walter-Nuno
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela O Paiva-Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular-INCT-EM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marco A Lacerda-Abreu
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose R Meyer-Fernandes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ramos
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular-INCT-EM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Ramos I, Machado E, Masuda H, Gomes F. Open questions on the functional biology of the yolk granules during embryo development. Mol Reprod Dev 2022; 89:86-94. [PMID: 35020238 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Biogenesis and consumption of the yolk are well-conserved aspects of the reproductive biology in oviparous species. Most egg-laying animals accumulate yolk proteins within the oocytes thus creating the source of nutrients and energy that will feed embryo development. Yolk accumulation drives the generation of a highly specialized oocyte cytoplasm with maternal mRNAs, ribosomes, mitochondria, and, mainly, a set of organelles collectively referred to as yolk granules (Ygs). Following fertilization, the Ygs are involved in regulated mechanisms of yolk degradation to fuel the anabolic metabolism of the growing embryo. Thus, yolk accumulation and degradation are essential processes that allow successful development in many species. Nevertheless, the molecular machinery and mechanisms dedicated to the programmed yolk mobilization throughout development are still enigmatic and remain mostly unexplored. Moreover, while the Ygs functional biology as a nutritional source for the embryo has been acknowledged, several reports have suggested that Ygs cargoes and functions go far beyond yolk storage. Evidence of the role of Ygs in gene expression, microbiota harboring, and paracrine signaling has been proposed. In this study, we summarize the current knowledge of the Ygs functional biology pointing to open questions and where further investigation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Ramos
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT-EM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ednildo Machado
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT-EM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hatisaburo Masuda
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT-EM/CNPq, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabio Gomes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Oliveira DMP, Gomes FM, Carvalho DB, Ramos I, Carneiro AB, Silva-Neto MAC, de Souza W, Lima APCA, Miranda K, Machado EA. Yolk hydrolases in the eggs of Anticarsia gemmatalis hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): a role for inorganic polyphosphate towards yolk mobilization. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 59:1242-1249. [PMID: 24140472 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Revised: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite being the main insect pest on soybean crops in the Americas, very few studies have approached the general biology of the lepidopteran Anticarsia gemmatalis and there is a paucity of studies with embryo formation and yolk mobilization in this species. In the present work, we identified an acid phosphatase activity in the eggs of A. gemmatalis (agAP) that we further characterized by means of biochemistry and cell biology experiments. By testing several candidate substrates, this enzyme proved chiefly active with phosphotyrosine; in vitro assays suggested a link between agAP activity and dephosphorylation of egg yolk phosphotyrosine. We also detected strong activity with endogenous and exogenous short chain polyphosphates (PolyP), which are polymers of phosphate residues involved in a number of physiological processes. Both agAP activity and PolyP were shown to initially concentrate in small vesicles clearly distinct from typically larger yolk granules, suggesting subcellular compartmentalization. As PolyP has been implicated in inhibition of yolk proteases, we performed in vitro enzymatic assays with a cysteine protease to test whether it would be inhibited by PolyP. This cysteine protease is prominent in Anticarsia egg homogenates. Accordingly, short chain PolyP was a potent inhibitor of cysteine protease. We thereby suggest that PolyP hydrolysis by agAP is a triggering mechanism of yolk mobilization in A. gemmatalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M P Oliveira
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Programa de Parasitologia e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-590, RJ, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Centro de Ciências da Matemática e Natureza, UFRJ, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-909, RJ, Brazil
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Skern-Mauritzen R, Frost P, Dalvin S, Kvamme BO, Sommerset I, Nilsen F. A trypsin-like protease with apparent dual function in early Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) development. BMC Mol Biol 2009; 10:44. [PMID: 19439101 PMCID: PMC2689223 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2199-10-44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Accepted: 05/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypsin-like serine proteases are involved in a large number of processes including digestive degradation, regulation of developmental processes, yolk degradation and yolk degradome activation. Trypsin like peptidases considered to be involved in digestion have been characterized in Lepeophtheirus salmonis. During these studies a trypsin-like peptidase which differed in a number of traits were identified. RESULTS An intronless trypsin-like serine peptidase (LsTryp10) from L., salmonis was identified and characterized. LsTryp10 mRNA is evenly distributed in the ovaries and oocytes, but is located along the ova periphery. LsTryp10 protein is deposited in the oocytes and all embryonic cells. LsTryp10 mRNA translation and concurrent degradation after fertilization was found in the embryos demonstrating that LsTryp10 protein is produced both by the embryo and maternally. The results furthermore indicate that LsTryp10 protein of maternal origin has a distribution pattern different to that of embryonic origin. CONCLUSION Based on present data and previous studies of peptidases in oocytes and embryos, we hypothesize that maternally deposited LsTryp10 protein is involved in regulation of the yolk degradome. The function of LsTryp10 produced by the embryonic cells remains unknown. To our knowledge a similar expression pattern has not previously been reported for any protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmus Skern-Mauritzen
- Department of Population Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Petter Frost
- Department of Population Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
- Intervet Norbio AS, 5008 Bergen, Norway
| | - Sussie Dalvin
- Department of Population Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Bjørn Olav Kvamme
- Department of Health, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Frank Nilsen
- Department of Population Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
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Oliveira DMP, Ramos IB, Reis FCG, Lima APCA, Machado EA. Interplay between acid phosphatase and cysteine proteases in mediating vitellin degradation during early embryogenesis of Periplaneta americana. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2008; 54:883-891. [PMID: 18499122 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2007] [Revised: 03/04/2008] [Accepted: 04/08/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we characterized the activities of two classes of proteases and AcP during early embryogenesis of Periplaneta americana. AcP activity was first detected at day 6 and reached a maximum level at day 10 of development. Using phosphoamino acids, phosphatase activity was shown to be directed only against phosphotyrosine at day 6 while at day 10 it was also active against phosphoserine. In parallel, two classes of proteases were detected and located within yolk granules: a clan CA-cysteine protease, which was inhibited by E-64, insensitive to CA 074 and activated by acidic pH at day 3; and a neutral serine protease, which was inhibited by aprotinin at day 6. Assays of vitellin (Vt) degradation evidenced that incubations at neutral pH induced slight proteolysis, while the incubations at acidic pH did not result in Vt degradation. However, pre-incubations of Vt with AcP increased the levels of Vt acidic proteolysis and this could be inhibited by the addition of phosphatase inhibitors. On the other hand, the same pre-incubations showed no effects on the profile of degradation at neutral pH. We propose that AcP and cysteine protease cooperate to assure Vt breakdown during early embryogenesis of P. americana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M P Oliveira
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Programa de Parasitologia e Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Ramos IB, Miranda K, de Souza W, Oliveira DMP, Lima APCA, Sorgine MHF, Machado EA. Calcium-regulated fusion of yolk granules is important for yolk degradation during early embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixusStahl. J Exp Biol 2007; 210:138-48. [PMID: 17170157 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.02652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY
This study examined the process of membrane fusion of yolk granules (YGs)during early embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixus. We show that eggs collected at days 0 and 3 after oviposition contain different populations of YGs, for example day-3 eggs are enriched in large YGs (LYGs). Day-3 eggs also contain the highest free [Ca2+] during early embryogenesis of this insect. In vitro incubations of day-0 YGs with [Ca2+]similar to those found in day-3 eggs resulted in the formation of LYGs, as observed in vivo. Fractionation of LYGs and small YGs (SYGs) and their subsequent incubation with the fluorescent membrane marker PKH67 showed a calcium-dependent transference of fluorescence from SYGs to LYGs, possibly as the result of membrane fusion. Acid phosphatase and H+-PPase activities were remarkably increased in day-3 LYGs and in calcium-treated day-0 LYGs. Both fractions were found to contain vitellins as major components, and incubation of YGs with calcium induced yolk proteolysis in vitro. Altogether, our results suggest that calcium-induced membrane fusion events take part in yolk degradation, leading to the assembly of the yolk mobilization machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- I B Ramos
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho (IBCCF), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária--Ilha do Fundão, 21941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Motta LS, da Silva WS, Oliveira DMP, de Souza W, Machado EA. A new model for proton pumping in animal cells: the role of pyrophosphate. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2004; 34:19-27. [PMID: 14723894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2003.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The H+-PPase activity was characterized in membrane fractions of ovary and eggs of Rhodnius prolixus. This activity is totally dependent on Mg2+, independent of K+ and strongly inhibited by NaF, IDP and Ca2+. The membrane proteins of eggs were analyzed by western blot using antibodies to the H+-PPase from Arabidopsis thaliana. The immunostain was associated with a single 65-kDa polypeptide. This polypeptide was immunolocalized in yolk granule membranes by optical and transmission electron microscopy. We describe the acidification of yolk granules in the presence of PPi and ATP. This acidification is inhibited in the presence of NAF, Ca2+ and antibodies against H+-PPase. These data show for the first time in animal cells that acidification of yolk granules involves an H+-PPase as well as H+-ATPase.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Motta
- Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária-Ilha do Fundão, 21.941-590 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Wood AW, Matsumoto J, Van Der Kraak G. Thyroglobulin type-1 domain protease inhibitors exhibit specific expression in the cortical ooplasm of vitellogenic rainbow trout oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev 2004; 69:205-14. [PMID: 15293222 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis, uptake, and processing of yolk proteins remain poorly described aspects of oviparous reproductive development. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of two protease inhibitors in rainbow trout ovary whose expression and distribution are directly associated with yolk protein uptake in vitellogenic oocytes. The first transcript, termed "oocyte protease inhibitor-1" (OPI-1), is predicted to encode a 9.1 kDa, 87 amino acid protein containing a single thyroglobulin type-1 (TY) domain, identifying it as a putative TY domain inhibitor. The second transcript, termed OPI-2, is predicted to encode an 18.3 kDa, 173 amino acid protein with two similar, but not identical, TY domains. Messenger RNA expression of both genes was first detected in ovarian tissues at the onset of vitellogenesis, and persisted throughout the vitellogenic growth phase. We did not detect expression of either gene in previtellogenic ovaries, nor in any somatic tissues examined. Expression of OPI-1 mRNA was significantly reduced in atretic follicles as compared to healthy vitellogenic follicles, suggesting a downregulation of inhibitor expression during oocyte atresia. Western immunoblot analyses of whole yolk from vitellogenic oocytes revealed the presence of two immunoreactive proteins that corresponded to the predicted sizes of OPI-1 and OPI-2. We detected strong crossreactivity of this antiserum with specific vesicles in the cortical ooplasm of vitellogenic oocytes, in regions directly associated with vitellogenin processing. The identification of OPI-1 and OPI-2 provides new evidence for the expression of multiple TY domain protease inhibitors likely involved in the regulation of yolk processing during oocyte growth in salmonids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony W Wood
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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Wood AW, Van Der Kraak G. Yolk proteolysis in rainbow trout oocytes after serum-free culture: evidence for a novel biochemical mechanism of atresia in oviparous vertebrates. Mol Reprod Dev 2003; 65:219-27. [PMID: 12704734 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Our recent studies show little evidence for increased granulosa cell apoptosis during atresia in teleost follicles, in direct contrast to the mammalian model. Histological evidence suggests that atresia in many oviparous vertebrates involves proteolytic degradation of the energy-rich yolk storage proteins within the oocyte. This study tests the hypothesis that physiological conditions that promote atresia (hormone withdrawal) lead to increased lysosomal protease activity in rainbow trout oocytes. We subjected rainbow trout ovarian follicles to conditions that promote atresia (serum-free culture) for up to 72 hr, and measured the activity of lysosomal proteases using routine enzymatic assays. Furthermore, we used high performance liquid chromatography to quantify the increase in free amino acids resulting from proteolysis of yolk proteins. Concomitantly, we evaluated the extent of follicular apoptosis during prolonged serum-free culture, using caspase-3-like activity and DNA fragmentation as indicators of apoptosis. Our results show a significant, time-dependent increase in cathepsin L-like, but not cathepsin D-like, activity levels during culture in serum-free medium; increased cathepsin L-like activity is confirmed by a significant increase in oocyte free amino acid content after 72 hr culture. In contrast, we detected only a transient increase in apoptosis during prolonged serum-free culture, as revealed through both radioactive 3'end-labeling of oligonucleosomal DNA fragments, and caspase-3-like activity. The results of this study provide the first evidence for a novel mechanism of follicular atresia in teleosts involving cathepsin-mediated yolk proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony W Wood
- Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2WI
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Hens K, Vandingenen A, Macours N, Baggerman G, Karaoglanovic AC, Schoofs L, De Loof A, Huybrechts R. Characterization of four substrates emphasizes kinetic similarity between insect and human C-domain angiotensin-converting enzyme. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 2002; 269:3522-30. [PMID: 12135492 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.03043.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) was already discovered in insects in 1994, but its physiological role is still enigmatic. We have addressed this problem by purifying four new ACE substrates from the ovaries of the grey fleshfly, Neobellieria bullata. Their primary structures were identified as NKLKPSQWISLSD (Neb-ODAIF-1(1-13)), NKLKPSQWI (Neb-ODAIF-1(1-9)), SLKPSNWLTPSE (Neb-ODAIF-2) and LEQIYHL. Database analysis showed significant homology with amino acid sequence stretches as present in the N-terminal part of several fly yolk proteins. An antiserum raised against Neb-ODAIF-1(1-9) immunostained one out of three yolk protein bands of SDS/PAGE-separated fly haemolymph and egg homogenate, thus confirming that these peptides originate from a yolk protein gene product. Kinetic analysis of these peptides and of the peptides Neb-ODAIF and Neb-ODAIF-1(1-7) with insect ACE and human ACE show both similar and unique properties for insect ACE as compared with human C-domain ACE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korneel Hens
- Zoological Institute of the Catholic University of Leuven, Laboratory of Developmental Physiology and Molecular Biology, Leuven, Belgium.
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