Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a class of small proteins expressed only in arthropods and endowed with heterogeneous functions. Some of them are involved in chemical communications, others in development or other physiological roles. The numbers of CSPs in different species of insects range from 4 in Drosophila to at least 70 in locusts, whereas in other arthropods such as crustaceans and millipedes, only 23 very similar sequences have been reported in each species. We have expressed, in a bacterial system, 5 of the 8 CSPs predicted by the genome of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, 4 identified at the protein level (SAP1, SAP2, SAP3, and CSP3) and a fifth annotated as part of this work, obtaining the proteins with high yields and in their soluble forms. Purified CSPs have been used to study their ligand-binding properties, both using competitive binding assays and quenching of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, in order to get insights into their physiological functions. The agreement between the 2 sets of data supports the assumptions that the ligands, including the fluorescent reporter, bind within the core of the proteins. Their different affinities toward a set of pure chemicals suggest specific roles in chemical communication.

Ligand-Binding Study of Anopheles gambiae Chemosensory Proteins / I., Iovinella; F., Bozza; Caputo, Beniamino; DELLA TORRE, Alessandra; P., Pelosi. - In: CHEMICAL SENSES. - ISSN 0379-864X. - ELETTRONICO. - 38:5(2013), pp. 409-419. [10.1093/chemse/bjt012]

Ligand-Binding Study of Anopheles gambiae Chemosensory Proteins

CAPUTO, BENIAMINO;DELLA TORRE, Alessandra;
2013

Abstract

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a class of small proteins expressed only in arthropods and endowed with heterogeneous functions. Some of them are involved in chemical communications, others in development or other physiological roles. The numbers of CSPs in different species of insects range from 4 in Drosophila to at least 70 in locusts, whereas in other arthropods such as crustaceans and millipedes, only 23 very similar sequences have been reported in each species. We have expressed, in a bacterial system, 5 of the 8 CSPs predicted by the genome of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, 4 identified at the protein level (SAP1, SAP2, SAP3, and CSP3) and a fifth annotated as part of this work, obtaining the proteins with high yields and in their soluble forms. Purified CSPs have been used to study their ligand-binding properties, both using competitive binding assays and quenching of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, in order to get insights into their physiological functions. The agreement between the 2 sets of data supports the assumptions that the ligands, including the fluorescent reporter, bind within the core of the proteins. Their different affinities toward a set of pure chemicals suggest specific roles in chemical communication.
2013
chemical communication; arthropods; sensory appendage protein; protein expression; tryptophan fluorescence
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Ligand-Binding Study of Anopheles gambiae Chemosensory Proteins / I., Iovinella; F., Bozza; Caputo, Beniamino; DELLA TORRE, Alessandra; P., Pelosi. - In: CHEMICAL SENSES. - ISSN 0379-864X. - ELETTRONICO. - 38:5(2013), pp. 409-419. [10.1093/chemse/bjt012]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/515965
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