冈比亚按蚊嗅觉结合蛋白候选基因cDNA的克隆、鉴定及其表达型分析

Cloning, identification and expression profiling of the cDNAs of odorant-binding proteins in the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae

疟蚊主要依靠嗅觉发现寄主。非洲疟蚊冈比亚按蚊Anophelesgambiae是一种嗜吸人血的疟疾传播媒介昆虫。该文作者基于其全基因组序列 ,采用RT PCR和标准分子克隆技术获得 2个嗅觉结合蛋白候选基因agLZ3788和agLZ9988。测序分析结果表明 ,它们具有嗅觉结合蛋白的标志性结构域。进一步采用半定量RT PCR技术研究了它们的空间表达型 ,结果发现它们不但在雌蚊触角中表达 ,也在其他部位 (尤其是蚊虫足部 )有强的表达。这一发现说明疟蚊嗅觉结合蛋白可能具有更广的功能 。

Olfaction plays a major role in host finding and selection of malaria mosquitoes. The African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae is a highly anthropophilic malaria-transmitting vector. Two odorant-binding protein (OBP) candidates(agLZ3788 and agLZ9988) have been identified using RT-PCR and standard molecular cloning techniques, based on its whole genome sequences. Sequencing and analysis showed that these two OBP genes are characterized by typical insect OBP motif. Furthermore, semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to study the spatial expression patterns of them, and the results demonstrated that they were not only expressed in female antennae,but also in other tissues, especially in mosquito legs. This finding indicates that mosquito OBPs might have other functions than binding odorants, and thus provides an important scientific basis for further recombinant and functional studies of mosquito OBPs.