Abstract
A chymotrypsin-like serine protease gene (AgChyL) was cloned from the mosquito Anopheles gambiae by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based subtractive cDNA cloning strategy. AgChyL messenger RNA (mRNA) is abundant in the adult female gut prior to, and for 8 h following, a blood meal. During the peak of digestion, from 12 to 24 h following a blood meal, AgChyL mRNA abundance decreased to barely detectable levels. AgChyL mRNA was abundant again by 48 h following a blood meal. Recombinant pro-AgChyL was expressed in Escherichia coli. The pro-enzyme can be activated by trypsin. Activated AgChyL cleaves the synthetic chymotrypsin substrate succinyl-L-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-nitroanilide, but not two other synthetic chymotrypsin substrates or synthetic trypsin and elastase substrates. The potential role of AgChyL in the coordination of An. gambiae digestion is discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 223-229 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Insect molecular biology |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Anopheles
- Chymotrypsin
- Digestion
- Protease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Insect Science