Cockroaches have been implicated as a cause of respiratory allergy in urban areas worldwide. IgE-reactive German cockroach proteins were identified with molecular weights (MWs) of 90, 66, 50, 43 and 36 KD by immunoblot analysis in both immune BALB/c mice and sensitized humans. Prominent IgE-reactive proteins were purified using FPLC by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a purified protein with a MW of 66 KD on SDS-PAGE was Val-Thr-Leu-Lys-Lys(Val)-Met-Ile-Lys-Thr-Phe-Tyr. No homologous protein was found through a search of GenBank that indicated a novel IgE-reactive protein in German cockroach extract. Another purified protein with a MW of 36 KD reacted strongly with a monoclonal antibody against Bla g 2.
Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Animal ; Cockroaches/chemistry* ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; Insect Proteins/isolation & purification* ; Insect Proteins/immunology* ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tissue Extracts/chemistry*

In silkworm moth the colleterial gland markedly enlarged due to the secretion and accumulation of glue like substances before adult emergence. However, the Ng mutant female moth only secreted little glue-like substance and laid loose eggs naturally. In the present experiment, it was extracted the proteins of secretory part of the variety E981 and its Ng mutant line and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. More than 700 protein spots were resolved both in two samples and most of the proteins were distributed in the area from 30 kD to 70 kD and pH 4 - 8. Through the comparison and analysis, it was found that 4 proteins were only expressed in E981 and 2 proteins were only expressed in Ng mutant. Furthermore, there are about 29 proteins were expressed higher in 981 and about 15 proteins expressed volume were higher in Ng mutant. These differential proteins may be have some relations with the Ng mutant form and directly lead to the Ng mutant can't secret the glue-like substance.
Animals ; Bombyx ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Exocrine Glands ; chemistry ; Female ; Insect Proteins ; analysis

A novel of fibrinolytic protein has been separated and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose and SephadexG-75 Column chromatography from the tissue of the female Eupolyphaga sinensis in the paper. The protein showed an apparent molecular weight of 41.3 kD on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. In addition, it includes 10.5% sugar. Its specific activity to hydrolyze fibrin was 547.86 u/mg. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Mg2+, Ca2+, protein inhibitors, such as 8mol/L urea and 1% beta-mercaptoethanol, and serine protease inhibitor such as phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), but wasn't inhibited by Na+, K+ and ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid (EDTA). The protein was stable under 40 degrees C and it's optimal temperature was also 40 degrees C. It's optimal pH was 8.0. It showed a different way between the activity and UK when they degrade the plasminogen. Based on all the messages the protein can be suggested to be a novel fibrinolytic protein. There have been no such component of fiberinolytic enzyme from Eupolyphaga sinensis walker reported yet.
Animals ; Enzyme Stability ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Insect Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Insecta ; enzymology ; Temperature

The aim of this study was to elucidate the scientific connotation of Bombyx Batryticatus processing with wheat bran under high temperature. The contents of soluble protein extracted from Bombyx Batryticatus and its processed products and the limited content of AFT in Bombyx Batryticatus and the processed one were compared. The concentration of protein was measured with the Bradford methods and the difference of protein between Bombyx Batryticatus and its processed products was compared by SDS-PAGE analysis. Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and G2 were determined by reversed-phase HPLC. The results showed that the soluble protein content of Bombyx Batryticatus and its processed products were (47.065 +/- 0.249), (29.756 +/- 1.961) mg x g(-1), correspondingly. Analysis of protein gel electrophoresis showed that there were no significant differences between the crude and processed one in protein varieties. 6 bands were detected: 31.90, 26.80, 18.71, 15.00, 10.18, 8.929 kDa. Below 10 kDa, the color of bands of the processed one was deeper than the crude one, which demonstrate that macromolecular protein was degradated into micromolecule. The content of AFG1, AFB1, AFG2, AFB2 were 0.382, 0.207, 0.223, 0.073 g x kg(-1), not exceeded 5 microg x kg(-1) while the processed one was not detected. Through processing with wheat bran under high temperature, the content of soluble protein in Bombyx Batryticatus decreased, the processing purpose for alleviating drug property was achieved. Meanwhile, the limited content of aflatoxins were reduced or cleared by processing procedure or absorbed by processing auxillary material, adding the safety of the traditional Chinese Medicine. In conclusion, as a traditional processing method, bran frying Bombyx Batryticatus was scientific and reasonable.
Animals ; Bombyx ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hot Temperature ; Insect Proteins ; chemistry ; Molecular Weight

Insect antifreeze protein (AFP) has high antifreeze activity. Antifreeze proteins can be used in cryopreservation of biological tissues and cells. We expressed an antifreeze protein from the desert beetle Microdera punctipennis in yeast and determined the function of the protein at low temperatures. Yeast expression vector, pPIC9K-Mpafp698, was constructed and transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115. The expression of MpAFP698 was induced by methanol, and identified by tricine SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Mpafp698 gene was inserted into the genome of the host yeast strain GS115, and correctly expressed. Hardly any yeast's own protein was secreted into the media. Cryoprotective experiments showed that MpAFP698 can significantly protect mouse liver as well as other mouse organs from cold damage compared with those in the control of Bovine serum albumin (BSA) addition. Besides, the hemolysis of blood cells protected by MpAFP698 at 4 degrees C was reduced and the survival rate of SF9 cells protected by MpAFP698 after freezing and thawing was increased compared to those of the control with BSA addition. Our results showed that MpAFP698 can be expressed in yeast, which allows a convenient purification of the MpAFP protein that has the cryoprotective effect.
Animals ; Antifreeze Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Blotting, Western ; Cold Temperature ; Coleoptera ; Cryoprotective Agents ; chemistry ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Freezing ; Insect Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Sf9 Cells

OBJECTIVETo obtain the cDNA sequence encoding fibrinolytic enzyme from Eupolyphaga sinensis and express it in prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression system.

METHODThe primers were designed according to the cDNA of other animals'fibrinolytic enzyme. The cDNA sequence was cloned by RT-PCR and 3 RACE.

RESULTSequence analysis revealed that the length of the cDNA fragment was 672 bp and encoded a protein of 224 amino acid residues, the N end amino acid sequence residues was IVGG in accordance with other fibrinolytic enzyme. The cDNA sequence was expressed in E. coli, inactive protein was obtained. While expressed in Pichia pastoris, recombinant protein had fibrinolytic activity.

CONCLUSIONThe cDNA sequence of fibrinolytic enzyme from E. sinensis Walker was cloned and expressed for the first time and it proved a good basis for further functional study of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cockroaches ; chemistry ; enzymology ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Fibrinolysin ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Insect Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Alignment

Many allergists are currently focusing on the development of new diagnostic tools, and are attempting to improve both the sensitivity and specificity. A multiple allergen simultaneous test-chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA) is one of the most popular diagnostic tools used in the Republic of Korea. However, there remains controversy among allergists with regard to the cut-off point for a positive result. The present study was conducted in order to determine the validity of MAST-CLA as compared with that of the skin prick test, with particular emphasis on arthropod allergens, on the basis of percentage agreement rates and k-values, and also to suggest the optimal positive cutoff points using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The study was conducted with 97 subjects (54 men, 43 women). Optimal individual cut-off points were calculated as follows; class II for Dermatophagoides farinae, class I for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and trace for a cockroach mix. These findings suggest that attempting to apply optimal individual cut-off points will be a good way of improving diagnostic tests, particularly MAST-CLA.
Adult ; Allergens/*immunology ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides/*immunology ; Chemiluminescent Measurements/*methods/standards ; Cockroaches/chemistry ; Dermatophagoides farinae/chemistry ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis/immunology ; Insect Proteins/*immunology ; Male ; *ROC Curve ; Skin Tests/methods

We separated proteins of the middle silk gland through high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophesis, and identified the high expressional proteins using MALDI-TOF-MS and analyzed the PMF in protein database by GPMAW( General Protein/Mass Analysis for Windows) . The protein database was forecasted through silkworm genome database. More than 500 spots were obtained from each gel by silver stain and more than 100 protein spots were obtained from gel by Coomassie brilliant blue stain. Most of them were distributed in the area from 15kD to 90kD with pH 3.5-7. Among the 25 Coomassie brilliant blue stained spots identified by MALDI-TOF-MS, more than 60% have relatively strong signal. Comparing with the result of using Mascot, the method using PMF database of silkworm not only can identify some known proteins, but also can identify some unknown proteins that have been forecasted in silkworm genome database. Accordingly, we founded a complete set of method that fit for researching proteome of silkworm.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Bombyx ; metabolism ; Databases, Protein ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Insect Proteins ; analysis ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Proteome ; analysis ; chemistry ; Proteomics ; methods ; Silk ; metabolism ; Software ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo analyze the molecular characteristics of the newly isolated two Japanese encephalitis virus strains (JEV) in Wuhan.

METHODSThe mosquitoes were collected in Wuhan from April to October in 2009. The envelope (E) protein gene of JEV was detected using RT-PCR and sequenced. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis were conducted using DNAstar and MegAlign.

RESULTSTwo Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strains (WHJX09-9, WHJX09-10) were isolated from Culex tritaeniorhynchus among 16 mosquito pools and identified as genotype I. The result showed that the homology of the two strains was 98. 9% in nucleotides and 100% in deduced amines. The comparison between the new genotype 1 JEV strains and live attenuated vaccine strain SA14-14-2 in E gene showed that the homology of nucleotide sequence was 87.4% and 87.9%, the homology of amino acid was 96.9% (total 15 amino acid were different) in E gene. The mutation sites of amino acid distributed among three different coding domain, but no antigen binding site and neurotoxin-involved site of amino acid were changed.

CONCLUSIONWuhan had appeared a new genotype of JEV which was different from the former strain isolated in Wuhan, the new JEV strains still had neurotoxicity but had high homology with the vaccine strains adopted in Wuhan. The vaccine could still be adopted to prevent Japanese encephalitis if steps were take to eradicate mosquitos at the same time. laboratory surveillance were also an important task to build an early-warning mechanism against JEV.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cell Line ; China ; Culicidae ; virology ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genotype ; Insect Vectors ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

Three model silkworms, highly resistant strain, highly susceptible strain and their near isogenic line were established by hybridization and backcross. The resistance of silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) to BmNPV was studied at proteomic level using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI TOF/TOF MS. Differential expression profiles of proteome in resistant strain, susceptible strain and near isogenic line were obtained, and 180, 190 and 187 of protein spots were shown, respectively. Among them, 80% were concentrated in pI 5-9. Twelve differential protein spots in total were obtained from 3 gels. Using MALDI TOF/TOF MS, five proteins, including aminoacylase, were identified from these spots. The exclusive expression of aminoacylase in highly resistant strain and near isogenic line and its absence in susceptible strain suggest that it might be a BmNPV-resistance related protein.
Amidohydrolases ; analysis ; genetics ; Animals ; Bombyx ; chemistry ; genetics ; virology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Hemolymph ; chemistry ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; genetics ; Insect Proteins ; analysis ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Proteome ; analysis ; Proteomics ; methods ; Recombination, Genetic ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization