| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975537 | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 2012 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Vssilk 5 is a gene encoding a component protein of the silk produced by the larvae of the yellow hornet (Vespa simillima, Vespinae, Vespidae). In this study, we deduced the complete cDNA sequence of Vssilk 5. It was found that 2 silk proteins, Vssilk 5Â N and Vssilk 5Â C, in the cocoon of the yellow hornet are both encoded by the Vssilk 5 gene. Vssilk 5Â N and 5Â C are the N- and C-terminal regions, respectively, of the Vssilk 5 pro-protein (Vssilk 5p). The complete amino acid sequences of Vssilk 5Â N and Vssilk 5Â C were deduced. Although a non-repetitive amino acid sequence and coiled-coil structure are properties common to the major components of silk proteins produced by the larvae of the social superfamilies Apoidea and Vespoidea of the Apocrita, nearly the entire sequence of Vssilk 5Â C consisted of a repeated sequence of amino acids, and the calculated coiled-coil probability for this protein was low. Vssilk 5Â N is a protein without a repetitive amino acid sequence and has a low coiled-coil probability. Moreover, we found a water soluble protein, Vssilk 5S that is likely segmented from Vssilk 5Â C and contains an N-terminal sequence identical to that of Vssilk 5Â C.
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Authors
Tsunenori Kameda, Katsura Kojima, Qiang Zhang, Hideki Sezutsu,