Potential ligands of DmP29, a putative juvenile hormone esterase binding protein of Drosophila melanogaster

We previously reported the identification of a putative juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) binding protein DmP29 in Drosophila melanogaster and its primary localization to the mitochondria [Liu, Z., Ho, L., Bonning, B.C., 2007. Localization of a Drosophila melanogaster homolog of the putative juvenile hormone esterase binding protein of Manduca sexta. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 37(2), 155-163]. To further characterize DmP29, we identified potential ligands of this protein. Recombinant DmP29 was shown by ligand blot and co-immunoprecipitation analyses to bind recombinant JHE as well as to larval serum proteins (LSP). The possible biological relevance of the in vitro DmP29-JHE interaction is provided by detection of JHE activity in D. melanogaster mitochondrial fractions; 0.48 nmol JH hydrolyzed/min/mg mitochondrial protein, 97% of which was inhibited by the JHE-specific inhibitor OTFP. However, the DmP29-LSP interactions may not be biologically relevant. Given the high abundance, and “sticky” nature of these proteins, interaction of DmP29 with LSP may result from non-specific associations. No DmP29 interactions with non-specific esterases were detected by co-immunoprecipitation analyses. The potential role of DmP29 as a chaperone of JHE is discussed.