Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1983127 | Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 2006 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
Here we describe the identification and basic characterization of a gene encoding a 55Â kDa protein found in the salivary glands (SG) of Amblyomma variegatum tick. Based on the primary structure and homology to the family of protein disulfide isomerases (PDI; EC 5.3.4.1) the gene was named AvPDI. The 1461Â nt long AvPDI open reading frame codes for a 487 amino acid protein. In vitro expressed AvPDI was exclusively localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that AvPDI expression is not restricted to the SG of the tick. More detailed analysis on tissue slides from SG detected an AvPDI specific signal in granular cells of the acini type II and III. Finally, reductase activity of AvPDI was confirmed in an insulin assay. The structural and functional characteristics suggest that AvPDI is another member of the PDI protein family and represents the first more closely characterized PDI in the ticks.
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Authors
Petra Knizetova, Iveta Vancova, Paulina Kocakova, Mirko Slovak, Paul Proost, Juraj Kopacek,