| Title: | "Molecular characterization of a male-specific glycosyl hydrolase, Lma-p72, secreted on to the abdominal surface of the Madeira cockroach Leucophaea maderae (Blaberidae, Oxyhaloinae)" |
| Author(s): | Cornette R; Farine JP; Abed-Viellard D; Quennedey B; Brossut R; |
| Address: | "C.N.R.S., U.M.R. 5548, 'Developpement - Communication Chimique', Universite de Bourgogne, 6 boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0264-6021 (Print) 1470-8728 (Electronic) 0264-6021 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The epicuticular surface protein Lma-p72 is specific to the abdominal secretions of Leucophaea maderae (Madeira cockroach) adult males. Natural Lma-p72 was purified and the complete cDNA sequence determined by reverse-transcription PCR using primers based on Edman degradation fragments. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses showed that Lma-p72 was expressed in the tergal and sternal glands. Sequence alignment indicates that Lma-p72 is closely related to the family 1 glycosyl hydrolases (EC 3.2.1). Native Lma-p72 was proved to be active in the abdominal secretions and exhibit a beta-galactosidase-like activity. However, weak specificity with respect to the C-4 configuration of the substrate was observed. Two main hypotheses were proposed concerning the function of this enzyme: Lma-p72 could hydrolyse oligosaccharides from the male abdominal secretions, making them more phagostimulatory for the female during the precopulatory behaviour. The protein could also cleave a pheromone-sugar conjugate to release the pheromonal compounds on to the cuticular surface. Such a sugar conjugate could be a transport form. Data from the first in vivo inhibition tests indicate that a glycosidase could be directly involved in the production process of some pheromonal compounds in L. maderae males" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Biological Transport Blotting, Northern Cockroaches/*genetics/metabolism DNA, Complementary/genetics Epithelium/physiology Exocrine Glands/enzymology Female Gluconates/pharmacology Glycoside Hydrolases/*genetics/metabolism Hydrocarbons/pharmacolog;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineCornette, Richard Farine, Jean-Pierre Abed-Viellard, Dehbia Quennedey, Brigitte Brossut, Remy eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2003/02/21 Biochem J. 2003 Jun 1; 372(Pt 2):535-41. doi: 10.1042/BJ20030025" |
