Antenna-predominant and male-biased CSP19 of Sesamia inferens is able to bind the female sex pheromones and host plant volatiles

• Published in: Gene 2014-02, Vol.536 (2), p.279-286
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ya-Nan, Ye, Zhan-Feng, Yang, Ke, Dong, Shuang-Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Arthropod Antennae - metabolism; Binding, Competitive - genetics; Chemosensory protein; DNA, Complementary - genetics; Expression pattern; Female; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; Ligand-binding; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Moths - genetics; Moths - metabolism; Phylogeny; Prokaryotic expression; Protein Binding - genetics; Receptors, Odorant - genetics; Receptors, Odorant - metabolism; Sequence Alignment; Sex Attractants - genetics; Sex Attractants - metabolism; The purple stem borer; Volatile Organic Compounds - metabolism
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.12.011

Insect chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are proposed to capture and transport hydrophobic chemicals across the sensillum lymph to olfactory receptors (ORs), but this has not been clarified in moths. In this study, we built on our previously reported segment sequence work and cloned the full length CSP19 gene (SinfCSP19) from the antennae of Sesamia inferens by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Quantitative real time-PCR (qPCR) assays indicated that the gene was expressed in a unique profile, i.e. predominant in antennae and significantly higher in male than in female. To explore the function, recombinant SinfCSP19 was expressed in Escherichia coli cells and purified by Ni–ion affinity chromatography. Binding affinities of the recombinant SinfCSP19 with 39 plant volatiles, 3 sex pheromone components and 10 pheromone analogs were measured using fluorescent competitive binding assays. The results showed that 6 plant volatiles displayed high binding affinities to SinfCSP19 (Ki=2.12–8.75μM), and more interesting, the 3 sex pheromone components and analogs showed even higher binding to SinfCSP19 (Ki=0.49–1.78μM). Those results suggest that SinfCSP19 plays a role in reception of female sex pheromones of S. inferens and host plant volatiles. •The full-length of a CSP19 was cloned and characterized in Sesamia inferens.•The expression of SinfCSP19 was antenna-predominant and male-biased.•CSP19 bound highly 6 host plant volatiles and 3 sex pheromones of S. inferens.•SinfCSP19 might play a role in reception of sex pheromones and plant volatiles.