Genomic structure and ecdysone regulation of the prophenoloxidase 1 gene in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

ABSTRACT: Prophenoloxidase, a melanin-synthesizing enzyme, is considered to be an important arthropod immune protein. In mosquitoes, prophenoloxidase has been shown to be involved in refractory mechanisms against malaria parasites. In our study we used Anopheles gambiae, the most important human malaria vector, to characterize the first arthropod prophenoloxidase gene at the genomic level. The complete nucleotide sequence, including the immediate 5' flanking sequence (-855 bp) of the prophenoloxidase 1 gene, was determined. The gene spans 10 kb and is composed of five exons and four introns coding for a 2.5-kb mRNA. In the 5' flanking sequence, we found several putative regulatory motifs, two of which were identified as ecdysteroid regulatory elements. Electrophoretic mobility gel-shift assays and s

SUBMITTER: Ahmed A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC24727 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature