A mucin protein predominantly expressed in the female-specific symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali.

ABSTRACT: Diverse insects are obligatorily associated with microbial symbionts, wherein the host often develops special symbiotic organs and vertically transmits the symbiont to the next generation. What molecular factors underpin the host-symbiont relationship is of great interest but poorly understood. Here we report a novel protein preferentially produced in a female-specific symbiotic organ of the stinkbug Plautia stali, whose posterior midgut develops numerous crypts to host a Pantoea-allied bacterial mutualist. In adult females, several posteriormost crypts are conspicuously enlarged, presumably specialized for vertical symbiont transmission. We detected conspicuous protein bands specific to the female's swollen crypts by gel electrophoresis, and identified them as representing a novel mucin-l

SUBMITTER: Moriyama M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9095716 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature