Kress H, Jarrin A, Thüroff E, Saunders R, Weise C, Schmidt am Busch M, Knapp EW, Wedde M, Vilcinskas A. A Kunitz type protease inhibitor related protein is synthesized in Drosophila prepupal salivary glands and released into the moulting fluid during pupation.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2004;
34:855-869. [PMID:
15262289 DOI:
10.1016/j.ibmb.2004.05.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2004] [Accepted: 05/04/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
From the Drosophila virilis late puff region 31C, we microcloned two neighbouring genes, Kil-1 and Kil-2, that encode putative Kunitz serine protease inhibitor like proteins. The Kil-1 gene is expressed exclusively in prepupal salivary glands. Using a size mutant of the KIL-1 protein and MALDI-TOF analysis, we demonstrate that during pupation this protein is released from the prepupal salivary glands into the pupation fluid covering the surface of the pupa. 3-D-structure predictions are consistent with the known crystal structure of the human Kunitz type protease inhibitor 2KNT. This is the first experimental proof for the extracorporal presence of a distinct Drosophila prepupal salivary gland protein. Possible functions of KIL-1 in the context of the control of proteolytic activities in the pupation fluid are discussed.
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