Purification and characterization of three major hemolymph proteins of an insect, Calpodes ethlius (lepidoptera, hesperiidae)

Subba Reddy Palli, Michael Locke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Like many other Lepidoptera, fifth‐stage Calpodes larvae have three major hemolymph proteins. Their molecular weights were estimated by 3‐15% nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (N‐PAGE) as 470,000 (arylphorin; Ar), 580,000 (storage protein 2; SP2) and 720,000 (storage protein 1; SP1). Carbohydrate is associated with all three, but only Ar has lipid. The three proteins have been purified by preparative N‐PAGE and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. On 3‐15% SDS gels, Ar dissociated into 82,000 Mr subunits, SP2 into 86,000 Mr subunits, and SP1 into both 86,000 and 90,000 Mr subunits. The 470,000 Mr protein is identified as Ar because it is rich in aromatic amino acids. The 580,000 and 720,000 Mr proteins are rich in glycine and are called storage proteins. Electron microscopy of negatively stained preparations shows that each polymer has a different geometrical arrangement of subunits. SP1 is a cube made from eight subunits. SP2 is a hexamer in the form of a pentahedral prism. Ar is probably an octahedron made from six subunits. All three geometrical arrangements could permit the presence of a central carrying space.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)233-244
Number of pages12
JournalArchives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1987

Keywords

  • arylphorin
  • storage proteins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Insect Science

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