Shiomi K, Niimi T, Imai K, Yamashita O
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Japan.
Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2000 Feb;30(2):119-25. doi: 10.1016/s0965-1748(99)00105-8.
The VAP-peptide (BmACP-6.7) is a hydrophobic peptide localized in adult cuticle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We isolated and characterized the VAP-peptide gene as a useful marker gene to analyze molecular mechanisms of terminal differentiation processes in the adult. The gene is composed of two exons interrupted by one intron. The 5' upstream promoter region is shown to bear a nucleotide sequence similar to the cis-element that is recognized and bound by the Bombyx mori FTZ-F1 protein (BmFTZ-F1). Expression of the BmFTZ-F1 gene preceded expression of the VAP-peptide gene and injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone suppressed the expression of both genes. An in vitro binding assay indicated direct interaction of BmFTZ-F1 with the VAP-peptide gene promoter sequence. Therefore, BmFTZ-F1 is proposed to be a possible factor regulating the stage-specific expression of the VAP-peptide gene towards adult life.
VAP肽（BmACP - 6.7）是一种疏水性肽，定位于家蚕成虫的表皮中。我们分离并鉴定了VAP肽基因，将其作为一个有用的标记基因，用于分析成虫终末分化过程的分子机制。该基因由两个外显子组成，中间被一个内含子隔开。5'上游启动子区域显示具有与家蚕FTZ - F1蛋白（BmFTZ - F1）识别并结合的顺式元件相似的核苷酸序列。BmFTZ - F1基因的表达先于VAP肽基因的表达，注射20 - 羟基蜕皮激素可抑制这两个基因的表达。体外结合试验表明BmFTZ - F1与VAP肽基因启动子序列直接相互作用。因此，BmFTZ - F1被认为是调节VAP肽基因向成虫期阶段特异性表达的一个可能因子。
