China-UK-NYNU-Rres Joint Libratory of Insect Biology, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061 Henan, China.
J Insect Physiol. 2013 Jul;59(7):667-75. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.04.004. Epub 2013 Apr 23.
Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a family of small soluble proteins that, in addition to the odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), are involved in chemical communication. To understand the physiological function of the 16 known CSPs in the silkworm Bombyx mori, we investigated the expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (Q-PCR) and Western blot analysis. The results indicated that most CSPs were widely expressed in embryos, larvae, pupae and adults but were developmentally regulated. Such broad spatial and temporal expression was inconsistent with a specific association with chemosensory function. We conclude that CSPs are multifunctional proteins that are involved in diverse cellular processes and that can play non-chemosensory as well as chemosensory roles. Binding experiments revealed different binding characteristics of CSP1 and CSP2, with retinal being the best ligand, suggesting a putative function of these CSPs as carriers.
化感蛋白（CSPs）是一类小的可溶性蛋白家族，除了气味结合蛋白（OBPs）之外，还参与化学通讯。为了了解 16 种已知的家蚕（Bombyx mori）化感蛋白的生理功能，我们使用定量实时 RT-PCR（Q-PCR）和 Western blot 分析研究了它们在不同组织和发育阶段的表达模式。结果表明，大多数 CSPs 在胚胎、幼虫、蛹和成虫中广泛表达，但受到发育调控。这种广泛的时空表达与特定的化学感觉功能无关。我们得出结论，CSPs 是多功能蛋白，参与多种细胞过程，既能发挥非化学感觉功能，也能发挥化学感觉功能。结合实验揭示了 CSP1 和 CSP2 的不同结合特性，以视黄醛为最佳配体，表明这些 CSPs 可能具有载体的功能。
