Glucan-binding activity of silkworm 30-kDa apolipoprotein and its involvement in defense against fungal infection

Minoru Ujita, Yosuke Katsuno, Ichiro Kawachi, Yoshinori Ueno, Yutaka Banno, Hiroshi Fujii, Akira Hara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The silkworm Bombyx mori 30-kDa lipoproteins (6G1 and 19G1), major components of the hemolymph, were shown to bind to glucans. 6G1 apolipoprotein was expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli and assayed for its binding activity. The purified recombinant 6G1 apolipoprotein specifically bound to β-glucan, but not to chitin, mannan, peptidoglycan, or oligosaccharide chains on glycoproteins. The β-glucan binding of the recombinant 6G1 was inhibited by laminaribiose and laminarin, a soluble glucan, but not by lipopolysaccharide or insect blood sugar, trehalose at physiological concentration. Furthermore, the recombinant 6G1 was shown to participate in the activation of prophenoloxidase cascade and to interfere with hyphal growth of the entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces tenuipes, injected into pupae of B. mori. These results suggest that 6G1 lipoprotein plays a role in the protection of B. mori against invading fungi.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1178-1185
Number of pages8
JournalBioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Volume69
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Organic Chemistry

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