Abstract: Helicoverpa armigera is an important lepidopteran pest of many crops including cotton. Molecular analysis will promote pest control in the future. The gene that encoding triosephosphate isomerase in Helicoverpa armigera, Hatpi, was molecularly cloned and analyzed in this study. The cDNA of Hatpi (GenBank accession no. AY736358) is 1 149 bp in length and encodes a 248 amino acid protein with the estimated molecular mass of 26.4 kD and isoelectric point of 5.82. (βα)8 structure found in the deduced protein structure of HaTPI was similar to that of other triosephosphate isomerase. High identity was also found in the active catalytic sites (Lys12, His94, and Glu165) and peptide motifs (AYEPVWAIGTG and GGASLKPEF). RT-PCR analysis results showed that Hatpi was expressed in the embryo, larva, pupa and adult of H. armigera, suggesting Hatpi may play roles in various developmental stages of H. armigera.

Key words: Helicovepa armigera, triosephosphate isomerise, gene, RACE, sequence analysis, expression