Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 2016, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (8): 812-822.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2016.08.002

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification and ligand binding characteristics of antennal binding protein PxylOBP31 in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

QIN Jiang-Mei1,2,3,4, CAI Li-Jun1,2,3,4,*, ZHENG Li-Shuang1,2,3, CHENG Xiao-Juan1,2,3,5, YOU Min-Sheng1,2,3,4,*   

  1. (1. Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; 2. Fujian-Taiwan Joint Innovation Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management of Fujian and Taiwan, China Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou 350002, China; 4. College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; 5. College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China)
  • Online:2016-08-20 Published:2016-08-20

Abstract: 【Aim】 Antennal binding proteins (ABPs), a sub-class of odorant binding proteins (OBPs), indispensable primary carriers of chemical clues for survival and reproduction of insects. Uncovering the functions of ABPs in olfactory recognition of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is fundamental to revealing the molecular mechanisms of olfaction of the moth. 【Methods】 An antennal binding protein gene was cloned by PCR, and the stage- and tissue-specific expressions of the gene were profiled using real-time quantitative PCR. Then the binding properties of the antennal binding protein to 39 ligand compounds were detected by fluorescence competitive binding assays. 【Results】 The antennal binding protein gene cloned was named as PxylOBP31 (GenBank accession no.: KT156676). Its ORF is 411 bp in length and encodes 136 amino acids, containing the six conserved cysteine residues of typical OBPs. The signal peptide consists of 21 amino acids in the N terminus. The predicted molecular weight and the isoelectric point of the encoded protein are 14.74 kD and 4.41, respectively. Expression profiling indicated that PxylOBP31 was highly expressed in male adults, and mainly expressed in antennae. While the expression level in male adult antennae was about 2-fold higher than that in female adult antennae. The expression level of PxylOBP31 decreased obviously in mated male adults. The results of binding property assays showed that PxylOBP31 had a high binding capacity to aldehydes, ketones, terpinolene, and disobutyl phthalate, but a low binding capacity to the main three sex pheromone components, olefins, and esters. 【Conclusion】 The nucleotide sequences and developmental and tissue expression profiles of PxylOBP31 were characterized. Based on the qRT-PCR and fluorescence competitive binding assay results, we inferred that PxylOBP31 is involved in such behaviors of the diamondback moth as seeking a mate and locating host plants.

Key words: Plutella xylostella, odorant binding protein, antennal binding protein, gene cloning, expression profile, fluorescence competitive binding assay