2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Role of laccase in insect cuticle sclerotization
| Project/Area Number |
20780036
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
|
| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
|---|
| Research Field |
Applied entomology
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Tokyo Metropolitan University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
ASANO Tsunaki Tokyo Metropolitan University, 大学院・理工学研究科, 助教 (40347266)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2009
|
| Keywords | 昆虫外骨格 / 硬化 / ラッカーゼ |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
Insect cuticle is a non-cellular matrix composed of chitin fiber and proteins. In the process of cuticle formation, cuticular proteins are cross-linked to each other, which increases the mechanical strength of the cuticle. The importance of laccase in this process has become to be known in recent years. In this project, an inactive laccase precursor was purified from pupal cuticle of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and its biochemical properties were characterized. The laccase was found to be a product of Bmlaccase2, an ortholog of laccase2 genes of other insects. It was found that the laccase precursor is activated after pupation, but its molecular mechanisms remains to be studied.
|
