Identification and characterization of Aedes aegypti aminopeptidase N as a putative receptor of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11A toxin

Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2009 Oct;39(10):688-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2009.08.003. Epub 2009 Aug 19.

Abstract

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, which is used worldwide to control Aedes aegypti larvae, produces Cry11Aa and other toxins during sporulation. In this study, pull-down assays were performed using biotinylated Cry11Aa toxin and solubilized brush border membrane vesicles prepared from midguts of Aedes larvae. Three of the eluted proteins were identified as aminopeptidase N (APN), one of which was a 140 kDa protein, named AaeAPN1 (AAEL012778 in VectorBase). This protein localizes to the apical side of posterior midgut epithelial cells of larva. The full-length AaeAPN1 was cloned and expressed in Eschericia coli and in Sf21 cells. AaeAPN1 protein expressed in Sf21 cells was enzymatically active, had a GPI-anchor but did not bind Cry11Aa. A truncated AaeAPN1, however, binds Cry11Aa with high affinity, and also Cry11Ba but with lower affinity. BBMV but not Sf21 expressed AaeAPN1 can be detected by wheat germ agglutinin suggesting the native but Sf21 cell-expressed APN1 contains N-acetylglucosamine moieties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / chemistry
  • Aedes / enzymology*
  • Aedes / genetics
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • CD13 Antigens / chemistry
  • CD13 Antigens / genetics
  • CD13 Antigens / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Endotoxins / metabolism*
  • Hemolysin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Insect Proteins / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Endotoxins
  • Hemolysin Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis
  • CD13 Antigens