• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2012

In order to cloning of PPO gene as a melanin formation related genes involved in hardening and pigmentation of insect integument or wing, we cloned cDNA and analyzed the sequence of PPO gene of H. axyridis. PPO2 primer were designed based on the sequences of PPO genes of Tribolium castaneum and Drosophila melanogaster, and then plasmid DNA were cloned from PCR products obtained from different two color patterns. When the plasmid DNA band pattern were digested by restriction enzymes, BamH1, Xba1, and EcoR1, we found same size band pattern. However, this sequence was not homologous to sequence of T. castaneum PPO gene. Using the primer designed based on the sequence of D. melanogaster, 209 bp PCR product was observed.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.606-610
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• 2008

Phenoloxidase (PO), a melanin-forming enzyme around the foreign bodies, is an important component of the host defense system in invertebrates. Pro-PO is the enzymatically inactive zymogen form of PO. In the Drosophila genome, three Pro-PO isoforms have been identified to date. These include Pro-PO1 and 2, which are primarily expressed in crystal cells, and Pro-PO3, which is predominantly found in the lamellocytes. In this study, we demonstrated that Drosophila Pro-PO3, but not Pro-PO1 or 2, is enzymatically active in its zymogen form. These findings were evidenced by spectacular melanin forming capacities of various cells and tissues that overexpressed these pro-enzymes. Furthermore, the melanization phenotype observed in the lamellocyte-enriched $hop^{Tum-l}$ mutant was drastically reduced in the absence of PPO3, indicating that PPO3 plays a major role in the lamellocyte-mediated spontaneous melanization process. Taken together, these findings indicate that the biochemical properties, activation mode and in vivo role of Pro-PO3 are likely distinct from those of the other two Pro-PO enzymes involved in Drosophila physiology.