[Cloning and structural analysis of MLP in the silkworm, Bombyx mori]

The LIM domain is found in a wide variety of eukaryotic proteins that regulate gene expression and cell differentiation during development. Muscle LIM protein (MLP) gene in Bombyx mori has been cloned by blasting its EST database and PCR test in present report. The resulting sequence covers 2 327 bp of cDNA (GenBank accession No. DQ311195). It has a complete open reading fragment and encodes a 494 amino acid protein. Genomic DNA sequence contains 11 exons and 10 introns, with intron splicing following the GT-AG rule. M.W. and PI of the predicted MLP in Bombyx mori are 53.03 kDa and 8.29 respectively. A single LIM domain linked to a glyscine-rich region is found in a previously deposited LIM protein (AAR23823) in Bombyx mori. MLP identified in this report encodes a protein with five tandem LIM-glycine modules. The two LIM proteins could be produced by alternative splicing and both are probably involved in muscle cell differentiation. This work provides foundation for further research on the in vivo function of MLP.