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Purification and Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: March 31, 2020
Aphidius ervi teratocytes release an extracellular enolase
Patrizia Falabella1, Lea Riviello, Maria Luisa De Stradis
1Dipartimento di Biologia, Difesa e Biotecnologie Agro-Forestali, Università della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy.
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
|September 30, 2009
Summary
Researchers cloned a gene encoding Ae-ENO, a protein released by parasitoid wasp teratocytes into host aphids. This enolase may play a role in host-parasite interactions.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Insect Biochemistry
Background:
- Teratocytes from the parasitoid Aphidius ervi are released into the host aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum.
- Extracellular enolases are known to play roles in pathogenesis and immune evasion.
- The function of proteins secreted by teratocytes remains largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clone and characterize a novel protein secreted by A. ervi teratocytes.
- To investigate the localization, activity, and potential function of the secreted protein Ae-ENO.
Main Methods:
- Gene cloning and sequencing (3 exons, 2 introns).
- Protein identification using LC-MS/MS.
- In vivo immunodetection and expression analysis.
- Recombinant protein expression in bacteria and enzymatic activity assay.
Main Results:
- A gene encoding Ae-ENO was cloned, showing high sequence identity to insect enolases.
- Ae-ENO was localized in teratocytes and on the surface of host larvae and embryos.
- Recombinant Ae-ENO exhibited significant enolase activity, functioning as a dimer.
Conclusions:
- Ae-ENO is a highly expressed, enzymatically active enolase secreted by A. ervi teratocytes.
- Its extracellular localization suggests a role in modulating host physiology or immune response.
- An unknown secretion pathway for Ae-ENO from teratocytes is indicated.
