An immunophilin is a component of the insect ecdysone receptor (EcR) complex

The ecdysone receptor (EcR) complex has been identified in the prothoracic gland of Manduca sexta by specific immunoprecipitation and Western blot analyses, and includes EcR, ultraspiracle (USP) and FKBP46. The EcR complex binds ponasterone A in a dose-dependent manner with a Kd of 7.04 x 10(-9) M. Immunocytochemistry revealed that EcR, USP and FKBP46 were localized within the nucleus of the prothoracic gland cells, and suggested that the developmental expression patterns of EcR and USP changed in concert with the hemolymph ecdysteroid titer whereas that of FKBP46 did not. The composite results suggest that the hemolymph ecdysteroid titer, of which 20 hydroxyecdysone is the major component, modulates the expression of both EcR and USP in the prothoracic gland to achieve feedback regulation.