ssp160 and Chironomus-Secretory Protein Assembly

摇蚊的水生幼虫摇蚊产生丝状纤维 其是分泌蛋白的复合聚合物， 幼虫的唾液腺 这些蛋白质是如何组装成 不溶于水的纤维通过唾液排出腺体 管道是未知的。 杜氏摇蚊唾液腺的特殊叶 腺体由四个细胞组成， 蛋白，ssp 160。 特殊的肺叶靠近唾液腺 管道意味着ssp 160可能以某种方式参与组装 以及将分泌蛋白加工成超分子纤维， 它们通过导管离开腺体。 本提案的目标 目的：1）克隆ssp 160的一级结构， 测序其cDNA，2）确定其细胞- 特定合成通过测量体内速率来调节 mRNA和蛋白质的转录和稳态水平，以及3） 开始剖析其参与摇蚊分泌蛋白 体外拆卸和重新组装。 %%% 这个项目将提高我们对组成的理解， 组装和加工一种独特的生物材料，摇蚊丝。 此外，获得的信息将适用于 新型肽基生物分子材料的设计。

Aquatic larvae of the midge, Chironomus, produce silk-like fibers which are composite polymers of secretory proteins synthesized by the larval salivary glands. How these proteins assemble into water-insoluble fibers as they exit the gland through the salivary duct is not known. The special lobe of Chironomus thummi salivary glands consists of four cells which synthesize a unique secretory protein, ssp160. The proximity of the special lobe to the salivary duct implies that ssp160 may somehow be involved in the assembly and processing of secretory proteins into supramolecular fibers as they exit the gland via the duct. The objectives of this proposal are to learn: 1) the primary structure of ssp160 by cloning and sequencing its cDNA, 2) determine the level at which its cell- specific synthesis is regulated by measuring in vivo rates of transcription and steady-state levels of mRNA and protein, and 3) begin to dissect its involvement in Chironomid secretory protein disassembly and reassembly in vitro. %%% This project will enhance our understanding of the composition, assembly and processing of a unique biomaterial, Chironomid silk. Furthermore, the information gained will be applicable to the design of novel peptide-based biomolecular materials.