Characterization of antenna-specific cholesterol-binding protein in the ant

我们鉴定了尼曼-匹克型C2蛋白触角特异性地表达在日本木蚁工蚁中。在人类中，这种蛋白质在细胞中转移胆固醇方面起着重要作用，而蚂蚁将这种蛋白质积累在锥形感器中，并将其用作长链脂肪酸，酒精和乙酸酯等化学信息素的载体蛋白。该蛋白由β-结构组成。结合释放的分子机制是通过第112位色氨酸残基侧链的氢网络形成和角度变化来调节的。

We identified Niemann-Pick type C2 protein antenna-specifically expressed in worker of the Japanese carpenter ant, Camponotus japonicus. In human, this protein plays an essential role in transferring cholesterol in the cells whereas ant accumulated this protein in the basiconic sensillum and used it as a carrier protein for semiochemicals such as long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, and acetates. The protein was composed of beta-structure. The molecular mechanism of binding release was regulated by hydrogen network formation and angle change of side chain of the 112th tryptophan residue.