Meeting Abstract

81.1  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Identification of the Protein Product of an Insulin-Like Gene Uniquely Expressed in the Androgenic Gland of Crayfish MANOR , R.*; WEIL, S.; ROSEN, O.; GAFNI, O.; GLAZER, L.; AFLALO, E.D.; VENTURA, T.; SAGI, A.; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev sagia@bgu.ac.il

In crustaceans, sexual differentiation is controlled by the androgenic gland (AG), an organ unique to males. Using a subtractive cDNA library, an AG uniquely expressed gene was identified in the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. This gene was found to be a novel insulin-like factor, thus termed Cq-IAG (C. quadricarinatus insulin-like AG factor). The proposed protein sequence encompasses cysteine residues and putative cleaved peptide patterns whose linear and 3D organization are similar to those of members of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor/relaxin family and their receptor recognition surface. In order to identify the proteinacious product, an antibody raised against a short part of the A chain was developed. In an immunohistochemistry assay, a specific cross-reactivity was detected in the AG when using the Cq-IAG antibody. A recombinant Cq-IAG is now in the process of production. The identification of the protein product of Cq-IAG is important in order to prove that the gene indeed encodes the predicted protein and in order to investigate its function.