Molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence and gene expression of a transferrin gene from the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Chilo suppressalis transferrin cDNA was cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The clone (2,248 bp) encodes a protein of 644 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 71,805 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence showed significant homology with known insect transferrins from Bombyx mori (82%), Manduca sexta (77%), Blaberus discoidalis (43%), Riptortus clavatus (42%), Aedes aegypti (36%), Sarcophaga peregrina (32%), Drosophila melanogaster (33%) and D. silvestris (32%). Transferrin expression was examined by RNA gel blot analysis using diapausing and non-diapausing larvae of C. suppressalis. As a result, higher levels of expression were observed in diapausing larvae.