A sex-influenced protein in Chironomus (Diptera)

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Abstract

A protein, detected electrophoretically in Chironomus, was found to be sex-influenced since it is present in large amounts in females and absent in males (although on native gels, but not SDS gels, an electrophoretically equivalent band is present). This protein was found to be composed of two subunits of similar molecular weight (approx. 17,800 Da) and has the characteristics of both a haemoglobin as well as a vitellogenin. Its presence in the female haemolymph was correlated with the stages of development and in none of the species tested did it appear until the fourth instar; however, it persists throughout the subsequent stages. Tissue distribution studies indicate that this sex-influenced protein is found not only in the haemolymph of the female larvae but also in the pupal ovaries and adult eggs. An antiserum raised against the protein was used to confirm the presence of this protein in these tissues in a number of species, and in isolating the gene. The results suggest that this protein may be required for respiration as well as egg formation.

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