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Purification and characterization of five cuticular proteins from the spider Araneus diadematus

1996; Elsevier BV; Volume: 26; Issue: 8-9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0965-1748(96)00052-5

1879-0240

Tina Norup, Torben Berg, Halfdan Stenholm, Svend Olav Andersen, Peter Højrup,

Insect and Pesticide Research

Urea-extractable proteins have been purified from the cephalothoracic cuticle of mature Araneus diadematus spiders. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed at least 12 major proteins, with pls between 4.5 and 8.5. Five proteins were purified and their primary structure determined, using a combination of mass spectrometry and Edman degradation. Based on the amino acid sequence the proteins can be divided into two groups, both characterized by hydrophobic regions dominated by Ala, Pro and Val. Sequence similarity was observed between all the spider cuticle proteins and a number of proteins from other arthropod cuticles. Although the similarity seemed to be confined only to a region in the central part of the molecules, it does link these very distantly related species.