• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 2005

A cuticle protein gene, PbLCP12.1, from the white­spotted flower chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis, was isolated and characterized. The gene contains an ORF of 336 nucleotides capable of encoding a 113 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 12,138 Da and pI of 4.15. The PbLCP12.1 protein contained a type-specific consensus sequence identifiable in other insect cuticle proteins. The deduced amino acid sequence of the PbLCP12.1 cDNA is most similar to Bombyx mori cuticle protein BmLCP18 (37$\%$ protein sequence identity). Northern blot analysis revealed that PbLCP12.1 showed the epidermis-specific expression.