Niemann–Pick Type C2 Proteins in Aedes aegypti: Molecular Modelling and Prediction of Their Structure–Function Relationships

Thambi, Prathigna Jaishankar, Modahl, Cassandra and Kini, R. Manjunatha (2024) 'Niemann–Pick Type C2 Proteins in Aedes aegypti: Molecular Modelling and Prediction of Their Structure–Function Relationships'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 25, Issue 3, e1684.

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Abstract

Aedes aegypti is a major vector that transmits arboviruses through the saliva injected into the host. Salivary proteins help in uninterrupted blood intake and enhance the transmission of pathogens. We studied Niemann–Pick Type C2 (NPC2) proteins, a superfamily of saliva proteins that play an important role in arbovirus infections. In vertebrates, a single conserved gene encodes for the NPC2 protein that functions in cholesterol trafficking. Arthropods, in contrast, have several genes that encode divergent NPC2 proteins. We compared the sequences of 20 A. aegypti NPC2 proteins to the cholesterol-binding residues of human and bovine, and fatty-acid-binding residues of ant NPC2 protein. We identified four mosquito NPC2 proteins as potential sterol-binding proteins. Two of these proteins (AAEL006854 and/or AAEL020314) may play a key role in ecdysteroid biosynthesis and moulting. We also identified one mosquito NPC2 protein as a potential fatty-acid-binding protein. Through molecular modelling, we predicted the structures of the potential sterol- and fatty-acid-binding proteins and compared them to the reference proteins.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QU Biochemistry > Proteins. Amino Acids. Peptides > QU 55 Proteins QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 525 Aedes
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031684
Depositing User:	Clare O'Neill
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2024 14:10
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2024 14:10
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/23959

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