Recent advances in cloning and expression of the insect antifreeze protein genes
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Key Words：insect antifreeze protein, gene cloning, structure an alysis, expression characteristics, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera
Abstract： ]Insects survive cold environment mainly by producing a ntifreeze protein s (AFPs). The expression pattern of AFP and the cloning of AFP genes are the maj or aspect in the research of the AFP function and activity. In this paper, almos t all of the insect antifreeze protein genes registered in the GenBank were summ arized and listed in terms of the species from which the gene was cloned, the nu mber of the registered genes, the features of the cloned fragments and the regis tration time. The inconsistent results in the natural antifreeze protein gene ex pression among different species and different AFP isoforms were discussed. The problems encountered in the fusion expression of insect AFPs was also analyzed, mainly focused on improvement of expression level and increase of the AFP activi ty. By now, the number of insect AFP genes registered in GenBank is about one hu ndred from nine species in four orders (Tortricidae in Lepidoptera and Pyrochroi dae, Tenebrionidae, and Lucanidae in Coleoptera). Insect AFPs exist in many copi es and isoforms. The study on the expression of insect AFP genes would expand ou r knowledge about the function of antifreeze protein.