Molecular identification, characterization, and expression analysis of a serine protease inhibitor gene from cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Serine protease inhibitors (serpins), a superfamily of inhibitors, are known to be involved in several physiological processes, such as development, metamorphosis, and innate immunity. In our study, full-length serpin cDNA, designated Haserpin1, was isolated from the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera. The cDNA sequence Haserpin1 is 1176 nt long, with an open reading frame encoding 391 amino acids; there one exon no intron. predicted molecular weight 43.53 kDa, isoelectric point 4.98. InterProScan employed for functional characterization, which revealed that contains highly conserved signature motifs, including reactive center loop (RCL) hinge region (E341–N350), signature, (F367–F375) P1–P1′ cleavage site (L357–S358), useful identifying serpins. Transcripts were constitutively expressed fat body, suggesting it major synthesis. During developmental stages, fluctuation expression level observed, low detected at 5th-instar larval stage. contrast, relatively high prepupal stage, might play critical role H. armigera wandering Although detailed function this (Haserpin1) needs elucidated, study provides perspective investigation serine inhibitor genes.