A family of pupal-specific cuticular protein genes in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

We have cloned and sequenced members of a cuticular protein multi-gene family from the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Three genes (agcp2a-c), each approximately 1 kb in length, were found in a 17.4 kb genomic phage clone. Analysis of ten cDNAs revealed that at least four related genes are present. The open reading frame of the genes and cDNAs showed 95% sequence identity. Divergence was observed in the sequence of the 3' ends and the number of copies of two repeated coding sequences. In situ hybridizations with a probe prepared from one of these circular protein genes physically mapped to two loci, 26B on chromosome 2L and 37A on 3R. Transcription of these An. gambiae cuticular protein genes appears to be limited to pharate pupae and the expressed protein(s) is found in early pupae. The deduced amino acid sequence of these proteins contains a hydrophilic region with significant similarity to other cuticular proteins including the pupal-specific cuticular protein, EDG84, of Drosophila melanogaster (Apple and Fristrom).