Protein Chemistry and Structure
Purification, Partial Characterization, and Cloning of Nitric Oxide-carrying Heme Proteins (Nitrophorins) from Salivary Glands of the Blood-sucking Insect Rhodnius prolixus*

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Four nitric oxide (NO)-carrying proteins have been isolated from salivary glands of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. These have been given the collective name “nitrophorins,” and individual proteins are designated NP1-NP4 in order of their relative abundance in the glands. All four reversibly bind NO; spectral shifts associated with NO binding indicate the interaction of NO with an Fe(III) heme. Physical properties, amino acid composition, and amino-terminal sequences of the nitrophorins are reported. The most abundant nitrophorin was cloned, and its sequence was determined.

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This work was supported by NIAID, National Institutes of Health Grants AI-18694 (to J. M. C. R.) and AI-35591 (to D. C.). The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore by hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

© 1995 ASBMB. Currently published by Elsevier Inc; originally published by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.