Fundamental aspects of carotenoid absorption are largely unknown, such as luminal and intracellular factors related to uptake and transport of carotenoid. We utilized the YI, Y+I, +YI and +Y+I mutants of Bombyx mori to characterize lipid absorption and transport from midgut to silk glands via lipophorin. In the Y or I gene, the transport of the other lipids, except carotenoid, is normal. Only the transfer of lutein is affected. The amount of carotenoid transported to the hemolymph in the Y+I mutant was 100-fold greater than in all other mutants. A carotenoid binding protein (CBP) has been isolated from the silk gland of Bombyx mori. Western blotting analysis demonstrated the presence of CBP only in the yellow colored tissues of the silk gland, midgut, testis and ovary. Immunoblotting analysis and immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of CBP in mutants with the dominant Y gene only. Immunocytochemistry also verified the localization of CBP in the villi of the midgut epithelial cells, indicating that CBP might be involved in absorption of carotenoid.
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