Aldehyde oxidase 2 gene from navel orange worm (Amyelois transitella) expression and functional characterization

We have previously cloned an aldehyde oxidase 2 from antennae of navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella. We report here the expression characterization of an antennae-specific aldehyde oxidase 2, AtraAOX2. The AtraAOX2 gene spans 3,813 bp and consists of 1,270 amino acid residues. Analysis of activity from male tissues showed that AtraAOX2 is expressed specifically in antennae. The cDNA encoding AtraAOX2 was expressed as a 140 kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf21 cells and recombinant AtraAOX2 showed activity by oxidase enzyme assay using benzaldehyde as a substrate. Taken together our findings suggest that AtraAOX2 is a degrading-enzyme involved in inactivation of the main constituent of the navel orangeworm sex pheromone system, Z11Z13-16Ald.