Insecticyanin of Agrius convolvuli:: Purification and characterization of the biliverdin-binding protein from the larval hemolymph

Blue biliprotein, insecticyanin (INS), has been purified from the hemolymph of the sweet potato hornworm, Agrius convolvuli. The protein was efficiently isolated from the hemolymph of fifth instar larvae using three successive column chromatographic techniques: hydrophobic interaction chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and gel-filtration. The purified INS showed a native molecular weight of approximately 59,000 by gel-filtration. SDS-PAGE revealed a single band with Mr of approximately 26,000. Moreover, the molecular mass of INS was 21,213 by MALDI-TOF/MS. Thus, the native A. convolvuli INS molecule was assumed to be a trimer in solution. The blue coloration of A. convolvuli INS from the hemolymph was attributed to the presence of biliverdin IX gamma, due to the absorbance maxima at 360 and 695 nm, which was non-covalently bound with the apoprotein. Amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of A. convolvuli INS is similar to M. sexta INS. A. convolvuli INS represents one of the biliverdin-binding proteins in lepidopteran insects.