Expression and binding properties of pheromone binding protein EeluPBP in Ephestia elutella

To understand the sex pheromone perception mechanisms in Ephestia elutella, a pheromone binding protein (EeluPBP) from Ephestia elutellawas expressed in Escherichia coli in vitro. The binding capacity of EeluPBP protein with the two sex pheromones of E. elutella, (Z,E)-9, 12-tetradecadien-1-ol and (Z,E)-9, 12-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate, was evaluated by a fluorescence competitive binding assay. The results showed that: 1) EeluPBP protein was successfully expressed in E. coliwith a molecular weight of approximately 15 kDa. 2) The binding dissociation constant K_d value of EeluPBP protein with fluorescent probe 1-NPN was 0.83 μmol/L, indicating that the EeluPBP protein expressed and purified in vitro had good binding activities. 3) The recombinant EeluPBP protein had a strong binding capacity with (Z,E)-9, 12-tetradecadien-1-ol with a K_i value of 3.26 μmol/L, indicating that the pheromone binding protein EeluPBP played an important role in the perception of sex pheromone in E. elutella.