Cloning and homologic analysis of Tpn I gene in silkworm Bombyx mori

The troponin complex is composed of three subunits, Troponin C (the calcium sensor component) and Troponin T and I (structural proteins). Tpn C is encoded by multiple genes in insects, while the Tpn T and Tpn I proteins are encoded by single genes. Tpn I binds to actin and Tpn T binds to tropomyosin. We cloned and sequenced the Tpn I (AY873787) gene from Bombyx mori that encodes 225 amino acids and contains a conserved motif seen in Drosophila virilis and Anopheles gambiae. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that its deduced amino sequence shares 81.3 and 78.7% homology with the Tpn I genes of A. gambiae and D. virili, respectively.