cDNA cloning, functional expression and characterization of kynurenine 3‐hydroxylase of Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Kynurenine 3-hydroxylase (K3H) is a NADPH-dependent flavin monooxygenase involved in the tryptophan pathway. Xanthurenic acid (XA) is a metabolite of this pathway and has recently been identified as a gamete activating factor (GAF) of the malarial parasite. We cloned K3H cDNA from Anopheles stephensi (AsK3H), because anopheline mosquitoes are a vector of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum and the catalytic function of AsK3H in XA production. Recombinant AsK3H protein was expressed in Sf-9 cells using the baculovirus system and its enzymatic properties were characterized. The specific activities of crude cell lysate and affinity purified protein were 94.9 +/- 6.2 and 865.6 +/- 10.5 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The optimum pH of AsK3H was 7.0. Analysis of AsK3H gene expression using RT-PCR revealed that AsK3H was constitutively expressed in egg, larva, pupa and adult.