Characterization and expression analysis of heat shock proteins HfHspc1 and HfHspc4 in Haemaphysalis flava ticks

In this study, the cDNAs of heat shock cognate 90 protein 1 (HfHspc1) and heat shock cognate 90 protein 4 (HfHspc4) from Haemaphysalis flava (Acari: Ixodidae) were obtained using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approach, and the expression patterns of HfHspc1 and HfHspc4 in different developmental stages, engorgement stages and tick organs were analyzed by qPCR. The full length of HfHspc1 was 2411 bp, and its open reading frame (ORF) was 2196 bp, encoding a protein of 732 aa, containing five HSPC family signatures, with MEEVD motif at its extreme C-terminal. The full length of HfHspc4 was 2800 bp, and its ORF was 2364 bp, encoding a protein of 789 aa, containing a signal peptide and five family signatures, with HEEL motif at its extreme C-terminal. The expression of HfHspc1 and HfHspc4 was the highest in males, while it was significantly the highest in the ovaries of fully engorged females, potentially implying the roles of these proteins in the successful digestion of blood and development of eggs.