none Entered The TATA-binding protein (TBP) and other associated factors are the central elements of the transcription factor, TFIID. The TATA-binding protein recognizes the TATA sequence and specifically binds to it, which recruits RNA polymerase and other transcription factors to form a stable transcription initiation complex. Here we cloned a TATA binding protein gene of Cotesia vestalis teratocyte (CvT-TBP) (GenBanIc No. JX984954) using RT-PCR and RACE methods. The full length of this cDNA fragment is 6105 bp, containing an open reading frame of 5784 bp which encodes 1927 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 213.8 kDa and isoelectric point of 6.82. Homology analysis using BlastP showed that the amino acid sequence of CvT-TBP had a high similarity with those of TBPs from other insects, sharing 72% identity with those of Megachile rotundata, Apis florea and Camponotus floridanus. The results provide a basis for further study of the functional mechanism of teratocytes. Jun 2014