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Kourti A, Kontogiannatos D, Gkouvitsas T, Hatzopoulos P. Circadian clock genes and photoperiodic diapause in the moth Sesamia nonagrioides. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 266:110849. [PMID: 36948355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Insects, like most organisms, have an internal circadian clock that oscillates with a daily rhythmicity, and a timing mechanism (photoperiodic clock) that mediates seasonal events, including diapause. It has been argued that there is a connection between the two clocks. The Mediterranean corn stalk borer moth, Sesamia nonagrioides, undergoes facultative diapause governed by photoperiod. To obtain clues to the link between the molecular mechanism of circadian and photoperiod clocks, we cloned and investigated the expression profiles of the clock genes Snper, Sntim, Sncyc and Sncry1 in the aforementioned moth species. Our previous results suggested that these genes might be implicated in the regulation of the diapause programming in S. nonagrioides. Here we studied the expression patterns of these four clock genes in larvae reared under abnormal non-24 h light-dark cycles (L10:D62 and L10:D14:L10:D62) in order to assess whether disruption of circadian clock would have any effect in the photoperiodic regulation of diapause. In the L10:D14:L10:D62 cycle abnormal expression patterns of the Sntim/Sncry1 and Snper/Sncyc, pairs were found, compared to normal 24 h light-dark photoperiods suggesting that individual clock genes are acting independently in the molecular diapause program of S. nonagrioides. Photoperiod therefore appears to be the crucial signal for the regulation of these four genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kourti
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
| | - Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Gkouvitsas
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Polydefkis Hatzopoulos
- Department of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
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Kolliopoulou A, Kontogiannatos D, Mazurek AJ, Prifti I, Christopoulou VM, Labropoulou V, Swevers L. Analysis of luciferase dsRNA production during baculovirus infection of Hi5 cells: RNA hairpins expressed by very late promoters do not trigger gene silencing. Front Insect Sci 2022; 2:959077. [PMID: 38468767 PMCID: PMC10926400 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.959077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) has become an important platform for the expression of recombinant proteins and is especially useful for the production of large protein complexes such as virus-like particles (VLPs). An important application for VLPs is their use as vehicles for targeted delivery of drugs or toxins which requires the development of methods for efficient loading with the intended cargo. Our research intends to employ the BEVS for the production of VLPs for the delivery of insecticidal dsRNA molecules to targeted insect pests (as "dsRNA-VLPs"). A convenient strategy would be the co-expression of long dsRNAs with viral capsid proteins and their simultaneous encapsulation during VLP assembly but the capacity of the BEVS for the production of long dsRNA has not been assessed so far. In this study, the efficiency of production of long RNA hairpins targeting the luciferase gene ("dsLuc") by the polyhedrin promoter during baculovirus infection was evaluated. However, RNAi reporter assays could not detect significant amounts of dsLuc in Hi5 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus, even in the presence of co-expressed dsRNA-binding protein B2-GFP or the employment of the MS2-MCP system. Nevertheless, dot blot analyses using anti-dsRNA antibody revealed that baculovirus-mediated expression of B2-GFP resulted in significant increases in dsRNA levels in infected cells that may correspond to hybridized complementary viral transcripts. Using B2-GFP as a genetically encoded sensor, dsRNA foci were detected in the nuclei that partially co-localized with DAPI staining, consistent with their localization at the virogenic stroma. Co-localization experiments with the baculovirus proteins vp39, Ac93, ODV-E25 and gp64 indicated limited overlap between B2-GFP and the ring zone compartment where assembly of nucleocapsids and virions occurs. Stability experiments showed that exogenous dsRNA is resistant to degradation in extracts of non-infected and infected Hi5 cells and it is proposed that strong unwinding activity at the virogenic stroma in the infected nuclei may neutralize the annealing of complementary RNA strands and block the production of long dsRNAs. Because the strong stability of exogenous dsRNA, transfection can be explored as an alternative method for delivery of cargo for dsRNA-VLPs during their assembly in baculovirus-infected Hi5 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kolliopoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Aleksander Józef Mazurek
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Izabela Prifti
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki-Maria Christopoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Labropoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
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Ren F, Yan J, Kontogiannatos D, Wang X, Li J, Swevers L, Sun J. Characterization of virus-like particles assembled by co-expression of BmCPV capsid shell protein and large protrusion protein. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:1656-1664. [PMID: 35460752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV) is a typical single-layer capsid dsRNA virus belonging to the Reoviridae family of the Cypovirus genus. Previous studies have shown that the BmCPV major capsid shell protein (CSP) has the ability to self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs), and cryo-electron microscopy of the BmCPV virions has revealed a tight mutual binding region between CSP and another capsid protein known as the Large Protrusion Protein (LPP), which further stabilizes the capsid shell. In this study, the multi-gene baculovirus expression system, Ac-MultiBac, was used to produce both solely CSP-based and CSP-LPP co-assembled VLPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that addition of LPP did not affect the assembly of VLPs resulting in almost identical structure in both cases. However, ex vivo administration of VLPs to silkworm midgut tissue showed that CSP-based VLPs did not induce a significant transcriptional response in the innate immunity and RNAi gene cascades, compared to the co-assembled CSP-LPP based VLPs and the natural BmCPV virions isolated from polyhedra. The experimental results indicate that CSP and LPP attach tightly ("Plug and Display" model with CSP acting as "catcher" and LPP as "tag") to form VLPs that have a structure similar to that of the native CPV virions. Moreover, our results showed that the formation of VLPs with the two BmCPV capsid proteins is feasible, which can form the basis for the production of BmCPV-based VLPs as a new type of biological material to display exogenous proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Ren
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiming Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens 15341, Greece
| | - Xiong Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jingyang Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens 15341, Greece.
| | - Jingchen Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Kontogiannatos D, Koutrotsios G, Xekalaki S, Zervakis GI. Biomass and Cordycepin Production by the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris-A Review of Various Aspects and Recent Trends towards the Exploitation of a Valuable Fungus. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7110986. [PMID: 34829273 PMCID: PMC8621325 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cordyceps militaris is an entomopathogenic ascomycete with similar pharmacological importance to that of the wild caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. C. militaris has attracted significant research and commercial interest due to its content in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health and the relative ease of cultivation under laboratory conditions. However, room for improvement exists in the commercial-scale cultivation of C. militaris and concerns issues principally related to appropriate strain selection, genetic degeneration of cultures, and substrate optimization. In particular, culture degeneration-usually expressed by abnormal fruit body formation and reduced sporulation-results in important economic losses and is holding back investors and potential growers (mainly in Western countries) from further developing this highly promising sector. In the present review, the main factors that influence the generation of biomass and metabolites (with emphasis on cordycepin biosynthesis) by C. militaris are presented and evaluated in conjunction with the use of a wide range of supplements or additives towards the enhancement of fungal productivity in large-scale cultivation processes. Moreover, physiological and genetic factors that increase or reduce the manifestation of strain degeneration in C. militaris are outlined. Finally, methodologies for developing protocols to be used in C. militaris functional biology studies are discussed.
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Swevers L, Kontogiannatos D, Kolliopoulou A, Ren F, Feng M, Sun J. Mechanisms of Cell Entry by dsRNA Viruses: Insights for Efficient Delivery of dsRNA and Tools for Improved RNAi-Based Pest Control. Front Physiol 2021; 12:749387. [PMID: 34858204 PMCID: PMC8632066 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.749387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While RNAi is often heralded as a promising new strategy for insect pest control, a major obstacle that still remains is the efficient delivery of dsRNA molecules within the cells of the targeted insects. However, it seems overlooked that dsRNA viruses already have developed efficient strategies for transport of dsRNA molecules across tissue barriers and cellular membranes. Besides protecting their dsRNA genomes in a protective shell, dsRNA viruses also display outer capsid layers that incorporate sophisticated mechanisms to disrupt the plasma membrane layer and to translocate core particles (with linear dsRNA genome fragments) within the cytoplasm. Because of the perceived efficiency of the translocation mechanism, it is well worth analyzing in detail the molecular processes that are used to achieve this feat. In this review, the mechanism of cell entry by dsRNA viruses belonging to the Reoviridae family is discussed in detail. Because of the large amount of progress in mammalian versus insect models, the mechanism of infections of reoviruses in mammals (orthoreoviruses, rotaviruses, orbiviruses) will be treated as a point of reference against which infections of reoviruses in insects (orbiviruses in midges, plant viruses in hemipterans, insect-specific cypoviruses in lepidopterans) will be compared. The goal of this discussion is to uncover the basic principles by which dsRNA viruses cross tissue barriers and translocate their cargo to the cellular cytoplasm; such knowledge subsequently can be incorporated into the design of dsRNA virus-based viral-like particles for optimal delivery of RNAi triggers in targeted insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Kolliopoulou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Feifei Ren
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingchen Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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Kolliopoulou A, Kontogiannatos D, Swevers L. The Use of Engineered Plant Viruses in a Trans-Kingdom Silencing Strategy Against Their Insect Vectors. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:917. [PMID: 32733507 PMCID: PMC7360853 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants, plant viruses, and their vectors are co-evolving actors that co-exist and interact in nature. Insects are the most important vectors of plant viruses, serving as both carriers and hosts for the virus. This trans-kingdom interaction can be harnessed for the production of recombinant plant viruses designed to target insect genes via the RNAi machinery. The selection of the adequate viruses is important since they must infect and preferentially replicate in both the host plant and the insect vector. The routes of transmission that determine the extent of the infection inside the insect vary among different plant viruses. In the context of the proposed strategy, plant viruses that are capable of transversing the insect gut-hemocoel barrier and replicating in insect tissues are attractive candidates. Thus, the transmission of such viruses in a persistent and propagative manner is considered as a prerequisite for this strategy to be feasible, a characteristic that is found in viruses from the families Bunyaviridae, Reoviridae, and Rhabdoviridae. In addition, several RNA viruses are known that replicate in both plant and insect tissues via a yet unclarified transmission route. In this review, advances in knowledge of trans-kingdom transmission of plant viruses and future perspectives for their engineering as silencing vectors are thoroughly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kolliopoulou
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece
- *Correspondence: Anna Kolliopoulou,
| | - Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, Greece
| | - Luc Swevers
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Agia Paraskevi, Greece
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Kontogiannatos D, Gkouvitsas T, Kourti A. The expression of the clock gene cycle has rhythmic pattern and is affected by photoperiod in the moth Sesamia nonagrioides. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 208-209:1-6. [PMID: 28363845 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
To obtain clues to the link between the molecular mechanism of circadian and photoperiod clocks, we have cloned the circadian clock gene cycle (Sncyc) in the corn stalk borer, Sesamia nonagrioides, which undergoes facultative diapause controlled by photoperiod. Sequence analysis revealed a high degree of conservation among insects for this gene. SnCYC consists of 667 amino acids and structural analysis showed that it contains a BCTR domain in its C-terminal in addition to the common domains found in Drosophila CYC, i.e. bHLH, PAS-A, PAS-B domains. The results revealed that the sequence of Sncyc showed a similarity to that of its mammalian orthologue, Bmal1. We also investigated the expression patterns of Sncyc in the brain of larvae growing under long-day 16L: 8D (LD), constant darkness (DD) and short-day 10L: 14D (SD) conditions using qRT-PCR assays. The mRNAs of Sncyc expression was rhythmic in LD, DD and SD cycles. Also, it is remarkable that the photoperiodic conditions affect the expression patterns and/or amplitudes of circadian clock gene Sncyc. This gene is associated with diapause in S. nonagrioides, because under SD (diapause conditions) the photoperiodic signal altered mRNA accumulation. Sequence and expression analysis of cyc in S. nonagrioides shows interesting differences compared to Drosophila where this gene does not oscillate or change in expression patterns in response to photoperiod, suggesting that this species is an interesting new model to study the molecular control of insect circadian and photoperiodic clocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Gkouvitsas
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Kourti
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
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Kontogiannatos D, Gkouvitsas T, Kourti A. The expression patterns of the clock genes period and timeless are affected by photoperiod in the Mediterranean corn stalk borer, Sesamia nonagrioides. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2017; 94:e21366. [PMID: 28000948 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To obtain clues to the link between the molecular mechanism of circadian and photoperiod clocks, we cloned two circadian clock genes, period (per) and timeless (tim) from the moth Sesamia nonagrioides, which undergoes facultative diapause controlled by photoperiod. Sequence analysis revealed a high degree of conservation among the compared insects fοr both genes. We also investigated the expression patterns of per and tim in brains of larvae growing under 16L:8D (long days), constant darkness (DD) and 10L:14D (short days) conditions by qPCR assays. The results showed that mRNA accumulations encoding both genes exhibited diel oscillations under different photoperiods. The oscillation of per and tim mRNA, under short-day photoperiod differed from long-day. The difference between long-day and short-day conditions in the pattern of mRNA levels of per and tim appears to distinguish photoperiodic conditions clearly and both genes were influenced by photoperiod in different ways. We infer that not all photoperiodic clocks of insects interact with circadian clocks in the same fashion. Our results suggest that transcriptional regulations of the both clock genes act in the diapause programing in S. nonagrioides. The expression patterns of these genes are affected by photoperiod but runs with 24 h by entrainment to daily environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Theodoros Gkouvitsas
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Kourti
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Food, Biotechnology and Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kontogiannatos D, Swevers L, Kourti A. Recent gene multiplication and evolution of a juvenile hormone esterase-related gene in a lepidopteran pest. Gene Reports 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2016.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Swevers L, Huvenne H, Menschaert G, Kontogiannatos D, Kourti A, Pauchet Y, ffrench-Constant R, Smagghe G. Colorado potato beetle (Coleoptera) gut transcriptome analysis: expression of RNA interference-related genes. Insect Mol Biol 2013; 22:668-684. [PMID: 24580832 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In the search for new methods of pest control, the potential of RNA interference (RNAi) is being explored. Because the gut is the first barrier for the uptake of double-stranded (ds)RNA, pyrosequencing of the gut transcriptome is a powerful tool for obtaining the necessary sequences for specific dsRNA-mediated pest control. In the present study, a dataset representing the gut transcriptome of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata) was generated and analysed for the presence of RNAi-related genes. Almost all selected genes that were implicated in silencing efficiency at different levels in the RNAi pathway (core machinery, associated intracellular factors, dsRNA uptake, antiviral RNAi, nucleases), which uses different types of small RNA (small interfering RNA, microRNA and piwi-RNA), were expressed in the CPB gut. Although the database is of lower quality, the majority of the RNAi genes are also found to be present in the gut transcriptome of the tobacco hornworm [TH; Manduca sexta (19 out of 35 genes analysed)]. The high quality of the CPB transcriptome database will lay the foundation for future gene expression and functional studies regarding the gut and RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, NCSR 'Demokritos', Institute of Biosciences & Applications, Athens, Greece
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Kontogiannatos D, Swevers L, Maenaka K, Park EY, Iatrou K, Kourti A. Functional characterization of a juvenile hormone esterase related gene in the moth Sesamia nonagrioides through RNA interference. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73834. [PMID: 24040087 PMCID: PMC3770702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) is a carboxylesterase that has attracted great interest because of its critical role in regulating larval to adult transition in insects and other arthropods. Previously, we characterized an ecdysteroid sensitive and juvenile hormone non-susceptible juvenile hormone esterase related gene (SnJHER) in the corn stalk borer, Sesamia nonagrioides. SnJHER was rhythmically up-regulated close to each molt during the corn stalk borer's larval development. In this paper we attempted to functionally characterize SnJHER using several reverse genetics techniques. To functionally characterize SnJHER, we experimented with different dsRNA administration methods, including hemolymph, bacterial or baculovirus-mediated RNA interference, (RNAi). Our findings indicate the potential implication of SnJHER in the developmental programming of Sesamia nonagrioides. It is still unclear whether SnJHER is closely related to the authentic JHE gene, with different or similar biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Katsumi Maenaka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Enoch Y. Park
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kostas Iatrou
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Kourti
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kontogiannatos D, Michail X, Kourti A. Molecular characterization of an ecdysteroid inducible carboxylesterase with GQSCG motif in the corn borer, Sesamia nonagrioides. J Insect Physiol 2011; 57:1000-1009. [PMID: 21549123 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2011.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2010] [Revised: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We obtained a full-length cDNA encoding a carboxylesterase in Sesamia nonagrioides. The complete cDNA sequence is comprised of 1838 bp with an open reading frame encoding 576 amino acid residues with predicted molecular mass of 64.24 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high identity to JHE-Related of Trichoplusia ni (65% amino acid identity) and 49-46% amino acid identity to JHEs of other lepidopterans and contained all five functional motifs of insect JHEs. The gene has been termed as SnJHE-Related (SnJHER) to denote its similarity to other insect JHE genes and the occurrence of an unusual cysteine residue immediately adjacent to the catalytic serine, instead of the conventional alanine residue. Phylogenetic analyses localised SnJHER together with TnJHER in a branch of the lepidopteran's JHEs group, with other carboxylesterases (COEs) occuring in separated groups. The JH analog methoprene did not affect the expression of SnJHER in contrast to other insect JHEs. Additionally, ecdysteroid analogs induced SnJHER gene expression. The SnJHER mRNA levels were higher in long-day non-diapausing larvae than in short-day diapausing ones. In the fifth instar of non-diapausing and ninth instar of diapausing larvae, the SnJHER mRNAs reached higher expression levels on the days close to each larval molt. In the last (sixth) non-diapausing larval instar, SnJHER mRNA levels peaked in the intermolt period but were lower than during the fifth instar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Kontogiannatos
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, Athens 11855, Greece
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Gkouvitsas T, Kontogiannatos D, Kourti A. Expression of the Hsp83 gene in response to diapause and thermal stress in the moth Sesamia nonagrioides. Insect Mol Biol 2009; 18:759-768. [PMID: 19849724 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00922.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A full-length Hsp83, named SnoHsp83, cDNA from the corn stalk borer, Sesamia nonagrioides, was cloned and sequenced. Genomic analysis showed that the SnoHsp83 gene is unique. The size of the SnoHsp83 cDNA was found to be approximately 2.6 kb. The deduced polypeptide comprised 717 amino acid residues, with a molecular mass of 82.6 kDa. It contained all the highly conserved amino acid motifs that characterize the cytosolic members of the hsp90 family. We investigated the expression of SnoHsp83 gene in response to diapause and heat/cold stress. SnoHsp83 is constitutively expressed in non-diapausing larvae and is induced 15-fold by heat. SnoHsp83 displays a similar pattern to SnoHsc70 under diapause conditions, when extra larval moults occur. Our results indicate that the SnoHsp83 gene could be involved in the developmental process that occurs between two moults.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Gkouvitsas
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Abstract
The complete cDNA sequences of Heat shock cognate protein 70 (SnoHsc70) and Heat shock protein 70 (SnoHsp70) were determined from the corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lef.). They encode 653 amino acids (Hsc70) and 633 amino acids (Hsp70), with calculated molecular masses of 71.5 kDa and 70.2 kDa respectively. SnoHsc70 is constitutively expressed, and SnoHsp70 is heat-inducible in non-diapausing insects. SnoHsp70 is down regulated during diapause, while SnoHsc70 is induced as the larvae enter deep diapause. High temperature stress during diapause has no further effect on transcript levels of SnoHsc70. Our results show that SnoHsc70 may play important roles in assisting protein conformation during specific stages of diapause.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Gkouvitsas
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
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