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Ohkubo S, Shintaku T, Mine S, Yamamoto DS, Togawa T. Mosquitoes Possess Specialized Cuticular Proteins That Are Evolutionarily Related to the Elastic Protein Resilin. Insects 2023; 14:941. [PMID: 38132614 PMCID: PMC10743668 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120941] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Resilin is an elastic protein that is vital to insects' vigorous movement. Canonical resilin proteins possess the R&R Consensus, a chitin-binding domain conserved in a family of cuticular proteins, and highly repetitive sequences conferring elastic properties. In the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, however, a cuticular protein has been found that has an R&R Consensus resembling that of resilin but lacks the repetitive sequences (here, we call it resilin-related or resilin-r). The relationship between resilin-r and resilin was unclear. It was also unknown whether resilin-r is conserved in mosquitoes. In this paper, phylogenetic and structural analyses were performed to reveal the relationship of resilin homologous proteins from holometabolous insects. Their chitin-binding abilities were also assessed. A resilin-r was found in each mosquito species, and these proteins constitute a clade with resilin from other insects based on the R&R Consensus sequences, indicating an evolutionary relationship between resilin-r and resilin. The resilin-r showed chitin-binding activity as same as resilin, but had distinct structural features from resilin, suggesting that it plays specialized roles in the mosquito cuticle. Another resilin-like protein was found to exist in each holometabolous insect that possesses resilin-like repetitive sequences but lacks the R&R Consensus. These results suggest that similar evolutionary events occurred to create resilin-r and resilin-like proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakura Ohkubo
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Sakurajyosui 3-25-40, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8550, Japan (S.M.)
| | - Tohki Shintaku
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Sakurajyosui 3-25-40, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8550, Japan (S.M.)
| | - Shotaro Mine
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Sakurajyosui 3-25-40, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8550, Japan (S.M.)
- Division of Insect Advanced Technology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Owashi 1-2, Tsukuba 305-8634, Japan
| | - Daisuke S. Yamamoto
- Division of Medical Zoology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji 3311-1, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Japan;
| | - Toru Togawa
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Sakurajyosui 3-25-40, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8550, Japan (S.M.)
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2
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Li F, Xing G, Li Y, Chen P, Hu Q, Chen M, Li Y, Cao H, Huang Y. Expressions and functions of RR-1 cuticular protein genes in the integument of Mythimna separata. J Econ Entomol 2023; 116:963-972. [PMID: 36964708 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad053] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As the most outer layer between itself and the environment, integuments are necessary for insects with various important functions. Cuticular proteins (CPs) are the main components in integuments, while the functions of CP genes remain unknown in Mythimna separata (Walker), which is a devastating agricultural pest. In this study, 79 CP genes were identified from the transcriptomes of larval integuments, 57 of which were from the family containing conserved Rebers & Riddiford (R&R) consensus (CPR family). Amongst these CPRs, 44 genes belonged to the subfamily with RR-1 motif (RR-1 genes) and clustered into three clades, with the top 15 most abundant RR-1 genes identified based on fragments per kilobase per million mapped fragments (FPKM) values. RT-qPCR analysis showed that most of RR-1 genes such as MsCPR1-4 were highly expressed at larval stages and in their integuments. The expression levels of RR-1 genes were generally decreased at the beginning but increased at the late stage of molting process. RNAi was applied for six RR-1 genes, and MsCPR1-4 were knocked down significantly. Silence of MsCPR2 resulted in abnormal integument formed after molting, while knockdown of MsCPR3 and MsCPR4 led to failure of molting, respectively. No phenotype was obtained for the RNAi of MsCPR1. Therefore, the expression of RR-1 genes and their functions were analyzed in the development of integuments in M. separata, providing new insights of RR-1 genes and potential targets for the development of growth regulators and new insecticides for M. separata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyuan Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Gaoliang Xing
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yixuan Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Peng Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Qin Hu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Ming Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yiyu Li
- Institute of New Rural Development, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Haiqun Cao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yong Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest Management, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, PR China
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3
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Fu X, Chen M, Xia R, Li X, Li Q, Li Y, Cao H, Liu Y. Genome-Wide Identification and Transcriptome-Based Expression Profile of Cuticular Protein Genes in Antheraea pernyi. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24086991. [PMID: 37108155 PMCID: PMC10138643 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24086991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antheraea pernyi is one of the most famous edible and silk-producing wild silkworms of Saturniidae. Structural cuticular proteins (CPs) are the primary component of insect cuticle. In this paper, the CPs in the genome of A. pernyi were identified and compared with those of the lepidopteran model species Bombyx mori, and expression patterns were analyzed based on the transcriptomic data from the larval epidermis/integument (epidermis in the following) and some non-epidermis tissues/organs of two silkworm species. A total of 217 CPs was identified in the A. pernyi genome, a comparable number to B. mori (236 CPs), with CPLCP and CPG families being the main contribution to the number difference between two silkworm species. We found more RR-2 genes expressed in the larval epidermis of fifth instar of A. pernyi than B. mori, but less RR-2 genes expressed in the prothoracic gland of A. pernyi than B. mori, which suggests that the hardness difference in the larval epidermis and prothoracic gland between the two species may be caused by the number of RR-2 genes expressed. We also revealed that, in B. mori, the number of CP genes expressed in the corpus allatum and prothoracic gland of fifth instar was higher than that in the larval epidermis. Our work provided an overall framework for functional research into the CP genes of Saturniidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Miaomiao Chen
- Research Group of Silkworm Breeding, Sericultural Institute of Liaoning Province, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 108 Fengshan Road, Fengcheng 118100, China
| | - Runxi Xia
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Qun Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Yuping Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Huiying Cao
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Yanqun Liu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
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4
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Koo J, Chen X, Palli SR. Gene expression in Verson's glands of the fall armyworm suggests their role in molting and immunity. Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:1124278. [PMID: 38469461 PMCID: PMC10926397 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1124278] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Verson's glands are segmental pairs of dermal glands attached to the epidermis in lepidopteran larvae. They produce macromolecules during intermolt period and empty them during each molt. Morphological, histochemical, developmental, and protein analysis studies have been conducted to determine the functions of Verson's glands. However, the exact role of Verson's glands remains unclear. In our previous study, a strain of transgenic fall armyworm, Spdoptera frugiperda expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) and Systemic RNA interference defective protein 1 (SID1) from Caenorhabditis elegans was established to improve RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency. Unexpectedly, we found that GFP fluorescence was significantly brighter in Verson's glands than in other tissues. Also, RNAi efficiency improved more in Verson's glands than in other tissues. We took advantage of improved RNAi efficiency to explore the function of Verson's glands. RNA-seq analysis revealed that genes highly expressed in Verson's glands code for cuticular proteins, molting fluid proteins, hemolymph proteins, and antimicrobial peptides. Injection of dsRNA targeting essential genes, inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP), Actin, and vacuolar-type ATPase (VATPase) interfered with Verson's glands growth. These results revealed that Verson's glands may contribute to hemolymph, cuticle, molting fluid, and immune response during molting. This study also provide useful tools for future research in identifying the physiological role of Verson's glands in lepidopteran insects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Subba Reddy Palli
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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Deshoux M, Monsion B, Pichon E, Jiménez J, Moreno A, Cayrol B, Thébaud G, Mugford ST, Hogenhout SA, Blanc S, Fereres A, Uzest M. Role of Acrostyle Cuticular Proteins in the Retention of an Aphid Salivary Effector. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315337. [PMID: 36499662 PMCID: PMC9736059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315337] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
To avoid the activation of plant defenses and ensure sustained feeding, aphids are assumed to use their mouthparts to deliver effectors into plant cells. A recent study has shown that effectors detected near feeding sites are differentially distributed in plant tissues. However, the precise process of effector delivery into specific plant compartments is unknown. The acrostyle, a cuticular organ located at the tip of maxillary stylets that transiently binds plant viruses via its stylin proteins, may participate in this specific delivery process. Here, we demonstrate that Mp10, a saliva effector released into the plant cytoplasm during aphid probing, binds to the acrostyles of Acyrthosiphon pisum and Myzus persicae. The effector probably interacts with Stylin-03 as a lowered Mp10-binding to the acrostyle was observed upon RNAi-mediated reduction in Stylin-03 production. In addition, Stylin-03 and Stylin-01 RNAi aphids exhibited changes in their feeding behavior as evidenced by electrical penetration graph experiments showing longer aphid probing behaviors associated with watery saliva release into the cytoplasm of plant cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the acrostyle also has effector binding capacity and supports its role in the delivery of aphid effectors into plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maëlle Deshoux
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Baptiste Monsion
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Elodie Pichon
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Jaime Jiménez
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, 28806 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Moreno
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, 28806 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bastien Cayrol
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Gaël Thébaud
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Sam T. Mugford
- John Innes Centre, Department of Crop Genetics, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | | | - Stéphane Blanc
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Alberto Fereres
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, 28806 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (M.U.)
| | - Marilyne Uzest
- PHIM Plant Health Institute, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, 34000 Montpellier, France
- Correspondence: (A.F.); (M.U.)
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Kim BY, Kim YH, Choi YS, Lee MY, Lee KS, Jin BR. Antimicrobial Activity of Apidermin 2 from the Honeybee Apis mellifera. Insects 2022; 13:insects13100958. [PMID: 36292906 PMCID: PMC9604307 DOI: 10.3390/insects13100958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Apidermins (APDs) are known as structural cuticular proteins in insects, but their additional roles are poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the honeybee, Apis mellifera, APD 2 (AmAPD 2), which displays activity suggesting antimicrobial properties. In A. mellifera worker bees, the AmAPD 2 gene is transcribed in the epidermis, hypopharyngeal glands, and fat body, and induced upon microbial ingestion. Particularly in the epidermis of A. mellifera worker bees, the AmAPD 2 gene showed high expression and responded strongly to microbial challenge. Using a recombinant AmAPD 2 peptide, which was produced in baculovirus-infected insect cells, we showed that AmAPD 2 is heat-stable and binds to live bacteria and fungi as well as carbohydrates of microbial cell wall molecules. This binding action ultimately induced structural damage to microbial cell walls, which resulted in microbicidal activity. These findings demonstrate the antimicrobial role of AmAPD 2 in honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Yeon Kim
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
| | - Yun-Hui Kim
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
| | - Yong-Soo Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Man-Young Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Kwang-Sik Lee
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.-S.L.); (B.-R.J.)
| | - Byung-Rae Jin
- College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea
- Correspondence: (K.-S.L.); (B.-R.J.)
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Zhu JY, Li L, Xiao KR, He SQ, Gui FR. Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Cuticular Protein Genes Responding to Different Insecticides in Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. Insects 2021; 12:997. [PMID: 34821798 DOI: 10.3390/insects12110997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious pest of crucial crops causing great threats to the food security of the world. It has evolved resistance to various insecticides, while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Cuticular proteins (CPs), as primary components in cuticle, play an important role in insects' protection against environmental stresses. Few of them have been documented as participating in insecticide resistance in several insect species. In order to explore whether CP genes of the FAW exhibit a functional role in responding to insecticides stress, a total of 206 CPs, classified into eight families, were identified from the genome of the FAW through a homology-based approach coupled with manual efforts. The temporal expression profiles of all identified CP genes across developmental stages and their responses to 23 different insecticides were analyzed using the RNA-seq data. Expression profiling indicated that most of the CP genes displayed stage-specific expression patterns. It was found that the expression of 51 CP genes significantly changed after 48 h exposure to 17 different insecticides. The expression of eight CP genes responding to four insecticides were confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. The results showed that their overall expression profiles were consistent with RNA-seq analysis. The findings provide a basis for further functional investigation of CPs implied in insecticide stress in FAW.
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Volovych O, Lin Z, Du J, Jiang H, Zou Z. Identification and temporal expression profiles of cuticular proteins in the endoparasitoid wasp, Microplitis mediator. Insect Sci 2020; 27:998-1018. [PMID: 31317624 PMCID: PMC7497268 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Recently, parasitoid wasp species Microplitis mediator has evoked increasing research attention due to its possible use in the control of Lepidoptera insects. Because insect development involves changes in cuticle composition, identification and expression analysis of M. mediator cuticular proteins may clarify the mechanisms involved in parasite development processes. We found 70 cuticular proteins from the M. mediator transcriptome and divided them into seven distinct families. Expression profiling indicated that most of these cuticular protein genes have expression peaks specific for one particular developmental stage of M. mediator. Eggs and pupae have the highest number of transcriptionally active cuticular protein genes (47 and 52 respectively). Only 12 of these genes maintained high expression activity during late larval development. Functional analysis of two larval proteins, MmCPR3 and MmCPR14, suggested their important role in the proper organization of the cuticle layers of larvae. During M. mediator larval development, normal cuticle formation can be supported by a limited number of cuticular proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Volovych
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhe Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jie Du
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Hong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhen Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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Liu WG, Luo J, Ren QY, Qu ZQ, Lin HL, Xu XF, Ni J, Xiao RH, Chen RG, Rashid M, Wu ZG, Tan YC, Qiu XF, Luo JX, Yin H, Wang H, Yang ZQ, Xiao S, Liu GY. A Novel miRNA-hlo-miR-2-Serves as a Regulatory Factor That Controls Molting Events by Targeting CPR1 in Haemaphysalis longicornis Nymphs. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1098. [PMID: 32547523 PMCID: PMC7274079 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01098] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful completion of the molting process requires new epidermal growth and ecdysis of the old cuticle in Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the development of organisms by inhibiting the expression of their target mRNAs. In this study, a novel tick-specific miRNA was identified and denoted hlo-miR-2 that serves as a novel regulator of molting events in H. longicornis nymphs by targeting a cuticular protein. The full length of this cuticular protein was first obtained and named it CPR1. A qRT-PCR analysis showed that hlo-miR-2 and CPR1 exhibit significant tissue and temporal specificity and that their transcription levels are negatively correlated during the molting process. CPR1, as a direct target of hlo-miR-2, was identified by a luciferase reporter assay in vitro. Agomir treatment indicated that the overexpression of hlo-miR-2 significantly reduced the protein expression level of CPR1, decreased the molting rate and delayed the molting time point in H. longicornis nymphs. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments demonstrated that CPR1 was significantly associated with the molting process in H. longicornis nymphs. Phenotypic rescue experiments convincingly showed that hlo-miR-2 participated in molting events by targeting CPR1 in H. longicornis nymphs. In summary, we present evidence demonstrating that miRNAs constitute a novel important regulator of molting events in addition to hormones. The described functional evidence implicating CPR1 in molting events contributes to an improved understanding of the distinct functions of the CPR family in ticks and will aid the development of a promising application of cuticular protein RNAi in tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ge Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiao-Yun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Han-Liang Lin
- Xinjiang Animal Health Supervision Station, Ürümqi, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jun Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Rong-Hai Xiao
- Ruili Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau Inspection and Quarantine Comprehensive Technology Center, Yunnan, China
| | - Rong-Gui Chen
- Ili Center of Animal Disease Control and Diagnosis, Ili, China
| | - Muhammad Rashid
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ze-Gong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yang-Chun Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Fei Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jian-Xun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Department of Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zeng-Qi Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Sa Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Guang-Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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10
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Shang F, Lyu Y, Xie XC, Ding BY, Niu J, Wang JJ. RNA-seq Analysis of Clitea metallica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Provides Insights Into Cuticle-Related Genes and miRNAs. J Econ Entomol 2019; 112:2940-2951. [PMID: 31318030 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toz196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The citrus leaf beetle, Clitea metallica, is a specialized citrus pest through feeding on fresh leaves by larva and adults, and causes nicks and holes into leaves, leaving only a waxy surface layer. Insect cuticle is a complex exoskeleton that is not only involved in development but also protects the insect from environmental contaminations. Due to these key roles of the cuticle, cuticle-related genes are currently investigated in understanding the insect physiology in adaptation. Therefore, in this study, we built two libraries, transcriptomic (43 million clean reads) and small RNA (17 million clean reads), of C. metallica to identify cuticle-related genes and possibly associated miRNAs, being as an example to explore these data sets. Our results showed that a total of 47 cuticular protein genes were identified and most of these genes harbored a conserved motif (the Rebers and Riddiford motif) and belonged to the CPR family. Unigenes encoding proteins involved in chitin synthesis and degradation were also identified, including chitin synthase (2 unigenes), chitinase (14 unigenes), chitinase-like protein (2 unigenes), and chitin deacetylase (5 unigenes). Based on the small RNA library, we identified 30 miRNAs conserved across insect species. Among these miRNAs, 14 were predicted to be target genes associated with cuticle synthesis and degradation. In summary, 70 cuticle-related genes and 14 cuticle-related miRNAs were identified based on the transcriptome and small RNA library of C. metallica. These data sets will promote the understanding of cuticle molecular regulation in C. metallica as well as provide new potential targets for pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiu-Cheng Xie
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bi-Yue Ding
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinzhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Wang YW, Li YZ, Li GQ, Wan PJ, Li C. Identification of Cuticular Protein Genes in the Colorado Potato Beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J Econ Entomol 2019; 112:912-923. [PMID: 30615165 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toy396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Structural cuticular proteins (CPs) are the primary components of insect cuticle, linings of salivary gland, foregut, hindgut and tracheae, and midgut peritrophic membrane. Variation of CPs in insect cuticle can cause penetration resistance to insecticides. Moreover, depletion of specific CP by RNA interference may be a suitable way for the development of potential pest control traits. Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) CPs are poorly characterized at present, and therefore, we mined the genome and transcriptome data to better annotate and classify L. decemlineata CPs in this study, by comparison with the annotated CPs of Tribolium castaneum Browse (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). We identified 175 CP genes. Except one miscellaneous CP with an 18-amino acid motif, these CPs were classified into 7 families based on motifs and phylogenetic analyses (CPs with a Rebers and Riddiford motif, CPR; CPs analogous to peritrophins, CPAP3 and CPAP1; CPs with a tweedle motif, TWDL; CPs with a 44-amino acid motif, CPF; CPs that are CPF-like, CPFL; and CPs with two to three copies of C-X5-C motif, CPCFC). Leptinotarsa decemlineata CPRs could be categorized into three subfamilies: RR-1 (50), RR-2 (85), and RR-3 (2). The RR-1 proteins had an additional motif with a conserved YTADENGF sequence. The RR-2 members possessed a conserved RDGDVVKG region and three copes of G-x(3)-VV. Few genes were found in TWDL (9), CPAP1 (9), CPAP3 (8), CPF (5), CPFL (4), and CPCFC (2) families. The findings provide valuable information to explore molecular modes of penetration resistance to insecticides and to develop dsRNA-based control method in L. decemlineata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management in Eastern China (Agricultural Ministry of China), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu-Zhe Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Qing Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management in Eastern China (Agricultural Ministry of China), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pin-Jun Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Li
- Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Webster CG, Pichon E, van Munster M, Monsion B, Deshoux M, Gargani D, Calevro F, Jimenez J, Moreno A, Krenz B, Thompson JR, Perry KL, Fereres A, Blanc S, Uzest M. Identification of Plant Virus Receptor Candidates in the Stylets of Their Aphid Vectors. J Virol 2018; 92:e00432-18. [PMID: 29769332 PMCID: PMC6026765 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00432-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant viruses transmitted by insects cause tremendous losses in most important crops around the world. The identification of receptors of plant viruses within their insect vectors is a key challenge to understanding the mechanisms of transmission and offers an avenue for future alternative control strategies to limit viral spread. We here report the identification of two cuticular proteins within aphid mouthparts, and we provide experimental support for the role of one of them in the transmission of a noncirculative virus. These two proteins, named Stylin-01 and Stylin-02, belong to the RR-1 cuticular protein subfamily and are highly conserved among aphid species. Using an immunolabeling approach, they were localized in the maxillary stylets of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae, in the acrostyle, an organ earlier shown to harbor receptors of a noncirculative virus. A peptide motif present at the C termini of both Stylin-01 and Stylin-02 is readily accessible all over the surface of the acrostyle. Competition for in vitro binding to the acrostyle was observed between an antibody targeting this peptide and the helper component protein P2 of Cauliflower mosaic virus Furthermore, silencing the stylin-01 but not stylin-02 gene through RNA interference decreased the efficiency of Cauliflower mosaic virus transmission by Myzus persicae These results identify the first cuticular proteins ever reported within arthropod mouthparts and distinguish Stylin-01 as the best candidate receptor for the aphid transmission of noncirculative plant viruses.IMPORTANCE Most noncirculative plant viruses transmitted by insect vectors bind to their mouthparts. They are acquired and inoculated within seconds when insects hop from plant to plant. The receptors involved remain totally elusive due to a long-standing technical bottleneck in working with insect cuticle. Here we characterize the role of the two first cuticular proteins ever identified in arthropod mouthparts. A domain of these proteins is directly accessible at the surface of the cuticle of the acrostyle, an organ at the tip of aphid stylets. The acrostyle has been shown to bind a plant virus, and we consistently demonstrated that one of the identified proteins is involved in viral transmission. Our findings provide an approach to identify proteins in insect mouthparts and point at an unprecedented gene candidate for a plant virus receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig G Webster
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Elodie Pichon
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Manuella van Munster
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Baptiste Monsion
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Maëlle Deshoux
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel Gargani
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Federica Calevro
- Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, INRA, BF2I, UMR0203, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jaime Jimenez
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aranzazu Moreno
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Björn Krenz
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Jeremy R Thompson
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Keith L Perry
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Alberto Fereres
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stéphane Blanc
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Marilyne Uzest
- BGPI, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France
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Bhatia V, Bhattacharya R. Host-mediated RNA interference targeting a cuticular protein gene impaired fecundity in the green peach aphid Myzus persicae. Pest Manag Sci 2018; 74:2059-2068. [PMID: 29493869 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) is a devastating sap-sucking insect pest that damages many host plants worldwide and causes billions of dollars of crop losses. Induction of RNA interference (RNAi) through oral feeding of small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been demonstrated in aphids. Therefore, host-mediated delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) specific to vital structural genes of aphids has been envisaged as a tool for the development of resistance against this aphid species. RESULTS Cuticular protein (CP) senses seasonal photoperiodism and drives a shift from clonal to sexual generation in aphids. Thus, attenuation of CP gene expression is likely to result in a different reproductive orientation in aphids and thereby affect their fecundity. A gene encoding CP in M. persicae has been targeted for RNAi-mediated knockdown. Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing dsRNA homologous to the MyCP gene was developed. The dsRNA-transgenics produced gene-specific siRNAs fed by aphids infesting the transgenics. A reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) study revealed an attenuated level of transcripts of the CP gene in aphid nymphs reared on the transgenic plants. Decreased expression of the CP gene resulted in a noticeable decline in aphid fecundity on the transgenic Arabidopsis plants. CONCLUSION Increasing genetic resistance is the only sustainable way of minimizing the use of toxic agrochemicals to protect plants. Host-mediated RNAi of important insect genes has been proposed as a potential avenue for developing crop resistance against insect pests. This study demonstrated the potential of MyCP dsRNA in developing RNAi-based resistance to M. persicae. RNAi-mediated resistance is expected to be more durable compared with other transgenic strategies. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varnika Bhatia
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Ramcharan Bhattacharya
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute Campus, New Delhi, India
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14
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Webster CG, Thillier M, Pirolles E, Cayrol B, Blanc S, Uzest M. Proteomic composition of the acrostyle: Novel approaches to identify cuticular proteins involved in virus-insect interactions. Insect Sci 2017; 24:990-1002. [PMID: 28421675 PMCID: PMC5724696 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The acrostyle is a distinct anatomical region present on the cuticle at the inner face of the common food/salivary canal at the tip of aphid maxillary stylets. This conserved structure is of particular interest as it harbors the protein receptors of at least 1 plant virus, Cauliflower mosaic virus, and presumably has other roles in plant-insect interactions. Previously we reported immunolabeling of a highly conserved motif of cuticular proteins from the CPR family (named for the presence of a Rebers and Riddiford consensus) within the acrostyle. Here we report the development of novel tools to further study the proteomic composition of this region and to identify proteins involved in insect-virus interactions. Using a series of antibodies against cuticular proteins from the RR-2 subfamily, we identified additional peptides present within the acrostyle. Our results demonstrated that the acrostyle is a complex structure containing multiple domains of cuticular proteins accessible for interaction. In addition, an array of overlapping peptides, which covers the diversity of the majority of the RR-2 subfamily, was developed as a generic tool to characterize cuticular protein/pathogen interactions. Upon probing this array with Cucumber mosaic virus particles, consensus peptide sequences from hybridizing peptides were identified. Use of these novel tools has extended our knowledge of the proteomic composition of insect maxillary stylets and identified sequences that could be involved in virus binding, thus contributing to further elucidation of the various properties and functions of the acrostyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Graham Webster
- INRA, UMR 0385 BGPICIRAD‐INRA‐Montpellier SupAgroCampus International de BaillarguetMontpellier CedexFrance
| | - Mäelle Thillier
- INRA, UMR 0385 BGPICIRAD‐INRA‐Montpellier SupAgroCampus International de BaillarguetMontpellier CedexFrance
| | - Elodie Pirolles
- INRA, UMR 0385 BGPICIRAD‐INRA‐Montpellier SupAgroCampus International de BaillarguetMontpellier CedexFrance
| | - Bastien Cayrol
- INRA, UMR 0385 BGPICIRAD‐INRA‐Montpellier SupAgroCampus International de BaillarguetMontpellier CedexFrance
| | - Stéphane Blanc
- INRA, UMR 0385 BGPICIRAD‐INRA‐Montpellier SupAgroCampus International de BaillarguetMontpellier CedexFrance
| | - Marilyne Uzest
- INRA, UMR 0385 BGPICIRAD‐INRA‐Montpellier SupAgroCampus International de BaillarguetMontpellier CedexFrance
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15
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Xiong G, Tong X, Gai T, Li C, Qiao L, Monteiro A, Hu H, Han M, Ding X, Wu S, Xiang Z, Lu C, Dai F. Body Shape and Coloration of Silkworm Larvae Are Influenced by a Novel Cuticular Protein. Genetics 2017; 207:1053-66. [PMID: 28923848 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic basis of body shape and coloration patterns on caterpillars is often assumed to be regulated separately, but it is possible that common molecules affect both types of trait simultaneously. Here we examine the genetic basis of a spontaneous cuticle defect in silkworm, where larvae exhibit a bamboo-like body shape and decreased pigmentation. We performed linkage mapping and mutation screening to determine the gene product that affects body shape and coloration simultaneously. In these mutant larvae we identified a null mutation in BmorCPH24, a gene encoding a cuticular protein with low complexity sequence. Spatiotemporal expression analyses showed that BmorCPH24 is expressed in the larval epidermis postecdysis. RNAi-mediated knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of BmorCPH24 produced the abnormal body shape and the inhibited pigment typical of the mutant phenotype. In addition, our results showed that BmorCPH24 may be involved in the synthesis of endocuticle and its disruption-induced apoptosis of epidermal cells that accompanied the reduced expression of R&R-type larval cuticle protein genes and pigmentation gene Wnt1 Strikingly, BmorCPH24, a fast-evolving gene, has evolved a new function responsible for the assembly of silkworm larval cuticle and has evolved to be an indispensable factor maintaining the larval body shape and its coloration pattern. This is the first study to identify a molecule whose pleiotropic function affects the development of body shape and color patterns in insect larvae.
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Liang Y, Gao XW. The Cuticle Protein Gene MPCP4 of Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) Plays a Critical Role in Cucumber Mosaic Virus Acquisition. J Econ Entomol 2017; 110:848-853. [PMID: 28334092 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tox025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) is one of the most important agricultural pests worldwide. In addition to sucking phloem sap, M. persicae also transmits Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) as a vector in a nonpersistent manner. At present, the infection mechanism remains unclear, especially the process of aphid virus acquisition. In this study, we isolated four M. persicae cuticle protein genes (MPCP1, MPCP2, MPCP4, and MPCP5) from M. persicae. The relative amount of the gene encoding Cucumber mosaic virus capsid protein (CMV CP) and the transcript levels of these four cuticle protein genes were investigated in aphid virus acquisition by feeding the tobacco preinfested by CMV. The relative expression of MPCP1, MPCP2, and MPCP4 were significantly higher than MPCP5 at 24 h after aphids feeding on virus-infested tobacco. Yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that the protein encoded by MPCP4 gene was closely associated with the CMV CP through the direct interaction. Moreover, the ability of M. persicae to acquire CMV was suppressed by RNA interference of MPCP4. All these lines of evidence indicate that MPCP4, as a viral putative receptor in the stylet of aphid, plays an important role in aphid acquisition of CMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liang
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China (; )
| | - Xi-Wu Gao
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China ( ; )
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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17
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Clements J, Schoville S, Clements N, Chapman S, Groves RL. Temporal patterns of imidacloprid resistance throughout a growing season in Leptinotarsa decemlineata populations. Pest Manag Sci 2017; 73:641-650. [PMID: 27862872 PMCID: PMC5299531 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a major agricultural pest of commercial potatoes. Pest managers use a combination of control tactics to limit populations, including multiple insecticides. Finding a window of insecticide susceptibility and understanding genetic responses to insecticide exposure during a growing season may provide novel management recommendations for L. decemlineata. RESULTS We examined temporal changes (during one growing season) in phenotypic response between a susceptible population and an imidacloprid-resistant population. Beetles remained more susceptible to imidacloprid in the susceptible population throughout the growing season. Estimated mean LC50 values varied throughout the growing season in the resistant population, with increased susceptibility among overwintered and recently emerged adult beetles compared with a heightened level of resistance in the second generation. RNA transcript abundance was compared among multiple time points through the growing season, showing that cuticular proteins and cytochrome p450s were highly upregulated during peaks of measured resistance. CONCLUSION Temporal variation in imidacloprid susceptibility of L. decemlineata was observed, which included early time points of susceptibility and later peaks in resistance. Heightened resistance occurred during the second generation and correlated to increased transcript abundance of multiple mechanisms of resistance, including multiple cuticular protein and cytochrome p450 transcripts. © 2016 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Clements
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Sean Schoville
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Nathan Clements
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Scott Chapman
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Russell L Groves
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
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18
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Song TQ, Yang ML, Wang YL, Liu Q, Wang HM, Zhang J, Li T. Cuticular protein LmTwdl1 is involved in molt development of the migratory locust. Insect Sci 2016; 23:520-530. [PMID: 27430427 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The cuticle, an essential structure for insects, is produced from cuticular proteins and chitin via a series of biochemical reactions. Tweedle genes are important members of the cuticular protein family and have four conserved motifs binding to chitin. Tweedle family genes have been found to play a profound effect on cuticle development. Here, we report that the cuticular protein gene LmTwdl1 of Locusta migratoria belongs to the Tweedle family. In situ hybridization showed that LmTwdl1 is localized to epidermal cells of the cuticle. The expression patterns of LmTwdl1 showed low expression in the cuticle during the early and middle stages of the fifth-instar nymphs; in contrast, its expression rapidly increased in the late stages of fifth-instar nymphs. We performed RNA interference to examine the function of LmTwdl1 in locusts. Silencing of LmTwdl1 resulted in high mortality during the molting process before the next stage. Also, the epicuticle of nymphs failed to molt, tended to be thinner and the arrangement of chitin in the procuticle appeared to be disordered compare to the control group. These results demonstrate that LmTwdl1 plays a critical role in molting, which contributes to a better understanding of the distinct functions of the Tweedle family in locusts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Qi Song
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan and State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mei-Ling Yang
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan and State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Li Wang
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan and State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan and State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Min Wang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Li
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan and State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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19
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Shahin R, Iwanaga M, Kawasaki H. Cuticular protein and transcription factor genes expressed during prepupal-pupal transition and by ecdysone pulse treatment in wing discs of Bombyx mori. Insect Mol Biol 2016; 25:138-152. [PMID: 26748620 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to understand the underlying mechanism that regulates successively expressed cuticular protein (CP) genes around pupation in Bombyx mori. Quantitative PCR was conducted to clarify the expression profile of CP genes and ecdysone-responsive transcription factor (ERTF) genes around pupation. Ecdysone pulse treatment was also conducted to compare the developmental profiles and the ecdysone induction of the CP and ERTF genes. Fifty-two CP genes (RR-1 13, RR-2 18, CPG 8, CPT 3, CPFL 2, CPH 8) in wing discs of B. mori were examined. Different expression profiles were found, which suggests the existence of a mechanism that regulates CP genes. We divided the genes into five groups according to their peak stages of expression. RR-2 genes were expressed until the day of pupation and RR-1 genes were expressed before and after pupation and for longer than RR-2 genes; this suggests different construction of exo- and endocuticular layers. CPG, CPT, CPFL and CPH genes were expressed before and after pupation, which implies their involvement in both cuticular layers. Expression profiles of ERTFs corresponded with previous reports. Ecdysone pulse treatment showed that the induction of CP and ERTF genes in vitro reflected developmental expression, from which we speculated that ERTFs regulate CP gene expression around pupation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Shahin
- Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - M Iwanaga
- Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan
| | - H Kawasaki
- Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan
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Abstract
Bursicon is a heterodimeric neuropeptide formed of bursicon α (burs α) and bursicon β (burs β) that controls cuticle tanning and wing expansion in insects. Burs α-α and burs β-β homodimers are also formed; they act via an unknown receptor to induce expression of prophylactic immune and stress genes during molting. Based on the hypothesis that burs β-β and/or bursicon influence expression of additional genes acting after the molt, we prepared and sequenced six Drosophila cDNA libraries from groups of flies separately injected with burs β-β, bursicon, or blank control. Compared to the control, the burs β-β treatments led to upregulation (by at least 1.5-fold) of 262 genes at 0.5 h postinjection (PI) and 298 genes at 1 h PI; 323 genes at 0.5 h PI and 269 genes at 1h PI were downregulated (by at least 0.67). Similar changes were recorded following bursicon injections. Of these genes, expression of seven transcripts encoding cuticle proteins was upregulated and three downregulated by burs β-β; expression of nine transcripts encoding cuticle proteins were upregulated and four downregulated following bursicon treatments. Expression of dozens of genes involved in chitin metabolism was altered by the experimental treatments. We recorded parallel changes in expression of selected genes by transcriptome and qPCR analysis. These findings support our hypothesis that burs β-β and bursicon influence expression of additional genes acting after the molt. We report that burs β-β and bursicon act in cuticle synthesis and degradation by regulating the expression of cuticular protein and chitin metabolizing related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengzhang Dong
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-metrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China JiLiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Xi Chen
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - David Stanley
- Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Bio-metrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China JiLiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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21
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Vannini L, Augustine Dunn W, Reed TW, Willis JH. Changes in transcript abundance for cuticular proteins and other genes three hours after a blood meal in Anopheles gambiae. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 44:33-43. [PMID: 24269292 PMCID: PMC3970321 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have examined changes in transcript levels after Anopheles gambiae takes a blood meal. Marinotti et al. (2006) used microarrays and reported massive changes in transcript levels 3 h after feeding (BF3h) compared to non-blood fed (NBF). We were intrigued by the number of transcripts for structural cuticular proteins (CPs) that showed such major differences in levels and employed paired-end (50 bp) RNA-seq technology to compare whole body transcriptomes from 5-day-old females NBF and BF3h. We detected transcripts for the majority of CPs (164/243) but levels of only 12 were significantly altered by the blood meal. While relative transcript levels of NBF females were somewhat similar to the microarray data, there were major differences in BF3h animals, resulting in levels of many transcripts, both for CPs and other genes changing in the opposite direction. We compared our data also to other studies done with both microarrays and RNA-seq. Findings were consistent that a small number of CP genes have transcripts that persist even in 5-day-old adults. Some of these transcripts showed diurnal rhythms (Rund et al., 2013; Rinker et al., 2013). In situ hybridization revealed that transcripts for several of these CP genes were found exclusively or predominantly in the eye. Transcripts other than for CPs that changed in response to blood-feeding were predominantly expressed in midgut and Malpighian tubules. Even in these tissues, genes responsible for proteins with similar functions, such as immunity or digestion, responded differently, with transcript levels for some rising and others falling. These data demonstrate that genes coding for some CPs are dynamic in expression even in adults and that the response to a blood meal is rapid and precisely orchestrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vannini
- University of Georgia, Cellular Biology, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - W Augustine Dunn
- University of California Irvine, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Tyler W Reed
- University of Georgia, Cellular Biology, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Judith H Willis
- University of Georgia, Cellular Biology, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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22
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Abstract
We have characterized four new families of homologous genes of the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, all of which include members shown by previous work to be cuticular in nature. The CPLCG, CPLCW, CPLCP, and CPLCA families (where CPLC is 'cuticular protein of low complexity') encode proteins with a high proportion of low-complexity sequence. We have also annotated the An. gambiae Tweedle genes, a family of cuticular protein genes first described in Drosophila, and additional ungrouped An. gambiae cuticular proteins identified by proteomics. Our annotations reveal multiple gene-family expansions that are specific to Diptera or Culicidae. The CPLCG and CPLCW families occur within a large and dynamic tandem array on chromosome 3R that includes sets of concertedly evolving genes. Most gene families exhibit two or more different expression profiles during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Cornman
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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23
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Cornman RS, Willis JH. Extensive gene amplification and concerted evolution within the CPR family of cuticular proteins in mosquitoes. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2008; 38:661-76. [PMID: 18510978 PMCID: PMC4276373 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2008.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2008] [Revised: 03/27/2008] [Accepted: 04/03/2008] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Annotation of the Anopheles gambiae genome has revealed a large increase in the number of genes encoding cuticular proteins with the Rebers and Riddiford Consensus (the CPR gene family) relative to Drosophila melanogaster. This increase reflects an expansion of the RR-2 group of CPR genes, particularly the amplification of sets of highly similar paralogs. Patterns of nucleotide variation indicate that extensive concerted evolution is occurring within these clusters. The pattern of concerted evolution is complex, however, as sequence similarity within clusters is uncorrelated with gene order and orientation, and no comparable clusters occur within similarly compact arrays of the RR-1 group in mosquitoes or in either group in D. melanogaster. The dearth of pseudogenes suggests that sequence clusters are maintained by selection for high gene-copy number, perhaps due to selection for high expression rates. This hypothesis is consistent with the apparently parallel evolution of compact gene architectures within sequence clusters relative to single-copy genes. We show that RR-2 proteins from sequence-cluster genes have complex repeats and extreme amino-acid compositions relative to single-copy CPR proteins in An. gambiae, and that the amino-acid composition of the N-terminal and C-terminal sequence flanking the chitin-binding consensus region evolves in a correlated fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Scott Cornman
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Judith H Willis
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
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24
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Togawa T, Dunn WA, Emmons AC, Nagao J, Willis JH. Developmental expression patterns of cuticular protein genes with the R&R Consensus from Anopheles gambiae. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2008; 38:508-19. [PMID: 18405829 PMCID: PMC2416445 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2007] [Revised: 12/17/2007] [Accepted: 12/19/2007] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
CPR proteins are the largest cuticular protein family in arthropods. The whole genome sequence of Anopheles gambiae revealed 156 genes that code for proteins with the R&R Consensus and named CPRs. This protein family can be divided into RR-1 and RR-2 subgroups, postulated to contribute to different regions of the cuticle. We determined the temporal expression patterns of these genes throughout post-embryonic development by means of real-time qRT-PCR. Based on expression profiles, these genes were grouped into 21 clusters. Most of the genes were expressed with sharp peaks at single or multiple periods associated with molting. Genes coding for RR-1 and RR-2 proteins were found together in several co-expression clusters. Twenty-five genes were expressed exclusively at one metamorphic stage. Five out of six X-linked genes showed equal expression in males and females, supporting the presence of a gene dosage compensation system in A. gambiae. Many RR-2 genes are organized into sequence clusters whose members are extremely similar to each other and generally closely associated on a chromosome. Most genes in each sequence cluster are expressed with the same temporal expression pattern and at the same level, suggesting a shared mechanism to regulate their expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Judith H. Willis
- Corresponding author: Judith H. Willis, Tel: +1-706-542-0802; Fax: +1-706-542-4271, E-mail:
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