鸭疫里氏杆菌hemH基因功能初步鉴定及其缺失株的转录组学分析

血红素是绝大多数细菌生长繁殖所必需的一种营养物质,其参与了细菌多种重要的生理过程。细菌可以通过自身合成和从外界摄取2种方式获得血红素。然而过多的血红素对细菌是有毒性的,细菌则会利用外排、螯合和降解等多种方式减轻血红素毒性。鸭疫里氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer,RA)是一种感染禽类的革兰氏阴性菌,前期研究表明该菌可通过转运的方式从外界环境摄取血红素。然而,是否该菌也可以自身合成血红素未知。基因组分析发现鸭疫里氏杆菌ATCC11845菌株中的基因RA0C_RS08070编码铁螯合酶(ferrochelatase)HemH,是参与将铁插入卟啉中心,形成血红素的关键酶。hem H缺失后会导致铁离子和卟啉的积累,对细菌造成毒性。【目的】为鉴定Hem H在合成血红素中的功能及查找参与鸭疫里氏杆菌铁离子和卟啉解毒相关基因。【方法】本研究构建了RAATCC11845Δhem H缺失株,并检测亲本株和hem H缺失株在GCB以及GCB添加血红蛋白液体培养基中的生长情况;随后对亲本株和hem H缺失株进行转录组测序并进行比较分析。【结果】RAATCC11845Δhem H缺失株不能在GCB培养基中生长,而在GCB培养基补充血红蛋白后生长良好。转录组测序及比较分析发现,与亲本株相比,hem H缺失株中有354个显著差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes,DEGs)。基因本体论(gene ontology,GO)功能富集分析发现差异表达基因主要富集在催化活性、生物调节和代谢过程等途径,京都基因和基因组百科全书(Kyotoencyclopediaofgenesandgenomes,KEGG)通路富集分析发现差异表达基因主要富集在氨基酸代谢、氧化磷酸化和三羧酸循环(tricarboxylic acid cycle,TCA cycle)等途径。【结论】Hem H参与了血红素的合成,hem H缺失后导致大量的基因表达改变来适应代谢的改变,为进一步研究鸭疫里氏杆菌的Hem H的功能奠定基础。     

鸭疫里氏杆菌B739＿RS00825基因缺失株抗血红素毒性和氧化应激损伤以及定殖能力分析

【目的】血红素可作为细菌重要的铁离子来源,然而转运过多的血红素也会对细菌造成毒性。细菌通过调节、外排、螯合等多种方式减轻血红素毒性作用。鸭疫里氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer, RA)是一种感染鸭及其他禽类的革兰氏阴性病原菌。前期研究表明,该菌编码血红素转运系统,且能够从血红蛋白获取血红素,然而该菌是否编码血红素解毒蛋白未知。本研究以编码一氧化氮合成酶的基因B739＿RS00825为研究对象,分析其在抗血红素毒性和氧化应激损伤以及定殖能力中的功能。【方法】构建B739＿RS00825缺失株,并通过测定生长曲线、细菌存活率、毒力及定殖等试验方法鉴定其在抗血红素毒性、抗氧化应激损伤、宿主致病中的功能。【结果】与RA CH-1相比,RA CH-1ΔB739＿RS00825在添加过量血红素的培养基中生长不受影响;然而与RACH-1Δfur相比,RACH-1ΔfurΔB739＿RS00825在含血红素培养基中的生长明显受到抑制且对H₂O₂的抵抗力降低;B739＿RS00825基因在氧化应激条件下及fur缺失株中明显上调;与RA ...     

鸭疫里氏杆菌CH-1株B739_RS03695基因的功能鉴定

【背景】鸭疫里默氏杆菌是一种可引起鸭传染性浆膜炎的革兰氏阴性病原菌。对于该菌的铁离子转运系统已有大量研究，但有关该菌铁硫簇装配基因的功能知之甚少。【目的】序列分析表明，鸭疫里默氏杆菌CH-1株B739＿RS03695编码铁硫结合蛋白，但其具体功能未知。本研究旨在鉴定鸭疫里默氏杆菌CH-1株B739＿RS03695基因在抗氧化应激及耐药中的功能。【方法】构建B739＿RS03695缺失株，通过测定生长曲线、氧化应激存活率探究其在抗氧化应激中的功能；通过最小抑菌浓度、杀菌试验探究其在耐药中的功能。【结果】与亲本株相比，RA CH-1ΔB739＿RS03695在GCB培养基中生长不受影响，但在铁限制性培养基中的生长受到明显抑制；与亲本株相比，RA CH-1ΔB739＿RS03695对H₂O₂的敏感性增加；与亲本株相比，RA CH-1ΔB739＿RS03695对庆大霉素的抵抗力显著增加；荧光定量PCR结果表明，与对照组相比，B739＿RS03695基因的转录水平在铁限制性条件和存在过氧化氢条件下显著上调。【结论】B739＿RS03695基因缺失后会损...     

基因重组与外源铁离子对大肠杆菌合成血红素的影响

【背景】大肠杆菌通过C5途径合成卟啉及血红素,5-氨基乙酰丙酸(5-aminolevulinic acid,5-ALA)是C5途径中关键的前体物质,血红素由原卟啉IX (protoporphyrin IX, PPIX)螯合一个铁离子所形成,目前5-ALA与PPIX的外泌对卟啉的积累和血红素合成的影响尚不清楚。【目的】构建5-ALA外泌蛋白基因rhtA和卟啉外泌蛋白基因tolC双缺失的大肠杆菌以积累卟啉,同时外源添加铁离子,并过表达亚铁螯合酶基因hemH及参与铁摄取的基因efeB,促进卟啉向血红素的转化。【方法】通过Red同源重组敲除大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)的rhtA和tolC,并外源添加不同浓度的FeSO₄及Fe₂(SO₄)₃,同时构建重组质粒pEHE过表达hemH和efeB,检测卟啉和血红素含量,分析卟啉向血红素的转化。【结果】敲除rhtA和tolC对菌体生长无显著影响,与野生菌WT相比,敲除菌株WT-RT的卟啉含量增加,血红素合成略有提升。外源添加100μmol/L Fe²⁺     

鸭疫里默氏杆菌铁离子代谢机制研究进展

铁离子是大多数细菌生存所必需的一种营养物质,但过多的铁离子会通过芬顿反应产生的活性氧对细菌造成损伤。因此,细菌通过摄取、调控、螯合、外排等机制维持体内铁离子的稳态。鸭疫里默氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer)是一种最新被归类于威克斯菌科里氏杆菌属的革兰氏阴性菌。该菌主要感染禽类,参与该菌的铁离子代谢基因具有特别之处。本文对鸭疫里默氏杆菌铁离子代谢机制研究进展进行了系统总结和阐述,包括该菌的TonB系统、TonB依赖性受体、Fur蛋白及Dps蛋白等在铁离子转运、调控、螯合中的功能,以及以上蛋白在鸭疫里默氏杆菌致病中的作用,以期更全面地理解鸭疫里默氏杆菌铁代谢机制,并为进一步深入研究该菌铁离子代谢提供理论依据和参考。     

血清2型鸭疫里默氏杆菌脂多糖单克隆抗体的研制及特性鉴定

【背景】鸭疫里默氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer,RA)可感染雏鸭、鹅、火鸡等多种禽类,引起急性或慢性传染病。RA血清型众多且各血清型之间缺乏有效的交叉保护。细菌脂多糖(Lipopolysaccharide,LPS)位于革兰氏阴性菌细胞壁的外侧,其组成和结构变化决定了细菌表面抗原决定簇的多样性。【目的】制备血清2型鸭疫里默氏杆菌LPS单克隆抗体并对其特性进行研究。【方法】以血清2型RA NJ3株免疫BALB/c小鼠,细胞融合后以RA NJ3株LPS作为包被抗原,筛选出能够稳定分泌单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,通过体内诱生腹水法制备抗体,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测单克隆抗体效价,玻片凝集试验和Westernblot检测单抗特异性。【结果】获得两株能稳定分泌抗血清2型鸭疫里默氏杆菌LPS单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为8G5和8G10;两株单抗的亚型均为IgM/κ链。ELISA结果表明,8G5和8G10腹水效价分别为1:32 000和1:16 000。Western blot结果显示,两株单抗仅与血清2型RA菌株发生特异性反应,而与其他血清型RA菌株和禽源致病菌无反应性。【结论】研究获得的单克隆抗体具有良好的反应性和血清型特异性,可用于RA致病机制的基础研究和进一步建立RA血清型快速检测方法。     

wzzE不影响禽致病性大肠杆菌雏鸭分离株LPS的表型北大核心CSCD

【目的】wzz参与很多革兰氏阴性菌O抗原的合成,并对细菌的致病性具有调控作用。在禽致病性大肠杆菌（Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC）中,存在Wzz蛋白超家族基因wzz E,目前尚未开展该基因对APEC脂多糖（LPS）的合成及致病作用研究,因此本研究开展了wzz E对APEC LPS合成以及生物学特性影响的研究。【方法】通过构建APEC DE17株的wzz E缺失株,开展对野生型和缺失株的LD50、黏附与入侵DF-1细胞、脂多糖表型及内毒素毒价等相关生物学特性的影响研究。【结果】结果表明,缺失wzz E的APEC,不影响细菌的生长特性。野生型、缺失株及回复株的LPS表型无明显差异。DE17Δwzz E与DE17的黏附与入侵结果无显著差异。血清型鉴定结果表明,缺失wzz E,不影响细菌的血清型。内毒素毒力检测结果DE17、DE17Δwzz E及CΔwzz E内毒素的毒价一致,为4×10~5 EU/mg。对7日龄樱桃谷鸭进行攻毒,测定各菌株的LD50,结果表明,与野生型相比,DE17Δwzz E缺失株毒力下降了10倍。【结论】wzz E缺失对LPS的表型无显著影响,但wzz E参与APEC的致病过程,然而wzz E对APEC毒力的调控机制仍有待进一步研究。     

T3SS1和T3SS2影响副溶血弧菌生物学特性及细胞致病性的比较

【目的】探究两套Ⅲ型分泌系统T3SS1和T3SS2影响副溶血弧菌生物学特性及细胞致病性的差异和相关性。【方法】以T3SS1和T3SS2主要结构基因vcrD1和vcrD2为研究对象,利用同源重组技术分别构建单基因和双基因缺失株ΔvcrD1、ΔvcrD2、ΔvcrD1-vcrD2,以及互补株CΔvcrD1和CΔvcrD2;分析各菌株的生长特性、生物被膜形成能力、运动性的差异;比较各菌株对细胞毒性以及对细胞炎性因子转录水平的影响。【结果】与野生株相比,各缺失株的生长速度无显著差异。缺失株ΔvcrD1生物被膜形成能力、运动性和细胞毒性均极显著下降;缺失株ΔvcrD2主要表现为细胞炎性因子IL-1β和IL-6转录水平的显著上调,同时对细胞毒性作用下降。双基因缺失株ΔvcrD1-vcrD2在缺失株ΔvcrD1的基础上,生物被膜形成能力、运动性、细胞毒性均进一步显著下降,但在细胞炎性因子的转录水平上,则与ΔvcrD1一致,与野生株相比均无显著差异。【结论】T3SS1和T3SS2对副溶血弧菌生物学特性和细胞致病性的影响存在差异。T3SS1主要影响细菌的生物被膜形成、运动性及细胞毒性作用;T3SS2不影响生物被膜形成、运动性等生物学特性,参与细菌对细胞炎性反应中的负调控作用,同时具有一定的细胞毒性作用。T3SS1有助于副溶血弧菌在环境中的生存,而T3SS2可有利于细菌在宿主体内免疫逃避的过程。T3SS1和T3SS2对副溶血弧菌生物学特性和细胞致病性的影响可能存在一定的相关作用,具体机制有待进一步研究。     

鼠伤寒沙门菌VI型分泌系统效应因子Rhs生物学特性分析

【背景】细菌的Ⅵ型分泌系统作为杀死真核捕食者或原核竞争对手的“武器”,其杀伤作用是通过释放有毒物质即效应因子来实现。尽管已发现一些效应因子,但大多数效应因子的功能仍然未知。【目的】研究rhs基因编码的效应因子Rhs对鼠伤寒沙门菌生物学特性的影响。【方法】利用Red同源重组的方法构建鼠伤寒沙门菌rhs基因缺失株及相应的基因回补株。通过试验分析比较亲本株与缺失株、回补株在生化特性、生物被膜形成、耐药性、细菌间竞争、抗血清补体杀菌能力、组织载菌量及感染小鼠后炎症因子IL-18、IL-1β释放量上的差异。【结果】效应因子Rhs不影响鼠伤寒沙门菌的生化代谢、生物被膜形成、耐药性及抗血清补体杀菌能力。细菌种间竞争试验中,基因缺失株CVCC541Δrhs1、CVCC541Δrhs2和CVCC541Δrhs1-2的竞争指数(competition index,CI)值分别为0.85、0.77和0.87,毒力均被轻度致弱。体内组织载菌量试验中,CVCC541Δrhs1、CVCC541Δrhs2和CVCC541Δrhs1-2基因缺失株在小鼠肝脏和脾脏中的细菌数均较亲本株明显下降(P<0.05);机体...     

鸭疫里氏杆菌多种血清型间接ELISA检测方法的建立

【目的】鸭疫里氏杆菌(Riemerella anatipestifer,RA)是一种重要的禽病病原,分为21个血清型。但一直缺乏一种针对多种血清型广泛适用的抗体检测方法。前期的研究表明,外膜蛋白A (Outer membrane protein A,OmpA)广泛存在于多种血清型的RA菌株中,是一种重要的免疫原性蛋白,并且其基因序列在RA血清型之间具有高度的保守性,提示其可以作为RA感染血清抗体检测的靶点分子。以重组蛋白OmpA建立间接酶联免疫吸附试验检测RA的抗体。【方法】通过诱导表达条件的摸索及蛋白纯化,获得适用于ELISA包被的重组OmpA抗原。通过Western-blot证明重组蛋白OmpA是否与RA多种血清型发生免疫学反应。进行方阵试验以确定ELISA抗原的最佳包被浓度、被检测血清的反应浓度。重复性、特异性和敏感性试验检查该方法的实用性。【结果】实验证实加入1%乙醇的诱导培养基有利于重组蛋白的可溶性表达。Western-blot结果表明,重组蛋白OmpA可以与1、2、6、10、11、13、14和17型多种RA主要流行血清型有良好的免疫反应性。经方阵试验确定抗原的最佳包被浓度为8 mg/L,待检血清的最佳稀释度为1:160。所建立检测方法具有良好的重复性、特异性和敏感性。【结论】实验建立的鸭疫里氏杆菌多种血清型间接ELISA检测方法可以用于免疫后抗体消长以及感染性抗体的检测。     

Presence of Rhizobium Etli bv . Phaseoli and Rhizobium Gallicum bv . Gallicum in Egyptian Soils

Seven bean rhizobial strains EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29 identified as Rhizobium etli, and EBRI 32 identified as Rhizobium gallicum, isolated from Egyptian soils and which nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris efficiently, were subjected to hybridization with a nifH probe in order to estimate the copy number of this gene. Seven strains (EBRI 2, 3, 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29) which were only able to nodulate Phaseolus vulgaris, contained three copies of the nifH gene, consistent with their identification as Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli. Only one strain (EBRI 32) which nodulated both Phaseolus vulgaris and Leucaena leucocephala, had one copy of nifH gene. This confirmed the classification of this strain as Rhizobium gallicum bv. gallicum.     

Effects of MULTIFOLIATE-PINNA, AFILA, TENDRIL-LESS and UNIFOLIATA genes on leafblade architecture in Pisum sativum

In order to dissect the genetic regulation of leafblade morphogenesis, 16 genotypes of pea, constructed by combining the wild-type and mutant alleles of MFP, AF, TL and UNI genes, were quantitatively phenotyped. The morphological features of the three domains of leafblades of four genotypes, unknown earlier, were described. All the genotypes were found to differ in leafblade morphology. It was evident that MFP and TL functions acted as repressor of pinna ramification, in the distal domain. These functions, with and without interaction with UNI, also repressed the ramification of proximal pinnae in the absence of AF function. The expression of MFP and TL required UNI function. AF function was found to control leafblade architecture multifariously. The earlier identified role of AF as a repressor of UNI in the proximal domain was confirmed. Negative control of AF on the UNI-dependent pinna ramification in the distal domain was revealed. It was found that AF establishes a boundary between proximal and distal domains and activates formation of leaflet pinnae in the proximal domain.     

Characterisation of cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactans-proteins (AGPs) and phenolics of Cola nitida, Cola acuminata and Garcinia kola seeds

Many Cola plant species are endemic to West and Central Africa. Cola acuminata and Cola nitida are used as masticatory when fresh, while the dried nuts are used for beverages and pharmaceutical purposes in Europe and North America. Garcinia kola seeds, that serve as a substitute for the true kola nuts, are used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including colic, headache and liver cirrhosis. Seeds extracts of G. kola are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To gain information on the chemical properties of the kolas, we have isolated and analyzed cell wall polysaccharides, arabinogalactan-proteins and phenolic substances from the seeds of the three kola species. The sugar composition of cell wall material of C. acuminata, C. nitida and G. kola revealed that Gal (up to 30%), Ara, GalA and Glc as the predominant monosaccharides, representing approximately 90% by mol of the total hydrolysable sugar present in this material. In Ammonium oxalate cell wall fraction, GalA was found to be the major sugar present in all kola species. In the alkali-soluble fraction, there were significant differences in the level of Glc and Gal. The level of Glc was high in C. acuminata and C. nitida while the level of Gal and Xyl were high in C. nitida and G. cola. Isolation and quantification of arabinogalactan-proteins demonstrate that G. kola seeds contained four to eight times more of these proteoglycans than the seeds of the other two species. Finally, analysis of soluble phenolic substances shows that caffeine and catechin were largely represented in C. acumina and C. nitida seeds, with caffeine accounting for 50% of all soluble phenolics. These findings indicate that the three Kola seeds are highly enriched in pectins and proteoglycans and that C. acuminata and C. nitida can be used as a possible source of caffeine and catechin.     

Prosthecium species with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer

Data from microscopic morphology, single-spore cultures, and DNA analyses of teleomorphs and anamorphs support the recognition of five species of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs on Acer: P. acerinum sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. acerinum; P. acerophilum comb. nov., formerly known as Dictyoporthe acerophila; P. galeatum comb. nov., originally described as Massaria galeata; P. opalus sp. nov.; and P. pyriforme sp. nov., the teleomorph of S. pyriforme s. str. The morphology of both type specimens and freshly collected material was investigated. The teleomorphs have brown ellipsoidal ascospores with five distosepta and often a longitudinal distoseptum. The anamorphs of all species described here belong to Stegonsporium; their connection to the Prosthecium teleomorphs was demonstrated by morphology and DNA sequences of single spore cultures derived from both ascospores and conidia. The anamorphs and teleomorphs of all five Prosthecium species are described and illustrated by LM images, and a key to these species is provided. As perceived from this work, S. pyriforme is restricted to Europe and does not occur in North America, whereas S. acerinum is restricted to North America, not found in Europe. The host associations given in the literature are revised and evidence is provided that only A. opalus, A. pseudoplatanus, and A. saccharum are confirmed hosts of Prosthecium with Stegonsporium anamorphs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of tef1, ITS rDNA, and partial nuLSU rDNA sequences confirm that the species with Stegonsporium anamorphs are closely related to P. ellipsosporum, the generic type species. Stilbospora macrosperma is confirmed as the anamorph of P. ellipsosporum by DNA data of single spore isolates obtained from both ascospores and conidia.     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.     

转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对异色瓢虫生长发育及其捕食功能的影响

【目的】为探究转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对异色瓢虫生长发育及其捕食功能的影响。【方法】以转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉与其亲本常规棉为实验材料,利用取食不同棉花品种叶片的棉铃虫饲喂异色瓢虫幼虫。【结果】与常规亲本棉相比,取食饲喂转基因棉花叶片的初孵棉铃虫幼虫的异色瓢虫幼虫从1龄发育至化蛹期时间延长0.77 d,但差异不显著;除1龄幼虫体重增加(0.0773 mg)外,其余各龄期幼虫体重均有所下降,但差异均不显著;异色瓢虫1、2、3、4龄幼虫对初孵棉铃虫捕食量均随棉铃虫密度的增加而增加,捕食功能反应均符合HollingⅡ圆盘方程。【结论】转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对异色瓢虫生长发育无显著影响,饲喂取食转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花的棉铃虫对异色瓢虫捕食功能无显著差异。     

The phylogenetic placement of Ostropales within Lecanoromycetes (Ascomycota) revisited

Results of molecular studies regarding the phylogenetic placement of the order Ostropales and related taxa within Lecanoromycetes were thus far inconclusive. Some analyses placed the order as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, while others inferred a position nested within Lecanoromycetes. We assembled a data set of 101 species including sequences from nuLSU rDNA, mtSSU rDNA, and the nuclear protein-coding RPB1 for each species to examine the cause of incongruencies in previously published phylogenies. MP, minimum evolution, and Bayesian analyses were performed using the combined three-region data set and the single-gene data sets. The position of Ostropales nested in Lecanoromycetes is confirmed in all single-gene and concatenated analyses, and a placement as sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes is significantly rejected using two independent methods of alternative topology testing. Acarosporales and related taxa (Acarosporaceae group) are basal in Lecanoromycetes. However, if the these basal taxa are excluded from the analyses, Ostropales appear to be sister to the rest of Lecanoromycetes, suggesting different ingroup rooting as the cause for deviating topologies in previously published phylogenies.     

Probing the Drosophila retinal determination gene network in Tribolium (II): The Pax6 genes eyeless and twin of eyeless

The Pax6 genes eyeless (ey) and twin of eyeless (toy) are upstream regulators in the retinal determination gene network (RDGN), which instructs the formation of the adult eye primordium in Drosophila. Most animals possess a singleton Pax6 ortholog, but the dependence of eye development on Pax6 is widely conserved. A rare exception is given by the larval eyes of Drosophila, which develop independently of ey and toy. To obtain insight into the origin of differential larval and adult eye regulation, we studied the function of toy and ey in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. We find that single and combinatorial knockdown of toy and ey affect larval eye development strongly but adult eye development only mildly in this primitive hemimetabolous species. Compound eye-loss, however, was provoked when ey and toy were RNAi-silenced in combination with the early retinal gene dachshund (dac). We propose that these data reflect a role of Pax6 during regional specification in the developing head and that the subsequent maintenance and growth of the adult eye primordium is regulated partly by redundant and partly by specific functions of toy, ey and dac in Tribolium. The results from embryonic knockdown and comparative protein sequence analysis lead us further to conclude that Tribolium represents an ancestral state of redundant control by ey and toy.