Full-length sequence, regulation and developmental studies of a second vitellogenin gene from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis

Vitellogenin (Vg) is the precursor of vitellin (Vn) which is the major yolk protein in eggs. In a previous report, we isolated and characterized the first Vg message from the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis. In the current study, we describe a second Vg gene from the same tick. The Vg2 cDNA is 5956 nucleotides with a 5775 nt open reading frame coding for 1925 amino acids. The conceptual amino acid translation contains a 16-residues putative signal peptide, N-terminal lipid binding domain and C-terminal von Willebrand factor type D domain present in all known Vgs. Moreover, the amino acid sequence shows a typical GLCG domain and several RXXR cleavage sites present in most isolated Vgs. Tryptic digest-mass fingerprinting of Vg and Vn recognized 11 fragments that exist in the amino acid translation of DvVg2 cDNA. Injection of virgin females with 20 hydroxyecdysone induced DvVg2 expression, vitellogenesis and oviposition. Using RT-PCR, DvVg2 expression was detected only in tick females after mating and feeding to repletion. Northern blot analysis showed that DvVg2 is expressed in fat body and gut cells of vitellogenic females but not in the ovary. DvVg2 expression was not detected in adult fed or unfed males. The characteristics that distinguish Vg from other similar tick storage proteins like the carrier protein, CP (another hemelipoglycoprotein) are discussed.     

Purification and properties of vitellogenin and vitellin from a tick,Ornithodoros moubata

Summary The vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellin (Vn) of a soft tick,Ornithodoros moubata, were purified from reproductive female haemolymph and from eggs, respectively. The Vg preparation displayed two components (Vg-1 and Vg-2) on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), both of which reacted with anti-Vn serum. The Vn and Vg-2 preparations were homogeneous as judged by PAGE, electron microscopy, and immunodiffusion, whereas the Vg-1 always contained a small amount of Vg-2. The electron micrographs of Vn and Vg-2 showed a rugby-ball shape with a cleft at the middle of the molecules, while Vg-1 appeared as half of Vn or Vg-2 in shape and size. This together with the data on molecular weights (600, 000 for Vn and Vg-2, 300, 000 for Vg-1) suggests that the Vn and Vg-2 are dimers of Vg-1. Six polypeptides (P1–P6, mol wt 100, 000–215, 000) for Vgs and six polypeptides (P3–P8, mol wt 50, 000–160, 000) for Vn were demonstrated by SDS PAGE; P3–P6 were common to Vgs and Vn. These observations suggest proteolytic processing from larger to smaller polypeptides. The Vn contained 7.6% lipids with triacylglycerol as the major neutral lipid and 12.4% carbohydrates with mannose as the major sugar. The Vn and Vgs showed a reddish brown coloration due to the presence of haem compound(s). The amino acid composition of Vn was high in glutamic acid, proline, valine and leucine but low in methionine and isoleucine. The isoelectric point of Vn and Vgs was pH 6.9. Unlike Vg and Vn of insects, the Vgs and Vn of tick were soluble in distilled water.Abbreviations Vg vitellogenin - Vn vitellin - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate     

Molecular characteristics of insect vitellogenins

Vitellogenins (Vgs) are precursors of the major egg storage protein, vitellin (Vn), in many oviparous animals. Insects Vgs are large molecules (∼200-kD) synthesized in the fat body in a process that involves substantial structural modifications (e.g., glycosylation, lipidation, phosphorylation, and proteolytic cleavage, etc.) of the nascent protein prior to its secretion and transport to the ovaries. However, the extent to which Vgs are processed in the fat body varies greatly among different insect groups. We provide evidence by cloning and peptide mapping of four Vg molecules from two cockroach species (Periplaneta americana and Leucophaea maderae) that, in hemimetabolous insects, the pro-Vg is cleaved into several polypeptides (ranging from 50-to 180-kD), unlike the holometabolans where the Vg precursor is cleaved into two polypeptides (one large and one small). An exception is the Vg of Apocrita (higher Hymenoptera) where the Vg gene product remains uncleaved. The yolk proteins (YPs) of higher Diptera (such as Drosophila) form a different family of proteins and are also not cleaved. So far, Vgs have been sequenced from 25 insect species; 9 of them belong to Hemimetabola and 16 to Holometabola. Alignment of the coding sequences revealed that some features, like the GL/ICG motif, cysteine residues, and a DGXR motif upstream of the GLI/CG motif, were highly conserved near the carboxy terminal of all insect Vgs. Moreover, a consensus RXXR cleavage sequence motif exists at the N-terminus of all sequences outside the Apocrita except for Lymantria dispar where it exists at the C-terminus. Phylogenetic analysis using 31 Vg sequences from 25 insect species reflects, in general, the current phylogenies of insects, suggesting that Vgs are still phylogenetically bound, although a divergence exists among them.     

Female qualities in males: Vitellogenin synthesis induced by ovary transplants into the male silkworm, Bombyx mori

Female qualities in males are common in vertebrates but have not been extensively reported in insects. Vitellogenin (Vg) is highly expressed in the female fat body and is generally required for the formation of yolk proteins in the insect egg. Vg upregulation is generally regarded as a female quality in female oviparous animals. In this study, we found that Bombyx mori Vg (BmVg) is especially highly expressed in the female pupa. Downregulation of the BmVg gene in the female pupa by RNA interference (RNAi) interfered with egg formation and embryonic development, showing the importance of BmVg in these processes. So, we used BmVg as a biomarker for female qualities in the silkworm. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence histochemistry showed that ovary transplants induced BmVg synthesis in the male pupa fat body. Ovaries transplanted into male silkworms produced only a few eggs with deformed yolk granules. These results suggested that the amount of BmVg in the male silkworm was insufficient for eggs to undergo complete embryonic development. After 17-beta-estradiol was used to treat male pupae and male pupal fat bodies, BmVg was upregulated in vivo and in vitro. These findings indicated that the male silkworm has innate female qualities that were induced by a transplanted ovary and 17β-estradiol. However, in silkworms, female qualities in males are not as complete as in females.     

Vitellogenin of the cockroach,Leucophaea maderae: nucleotide sequence,structure and analysis of processing in the fat body and oocytes

A cDNA encoding vitellogenin (Vg) of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence consisting of 1913 residues (including 15 residues for a putative signal peptide) was obtained. Amino-terminal sequence analysis demonstrated that the pro-Vg was cleaved into four polypeptide 'subunits' following the three consensus RXXR cleavage site sequences, which were secreted as four Vg polypeptides (apparent molecular weights = 112-, 100-, 92- and 55-kD), sequestered, and deposited in the egg as four respective vitellin (Vn) polypeptides. There was, however, an additional 90-kD Vn polypeptide existed in the egg. We show that this polypeptide is a processed product from 92-kD Vn polypeptide. Northern blot analysis of poly (A)+ RNA reveals that mRNA coding for Vg is present only in the female fat body cells but neither in the ovary nor in the male fat body cells. The deduced amino acid sequence contained a serine-rich stretch at the C-terminal region. This stretch occurred also in Vgs of Periplaneta americana (Vg1 and Vg2) and Blattella germanica. The Vg of L. maderae had 26% and 31% homology with those of P. americana (Vg1 and Vg2) and B. germanica, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis (neighbour-joining) was made using four cockroach Vgs and the tree was compared with other molecular and conventional phylogenetic trees.     

Cloning of vitellogenin cDNA of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Dictyoptera), and its structural and expression analyses

A cDNA expression library constructed from poly (A)(+) RNA prepared from vitellogenic female fat body cells of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Dictyoptera) was screened using a polyclonal antiserum against the 100-kD polypeptide(s) from the egg extract. A partial Vg cDNA clone was obtained and sequenced. The 5' end portion of the cDNA was then obtained by the RACE method, cloned, and sequenced. The combined complete Vg cDNA was 5,854 bp long and contained a single ORF encoding 1,896 amino acids. The entire deduced amino acid sequence was aligned confidently with those of the known insect Vgs. A GL/ICG motif, a number of cysteines at conserved locations following this motif, and a DGXR motif upstream of the GL/ICG motif were present near the C-terminal. The chemically determined N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 170-kD polypeptide from the egg extract completely matched the deduced sequence starting from just after one of the consensus (RXXR) cleavage sites, indicating the occurrence of post-translational cleavage in the fat body cells. The Vg gene begins to be expressed in the 2-day-old adult female fat body cells but is never expressed in ovaries or in male fat body cells. Hemolymph Vg was first detected by immunoblotting in 4-day-old adult females, 2 days after the beginning of gene expression. Western blot analysis of major yolk polypeptides in nine cockroach species belonging to the two superfamilies, Blattoidea and Blaberoidea, using the antisera against P. americana major yolk polypeptides showed that the similarities in Vn antigenicity are basically limited to within a superfamily.     

Regulation of vitellogenin synthesis by juvenile hormone analogue in Coccinella septempunctata

Vitellogenesis in the lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata, is controlled by juvenile hormone (JH). When immature females were reared on an artificial diet, they were characterized by hypertrophy of the fat bodies and slow development of the ovaries. Vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis in the fat body remained at a very low level throughout adult development. RNA synthesis also stayed at a relatively low level. Treatment with hydroprene induced vitellogenesis in these non-fecund females. Stimulation in Vg synthesis in hormone-treated females was demonstrated both in vivo and in fat body culture. Synthesis of fat body RNA also increased after hormone treatment. Fat body RNA from hormone-treated females directed the synthesis of Vg polypeptides both in Xenopus oocytes and in a reticulocyte lysate. Thus the induction of Vg synthesis by JH involves an increase in the level of translatable Vg mRNA.     

Quantification of vitellogenesis and its control by 20-hydroxyecdysone in the ixodid tick,Amblyomma hebraeum

Ovaries of the ixodid tick, Amblyomma hebraeum Koch, grew rapidly after engorgment as a result of yolk uptake. At 26 °C, oviposition began by day 10 post-engorgement, plateaued on days 16-18, and ended by day 38. Vitellin (Vt) was partially purified from ovaries of day 10 engorged ticks by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. This Vt comprises seven major and several minor polypeptides. Two polypeptides (211 and 148 kD) from haemolymph of engorged female ticks corresponded to minor polypeptides of similar molecular weight in the ovary. The haemolymph titre of the 211 and 148 kD polypeptides increased up to the onset of oviposition. These polypeptides were absent in males and non-vitellogenic females (day 0 engorged or day 10 partially-fed females), and were thus designated as vitellogenin (Vg). Antibodies raised against haemolymph Vg211 and 148 recognized these polypeptides in partially purified Vt, as well as six of the seven major polypeptides. Using these antibodies we developed an indirect, competitive ELISA to quantify Vg. Rise in haemolymph Vg-concentration lagged slightly behind the rise in haemolymph ecdysteroid (ES)-concentration, and Vg-synthesis was stimulated by injections of 20E into non-vitellogenic females. These observations indicate that an ES is the vitellogenic hormone in A. hebraeum.     

七星瓢虫的卵黄发生:脂肪体与卵巢中卵黄原蛋白的合成与分泌

本文利用[³H]亮氨酸参入及特异性抗体沉淀等方法,研究了七星瓢虫体外培养的脂肪体中卵黄原蛋白合成与分泌的动力学,以及不同发育期脂肪体与卵巢中卵黄原蛋白合成的定量变化。脂肪体中卵黄原蛋白的合成与分泌在培养1—4小时内直线上升,到6小时稍下降。保留在脂肪体内的卵黄原蛋白缓慢积累,但一直水平很低。卵黄原蛋白合成的最初30分钟,分泌速率较慢,60%以上的卵黄原蛋白保留在脂肪体内。1小时后分泌速率加快,70%以上的卵黄原蛋白被分泌,保留的卵黄原蛋白在4小时中逐渐被释放。在4小时,被分泌的卵黄原蛋白超过80%,最高可达92%。 在雌虫发育过程中,脂肪体中卵黄原蛋白合成的高峰在羽化后11—15天,所合成的卵黄原蛋白占整个发育期合成总量的80%。在合成高峰期分泌的卵黄原蛋白高达90%以上,但在发育的早期和晚期分泌的卵黄原蛋白仅占30%或稍多。 卵黄发生前的卵巢就开始合成卵黄原蛋白,但卵巢中卵黄原蛋白的合成高峰期与脂肪体中大致相同。与脂肪体相反,卵巢合成的卵黄原蛋白大部分保留在卵巢内。在卵黄发生盛期,卵巢合成的卵黄原蛋白为脂肪体合成的卵黄原蛋白的20%。     

Sequence and the developmental and tissue-specific regulation of the first complete vitellogenin messenger RNA from ticks responsible for heme sequestration

The first full-length mRNA for vitellogenin (Vg) from ticks was sequenced. This also represents the first complete sequence of Vg from the Chelicerata and of a heme binding Vg. The Vg cDNA from the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis was 5744nt in length (GenBank Accession number AY885250), which coded for a protein of 1843 aa with a calculated molecular weight of 208 kD. This protein had an 18 aa signal sequence, a single RXXR cleavage signal that would generate two subunits (49.5 and 157K in molecular weight) and lipoprotein N-terminal and carboxy von Willebrand factor type D domains. Tryptic digest MS analysis of vitellin protein confirmed the function of the cDNA as the tick yolk protein. Apparently, vitellin in D. variabilis is oligomeric (possibly dimeric) and is comprised of a mixture of the uncleaved monomer and subunits that were predicted from the single RXXR cleavage signal. The highly conserved GL/ICG motif close to the C-terminus in insect Vg genes was different in the tick Vg message, i.e., GLCS. This variant was also present in a partial sequence of Vg from Boophilus microplus. Phylogenic analysis showed that the full length Vg cDNA from D. variabilis and the partial cDNA from B. microplus were distinct from insects and Crustacea. The Vg message was not found in whole body RNA from unfed or fed males or in unfed and partially fed (virgin) females as determined by Northern blotting. The message was found in replete (mated) pre-ovipositional females, increased to higher levels in ovipositing females and was absent after egg laying was complete. The endocrine regulation of the Vg mRNA is discussed. The tissue sources of the Vg message are both the gut and fat body. Tryptic digest MS fingerprinting suggests that a second Vg mRNA might be present in the American dog tick, which needs further study.     

Molecular characterization and mRNA transcript profile of vitellogenin in Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis

A full-length cDNA encoding vitellogenin (Vg) was cloned from Chinese shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis using RACE method. The full-length cDNA consist of 7,942 nucleotides including a 7,761 bp open reading frame, which encodes 2,587 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high (from 94% to 37%) identity with other known crustacean Vgs. In addition, a consensus cleavage site (R-X-K/R-R) recognized by an endopeptidase and a member of subtilisin family of serine protease were identified in the deduced Vg precursor. RT-PCR analysis shown that Vg mRNA can be detected in both ovary and hepatopancreas of vitellogenic females but not in other experimental tissues including muscle, heart, lymph organ, gill, haemocytes and intestine. These results suggest that the Vg gene may be expressed exclusively in mature females, and both ovary and hepatopancreas are the possible tissues for Vg synthesis in F. chinensis. In addition, Vg gene is detected in genomic DNA of both females and males.     

Vitellogenin synthesis in the lady beetle Coccinella septempunctata

To elucidate the hormonal mechanisms which regulate reproduction in a beneficial insect, we have begun to investigate the process of vitellogenesis in Coccinella septempunctata, the seven-spotted lady beetle. Vitellin (Vn) constitutes 60–70% of the total protein in C. septempunctata eggs and is composed of four polypeptides with molecular weights determined by electrophoresis in denaturing gels of 133,000, 130,000, 46,000 and 43,000. In the egg these polypeptides occur in a ratio of approx. 1:1:1:2. The two larger Vn polypeptides yielded similar peptide fragments upon partial proteolytic digestion which suggests that they are structurally related. The two smaller Vn polypeptides appear structurally distinct because they yielded unique proteolytic fragments. The Vn precursor, vitellogenin (Vg), was observed in the haemolymph of mature females, but was not detected in the haemolymph of immature females or males. The electrophoretic mobilities, antigenicity, and proteolytic fragmentation patterns of the Vg polypeptides were indistinguishable from those of their Vn counterparts. Thus the major processing of the Vn polypeptides appears to occur prior to their secretion into the haemolymph.The synthesis of Vg was examined in whole animals and in organ cultures. Vg synthesis was observed in the fat body and to a smaller extent in the ovaries of mature females. The newly synthesized Vg was rapidly secreted. Vg synthesis was not detectable in brain or thoracic muscle of mature females or in the fat body of males or immature females. Very little vitellogenin synthesis occurred in female insects reared on artificial diets. The topical application of a juvenile hormone analogue induced Vg synthesis in non-fecund females but not in males.     

天蚕卵黄原蛋白的合成、运转与沉积

系统测定了天蚕Antheraea yamamai吐丝结茧至成虫期脂肪体、血淋巴和卵巢中卵黄蛋白和可溶性蛋白总含量的动态变化。结果表明,脂肪体是卵黄原蛋白(Vg)合成场所,Vg合成始于吐丝结茧后第4天;脂肪体、血淋巴中Vg滴度在吐丝结茧后第4天开始上升,化蛹后第6天或第8天达高峰,成虫羽化第1天则明显下降。卵巢对Vg摄取始于化蛹第1天,此后随蛹日龄逐渐上升,并渐趋平稳。同一卵巢管中卵黄蛋白(Vt)含量自顶端至基端随卵室增大而逐渐升高,不同日龄蛹中相应序号卵室的Vt含量以日龄大者为高;卵室中Vt含量与卵室体积大小呈正线性关系。电镜观察表明,Vg被卵母细胞摄入后以卵黄体形式存在,不同发育阶段卵巢中卵母细胞内卵黄体大小不同,以早期者为小;同一卵巢管中不同卵母细胞内卵黄体以顶端为小,基端明显增大,且卵黄体呈网状。     

Tissue distribution and characterization of predominant hemolymph carrier proteins from Dermacentor variabilis and Ornithodoros parkeri

The tissue distribution of the predominant hemolymph protein found throughout tick development was examined in the hard tick, Dermacentor variabilis, and in the soft tick, Ornithodoros parkeri. In D. variabilis, the predominant (purified) hemolymph protein was a lipoglycoheme-carrier protein (DvCP) with a molecular weight of 200 K. A protein with a similar mobility on native-PAGE was found in fat body, salivary gland, muscle and ovary from partially fed females which was most abundant in the plasma and salivary gland. DvCP from plasma, salivary gland and fat body of partially fed females consisted of two subunits on SDS-PAGE (98 and 92 K). In replete females, only salivary gland exhibited protein subunits equivalent to hemolymph CP. CP in salivary gland and fat body stained positive for lipids. The concentration of CP in tissues varied between partially fed and replete females, indicating a difference in the expression and/or sequestration of CP during adult development. The predominant hemolymph carrier protein from O. parkeri (OpCP) was purified to homogeneity for the first time and is presumed to have similar functions to CP from D. variabilis. Purified OpCP exhibited a molecular weight of 668 K by native-PAGE. Unlike CP from D. variabilis, OpCP was not detected in fat body or salivary gland tissues but occurred abundantly in coxal fluid. By SDS-PAGE, purified hemolymph OpCP consisted of two major subunits (114 and 93 K) and a less abundant protein with an apparent molecular weight of 48 K. Purified native OpCP was a lipoprotein like DvCP. A spectral analysis of purified OpCP failed to demonstrate the presence of heme like that found for CP from D. variabilis, purified by the same methods. However, plasma from O. parkeri contained heme with a λ_max of 410 nm.     

Juvenile hormone-dependent vitellogenin synthesis in Locusta migratoria fat body: Inducibility related to sex and stage

Juvenile hormone (JH)-dependent vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis in the fat body of Locusta migratoria is normally limited to sexually mature adult females. As a step toward examining the basis of this limitation, we have tested female and male locusts in a series of stages after the third larval molt for inducibility of Vg synthesis by the synthetic JH analog, methoprene. We find that in the fourth and fifth larval instars fat body of both sexes can be induced to produce Vg, but in the adult stage females respond strongly while no more than trace amounts can be induced in males. Quantitative assays show relative responsiveness in the order: adult female > fifth instar female > fifth instar male ? adult male. During the fifth instar of both sexes, maximal vitellogenic response was obtained in midinstar. After the larval-adult ecdysis, female fat body was unresponsive during the first 4 days, then responsiveness increased and by Day 8 after ecdysis fat bodies were fully as competent to produce Vg as at Day 14, the usual maximum of the first vitellogenic cycle due to endogenous JH. Larval and adult female fat bodies implanted into male larvae are competent for Vg synthesis after metamorphosis, so that the differences between adult male and female cannot be imposed by the male milieu intérieur during the larval-adult molt. In male and female precocious adults, produced by treatment of fourth instars with precocene, fat body responded to methoprene as in normal adults. We conclude that factors intrinsic to the fat body cells, determined early in development, are responsible for differential gene programing in males and females, which is partially expressed by the fifth instar but fully manifest only after a molt in the absence of JH.     

Relationship between feeding,mating, vitellogenin production and vitellogenesis in the tickDermacentor variabilis

Anti-vitellin IgG directed againstDermacentor variabilis egg vitellin was used in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE) gradient gel immunoblots to detect the presence of vitellin and its precursor, vitellogenin, in the organs of feeding adults and in the immature stages of this tick. Vitellin polypeptides were found in the egg, larvae, nymph, and in the unfed adult stages of both sexes. Vitellin polypeptides were first detected in the ovary of mated females during the rapid-engorgement feeding, period. These polypeptides were also present in the ovaries of ovipositing females, unmated females fed for extended periods, and fed unmated females that were detached from the host and held for 12 h before dissection. The same anti-vitellin antibody was used in immunoblots to monitor the appearance of vitellogenin in the organs and hemolymph of female ticks. Immunoreactive peptides of vitellogenin were found in the fat body, midgut, and hemolymph of pre-rapid-engorging mated and unmated females. These polypeptides were not found in fed males nor in Malpighian tubes of feeding or ovipositing females Our data supported the following conclusions: 1) presence of immunoreactive vitellogenin in the adult female fat body, hemolymph, and midgut was, dependent upon feeding; 2) in mated feeding females, we could not detect the uptake of vitellogenin by the ovary until rapid engorgement; 3) in unmated females, vitellogenesis did not, begin unless prolonged feeding occurred; and 4) during the early developmental stages of this tick, vitellin served as an embryonic nutrient reserve and as a reserve against starvation between feedings.