Vitelline envelope genes of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Vitelline envelope genes from the mosquito Aedes aegypti were analyzed with respect to their DNA sequences, genomic representation, temporal and spatial expression profiles and response to 20-hydroxyecdysone. Genomic clones of three vitelline envelope genes, 15a-1, 15a-2 and 15a-3 were isolated. Southern analysis indicates that all three genes are represented by a single copy in the genome. The deduced amino acid sequences of all three vitelline envelope genes contain a conserved region of 46 residues that overlaps with a region that is conserved in four Drosophila melanogaster vitelline envelope genes. DNA was sequenced flanking the 15a-1, 15a-2 and 15a-3 coding regions. A 360 bp sequence 5′ of the 15a-2 coding region was identified with 72% identity to a sequence upstream of the Ae. aegypti VgA1 vitellogenin gene. The temporal patterns of 15a-1, 15a-2 and 15a-3 expression, as determined by Northern analysis, were similar. The spatial patterns of expression, as determined by whole-mount in situ hybridization, differed between the three genes. 15a-1 and 15a-3 were only expressed in the middle and posterior regions of the follicle, while 15a-2 was also expressed at the anterior region. Vitelline envelope gene expression was higher in ovaries that were dissected at 0, 2 and 10 h following a blood meal and then incubated in vitro for 10 h in medium containing 10⁻⁵ M 20-hydroxyecdysone, compared to ovaries that were incubated without hormone.     

Haploinsufficiency of glutamine synthetase increases susceptibility to experimental febrile seizures

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a pivotal glial enzyme in the glutamate–glutamine cycle. GS is important in maintaining low extracellular glutamate concentrations and is downregulated in the hippocampus of temporal lobe epilepsy patients with mesial–temporal sclerosis, an epilepsy syndrome that is frequently associated with early life febrile seizures (FS). Human congenital loss of GS activity has been shown to result in brain malformations, seizures and death within days after birth. Recently, we showed that GS knockout mice die during embryonic development and that haploinsufficient GS mice have no obvious abnormalities or behavioral seizures. In the present study, we investigated whether reduced expression/activity of GS in haploinsufficient GS mice increased the susceptibility to experimentally induced FS. FS were elicited by warm-air-induced hyperthermia in 14-day-old mice and resulted in seizures in most animals. FS susceptibility was measured as latencies to four behavioral FS characteristics. Our phenotypic data show that haploinsufficient mice are more susceptible to experimentally induced FS ( P  < 0.005) than littermate controls. Haploinsufficient animals did not differ from controls in hippocampal amino acid content, structure (Nissl and calbindin), glial properties ( glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin) or expression of other components of the glutamate–glutamine cycle (excitatory amino acid transporter-2 and vesicular glutamate transporter-1). Thus, we identified GS as a FS susceptibility gene. GS activity-disrupting mutations have been described in the human population, but heterozygote mutations were not clearly associated with seizures or epilepsy. Our results indicate that individuals with reduced GS activity may have reduced FS seizure thresholds. Genetic association studies will be required to test this hypothesis.     

Effects of medium glutamine,glutamate, and ammonia on glutamine synthetase activity in cultured mouse astroglial cells

Mouse astroglial cells were grown during the last week of culture in either glutamine-free or glutamine-containing medium. The addition of cortisol to the glutamine-containing medium resulted in a doubling of astroglial glutamine synthetase (GS) activity. Withdrawal of glutamine from the medium resulted in a 50% elevation of GS and addition of cortisol to such a medium resulted in a further increase in GS which was not additive to glutamine withdrawal. Both in glutamine-free and glutamine-containing medium, the addition of glutamate resulted in a depression of both basal and cortisol induced GS activity. The simultaneous addition of ammonia plus glutamate to the culture medium ameliorated the glutamate mediated depressive effects on cortisol induced but not basal GS activity. Glutamine withdrawal from the culture medium resulted in an astroglial protein deficit. The addition of ammonia to the medium considerably reduced this deficit and the addition of glutamate completely eliminated this protein deficit.     

Effects of AeDNV infection on Aedes aegypti lifespan and reproduction

The effects of Aedes Densovirus (AeDNV) infections on survival, fertility, fecundity and vertical transmission in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) were measured in laboratories in Kiev, Ukraine and Colorado, USA and incorporated into a predictive model of the effects of AeDNV on vector capacity. Adult lifespan and daily survival were reduced in AeDNV infected mosquitoes. This effect was dependent on the dose of the virus. Infected females had decreased fecundity. The oviposition rate was less in infected females and the hatch rate declined in eggs laid by infected females. The amounts of AeDNV in infected females and the infection rate of their offspring were measured with real-time PCR. The average filial transmission rate was 70% and larval infection rates from infected females varied between 42 and 62%. Vertically infected larvae, and individual eggs contained 1 × 10⁵ AeDNV genome equivalents (geq). Modeling the effects of AeDNV infection on Ae. aegypti populations suggested a large decrease in the numbers of eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults arising from infected mothers and suggested that AeDNV treatment of larvae could cause up to a 76% reduction of infectious mosquito days.     

Some properties of glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase from Derxia gummosa

The incorporation of ¹⁵N into washed cells of Derxia gummosa from labelled-(NH₄)₂SO₄ and -KNO₃ respectively was inhibited by both L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine and azaserine. Glutamine synthetase purified to homogeneity from this bacterium had a molecular weight of 708 000 and was composed of 12 similar subunits each of 59 000. The enzyme assayed by γ-glutamyltransferase method had K_m values for L-glutamine and hydroxylamine of 12.5 and 1.2 mM, respectively. Optimal pH values for adenylylated and deadenylylated forms were pH 7.0 and pH 8.0, respectively. The adenylylated enzyme was deadenylylated by treatment with snake venom phosphodiesterase. The inhibitions by both glutamate and ammonia were competitive. The activity was markedly inhibited by L-methionine-DL-sulphoximine, alanine, glycine and serine and to a lesser extent by aspartate, phenylalanine and lysine. Various tri-, di- and mono-phosphate nucleotides, organic acids (pyruvate, oxalate and oxaloacetate) were also inhibitory. Glutamate synthase purified 167-fold had specific requirements for NADH, L-glutamine and 2-ketoglutarate. The K_m values for NADH, glutamine and 2-ketoglutarate were 9.6, 270 and 24 μM respectively. Optimal pH range was 7.2–8.2. The enzyme was inhibited by azaserine, methionine, aspartate, AMP, ADP and ATP.     

Transient expression of the Drosophila melanogaster cinnabar gene rescues eye color in the white eye (WE) strain of Aedes aegypti

The lack of eye pigment in the Aedes aegypti WE (white eye) colony was confirmed to be due to a mutation in the kynurenine hydroxylase gene, which catalyzes one of the steps in the metabolic synthesis of ommochrome eye pigments. Partial restoration of eye color (orange to red phenotype) in pupae and adults occurred in both sexes when first or second instar larvae were reared in water containing 3-hydroxykynurenine, the metabolic product of the enzyme kynurenine hydroxylase. No eye color restoration was observed when larvae were reared in water containing kynurenine sulfate, the precursor of 3-hydroxykynurenine in the ommochrome synthesis pathway. In addition, a plasmid clone containing the wild type Drosophila melanogaster gene encoding kynurenine hydroxylase, cinnabar (cn), was also able to complement the kynurenine hydroxylase mutation when it was injected into embryos of the A. aegypti WE strain. The ability to complement this A. aegypti mutant with the transiently expressed D. melanogaster cinnabar gene supports the value of this gene as a transformation reporter for use with A. aegypti WE and possibly other Diptera with null mutations in the kynurenine hydroxylase gene.     

Lipophorin as a yolk protein precursor in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

We examined expression of the lipophorin (Lp) gene, lipophorin (Lp) synthesis and secretion in the mosquito fat body, as well as dynamic changes in levels of this lipoprotein in the hemolymph and ovaries, during the first vitellogenic cycle of females of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Lipophorin was purified by potassium bromide (KBr) density gradient ultracentrifugation and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). Polyclonal antibodies were produced against individual Lp apoproteins, apolipoprotein-I (apoLp-I) and apolipoprotein-II (apoLp-II), with molecular weights of 240 and 75 kDa, respectively. We report here that in the mosquito A. aegypti, Lp was synthesized by the fat body, with a low level of the Lp gene expression and protein synthesis being maintained in pre- and postvitellogenic females. Following a blood meal, the Lp gene expression and protein synthesis were significantly upregulated. Our findings showed that the fat body levels of Lp mRNA and the rate of Lp secretion by this tissue reached their maximum at 18 h post-blood meal (PMB). 20-Hydroxyecdysone was responsible for an increase in the Lp gene expression and Lp protein synthesis in the mosquito fat body. Finally, the immunocytochemical localization of Lp showed that in vitellogenic female mosquitoes, this protein was accumulated by developing oocytes where it was deposited in yolk granules.     

Identification of novel LTR retrotransposons in the genome of Aedes aegypti

We have detected seventy-six novel LTR retrotransposons in the genome of the mosquito Aedes aegypti by a genome wide analysis using the LTR_STRUC program. We have performed a phylogenetic classification of these novel elements and a distribution analysis in the genome of A. aegypti. These mobile elements belong either to the Ty3/gypsy or to the Bel family of retrotransposons and were not annotated in the mosquito LTR retrotransposon database (TEfam). We have found that  1.8% of the genome is occupied by these newly detected retrotransposons that are distributed predominantly in intergenic genomic sequences and introns. The potential role of retrotransposon insertions linked to host genes is described and discussed. We show that a retrotransposon family belonging to the Osvaldo lineage has peculiar structural features, and its presence is likely to be restricted to the A. aegypti and to the Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus genomes. Furthermore we show that the ninja-like group of elements lacks the Primer Binding Site (PBS) sequence necessary for the replication of retrotransposons. These results integrate the knowledge on the complicate genomic structure of an important disease vector.     

苦荞4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶基因(Ft4CL)的克隆及序列分析

以苦荞栽培种‘西荞2号’为材料,利用同源克隆和RT-PCR技术获得Ft4CL保守片段,采用RACE技术获得Ft4CL基因的3'末端及5'末端序列,并进一步采用生物信息学方法进行序列分析。结果表明:从苦荞花蕾总RNA中获得一条苦荞麦(Fagopyrum tatarium)4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶基因(4-coumarate:Coa ligase,Ft4CL)的cDNA全长序列。生物息学分析结果显示,Ft4CL基因ORF全长1 602 bp,可编码553个氨基酸,理论标准分子质量为58.02kDa,等电点(pI)为5.23。该研究首次从苦荞中获得Ft4CL基因的cDNA全长序列,该基因具有植物4CL同源基因的典型特征,推导的氨基酸序列具有4CL的所有活性位点并归属于黄酮代谢支路。该研究结果可为深入研究苦荞黄酮代谢途径奠定基础,为采用代谢工程技术提高苦荞黄酮含量提供候选靶基因。     

Chemical composition and larvicidal effects of essential oil of Dendropanax morbifera against Aedes aegypti L.

Essential oils obtained from the flowers of Dendropanax morbifera were extracted and the chemical composition and larvicidal effects were studied. The analyses were conducted by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) revealed that the essential oil of D. morbifera contained 27 compounds. The major chemical components identified were γ-elemene (18.59%), tetramethyltricyclohydrocarbon (10.82%), β-selinene (10.41%), α-zingibirene (10.52%), 2-isopropyl-5-methylbicylodecen (4.2%), β-cubebene (4.19), and 2,6-bis(1,1-Dimethylethyl)-4-phenol (4.01%). The essential oil had a significant toxic effect against early fourth-stage larvae of Aedes aegypti L. with an LC₅₀ value of 62.32 ppm and an LC₉₀ value of 131.21 ppm. The results could be useful in search for newer, safer, and more effective natural larvicidal agents against A. aegypti.     

Forcing expression of a soybean root glutamine synthetase gene in tobacco leaves induces a native gene encoding cytosolic enzyme

Glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) is present in different subcellular compartments in plants. It is located in the cytoplasm in root and root nodules while generally present in the chloroplasts in leaves. The expression of GS gene(s) is enhanced in root nodules and in soybean roots treated with ammonia. We have isolated four genes encoding subunits of cytosolic GS from soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Prize). Promoter analysis of one of these genes (GS15) showed that it is expressed in a root-specific manner in transgenic tobacco and Lotus corniculatus, but is induced by ammonia only in the legume background. Making the GS15 gene expression constitutive by fusion with the CaMV-35S promoter led to the expression of GS in the leaves of transgenic tobacco plants. The soybean GS was functional and was located in the cytoplasm in tobacco leaves where this enzyme is not normally present. Forcing this change in the location of GS caused concomitant induction of the mRNA for a native cytosolic GS in the leaves of transgenic tobacco. Shifting the subcellular location of GS in transgenic plants apparently altered the nitrogen metabolism and forced the induction in leaves of a native GS gene encoding a cytosolic enzyme. The latter is normally expressed only in the root tissue of tobacco. This phenomenon may suggest a hitherto uncharacterized metabolic control on the expression of certain genes in plants.     

伊蚊C型凝集素mosGCTL-2是登革病毒感染相关的重要蛋白质

C型凝集素是一类含有糖结合结构域的蛋白质,从节肢动物到哺乳动物的C型凝集素都具有共同的基序,它在进化上相当保守,在免疫反应中发挥重要作用. 埃及伊蚊表达30多种C型凝集素蛋白,它是登革病毒的关键传播媒介,这些蛋白质对病毒和细菌感染均有至关重要的作用. 最近研究表明,C型凝集素mosGCTL-3与二型登革热病毒包膜蛋白具有相互作用,能够增强登革病毒对埃及伊蚊的感染. 在本文中,我们发现了C型凝集素蛋白mosGCTL-2具有与mosGCTL-3类似的功能. 两种C型凝集素mosGCTL-2和mosGCTL-3的氨基酸残基序列一致性高达43.56％. 为研究mosGCTL-2在登革病毒蚊媒传播中的作用,我们通过果蝇S2细胞表达系统表达纯化了mosGCTL-2蛋白. 结果表明,mosGCTL-2与二型登革热病毒包膜蛋白的结合具有钙离子依赖性. 进一步的研究表明,埃及伊蚊感染登革病毒能够诱导mosGCTL2表达上调,是二型登革热病毒感染埃及伊蚊所必需的蛋白质. 以上研究说明,mosGCTL-2蛋白可能是在登革热病毒感染埃及伊蚊中起重要作用的一种模式识别受体.     

Identification and characterization of Aedes aegypti aminopeptidase N as a putative receptor of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11A toxin

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, which is used worldwide to control Aedes aegypti larvae, produces Cry11Aa and other toxins during sporulation. In this study, pull-down assays were performed using biotinylated Cry11Aa toxin and solubilized brush border membrane vesicles prepared from midguts of Aedes larvae. Three of the eluted proteins were identified as aminopeptidease N (APN), one of which was a 140 kDa protein, named AaeAPN1 (AAEL012778 in VectorBase). This protein localizes to the apical side of posterior midgut epithelial cells of larva. The full-length AaeAPN1 was cloned and expressed in Eschericia coli and in Sf21 cells. AaeAPN1 protein expressed in Sf21 cells was enzymatically active, had a GPI-anchor but did not bind Cry11Aa. A truncated AaeAPN1, however, binds Cry11Aa with high affinity, and also Cry11Ba but with lower affinity. BBMV but not Sf21 expressed AaeAPN1 can be detected by wheat germ agglutinin suggesting the native but Sf21 cell-expressed APN1 contains N-acetylglucosamine moieties.     

甜荞查尔酮合酶基因Chs的克隆及序列分析

利用RT-PCR技术从甜荞中克隆得到查耳酮合酶(CHS)的cDNA开放阅读框(ORF)序列,命名为FeChs,NCBI登录号为GU172166.1.该序列长1 179 bp,编码392个氨基酸,与其它植物CHS基因的同源性为78%～92%,其推导的氨基酸序列含有CHS高度保守的活性位点及CHS的标签序列GFGPG.     

Poly-γ-glutamate synthetase of Bacillus subtilis

Poly-γ-glutamate (PGA) is a most promising biodegradable polymer. In extracellular mucilage-producing Bacillus subtilis, the pgsBCA genes encode the membrane-associated PGA synthetase complex. It was recently speculated that PGA synthetase consists of both the intact 44 kDa and the in-phase overlapping 33 kDa-ywsC (corresponding to pgsB) gene products. This review covers current research into B. subtilis PGA synthetase and discusses the structural and functional features of the enzyme.     

Larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti of some plants native to the West-Central region of Brazil

A total of 42 ethanolic extracts from 30 different plant species, native to the Pantanal and Cerrado of the West-Central region of Brazil, have been evaluated for their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae, the vector of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fevers. Among the extracts tested, that obtained from the trunk bark of Ocotea velloziana was the most active. Using a bioassay-directed fractionation of this extract, the active constituent was isolated and characterized as the aporphine alkaloid (+)-dicentrine. Its structure was established on the basis of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, optical rotation and by comparison with an authentic sample. This is the first report on the larvicidal activity against A. aegypti of this alkaloid. Our results suggest that (+)-dicentrine may be considered as a promising natural mosquito larvicidal agent.     

向日葵E3泛素连接酶基因克隆及表达分析

该研究从向日葵中克隆了E3泛素连接酶基因HERC2,并进行了生物信息学分析和不同胁迫条件的表达分析。序列分析表明,HERC2(登录号为KT832066)序列的CDS为1 608bp,编码535个氨基酸,预测其分子量131kD,等电点为5.03。HERC2编码的蛋白质为疏水性蛋白质,且为细胞质蛋白;亚细胞定位预测分析表明,向日葵HERC2可能定位在高尔基体中;该蛋白质有5个RCC1保守结构域。向日葵HERC2与已报道的其他植物同源蛋白有相似的保守区域,与醉蝶花亲缘关系最近,而与大豆和野生大豆的亲缘关系最远。与HERC2cDNA对应的gDNA(登录号为KT832067)的ORF长度为3 409bp,与cDNA编码序列比对结果表明,该gDNA由5个外显子和4个内含子组成。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,向日葵HERC2基因表达受非生物胁迫调节,在不同器官及不同非生物胁迫下存在特异性表达差异。研究认为,HERC2基因应答逆境胁迫具有其特定的表达模式,研究结果为加强对HERC2的利用奠定了基础。     

Cloning of the glutamine synthetase gene fromspirulina platensis

An 8 Kilobase-pair (Kbp) HindIII fragment containing the coding sequence forSpirulina platensis glutamine synthetase [EC 6.3.1.1.] has been identified utilizing a probe derived fromAnabaena 7120 and cloned in the vector pAT153.