Molecular cloning,expression analysis and functional confirmation of two ecdysone receptor isoforms from the rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis

PCR techniques were used to clone and identify cDNAs for ecdysone receptor A and B1 (EcR-A and EcR-B1) isoforms from the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis. They differ only in the N-terminal A/B regions and show high sequence identities to other insects' EcRs. At the wandering stage, EcR-B1 mRNA was expressed more abundantly in the midgut than in the epidermis and fat body, whereas expression levels of EcR-A mRNA were similar in the three tissues. In the epidermis of the last instar larvae, the maximal mRNA expression of both EcR-A and EcR-B1 was observed from the wandering to prepupal stages prior to the peak of ecdysteroid titer in the hemolymph. In gel mobility shift assays, in vitro translated C. suppressalis EcR-B1 (CsEcR-B1) and Bombyx mori ultraspiracle (BmUSP) proteins bound to the Pal 1 and Drosophila melanogaster hsp27 ecdysone response element as a heterodimer. These results indicate that the cDNAs isolated here encode functional ecdysone receptors.     

桃蛀螟CYP6AE76基因参与对Cry1Ab蛋白的解毒作用

【目的】明确桃蛀螟Conogethes punctiferalis幼虫取食Cry1Ab蛋白后体内CYP6AE76的过表达及对Cry1Ab蛋白有解毒作用。【方法】分析桃蛀螟CYP6AE76序列特征;利用RT-qPCR检测CYP6AE76在不同发育阶段(1-5龄幼虫)和4龄幼虫不同组织(头、中肠、血淋巴和脂肪体)以及4龄幼虫取食含有Cry1Ab蛋白(LC₅₀=1.08 ng/cm2)的人工饲料3 d存活的幼虫中肠和血淋巴中的表达量;利用RNAi饲喂法沉默桃蛀螟4 龄幼虫CYP6AE76后检测中肠中CYP6AE76的表达量,并统计120 h后幼虫体重并计算幼虫存活率;利用RNAi饲喂法沉默桃蛀螟初孵幼虫CYP6AE76后饲喂含1.08 ng/cm² Cry1Ab蛋白的饲料,7 d后统计幼虫体重并计算幼虫存活率。【结果】桃蛀螟CYP6AE76基因开放阅读框长1 572 bp,编码524个氨基酸,分子量约为60.34 kD,属于CYP6家族基因。发育表达谱结果表明, CYP6AE76基因在桃蛀螟整个幼虫阶段均有表达且在1龄幼虫期表达量最高,随着幼虫龄期增大而表达量降低;组织表达谱结果表明,CYP6AE76在4龄幼虫中肠中表达量最高。4龄幼虫取食含有Cry1Ab蛋白(1.08 ng/cm²)的人工饲料后,CYP6AE76在中肠和血淋巴中的表达量相比对照显著上调。通过RNAi沉默CYP6AE76后,桃蛀螟初孵幼虫再取食含有Cry1Ab蛋白的人工饲料后体重显著降低。【结论】CYP6AE76可能参与对桃蛀螟幼虫摄入的Cry1Ab蛋白的解毒。     

棉铃虫叉头框蛋白A类似蛋白基因HarmFoxAl的克隆及表达谱分析

【目的】本研究旨在克隆并分析一种棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera叉头框蛋白A (forkhead box protein A, FoxA)类似蛋白基因HarmFoxAl,探讨2-十三烷酮胁迫下棉铃虫中肠中HarmFoxAl的表达情况,为进一步明确棉铃虫FoxA的功能和参与棉铃虫生长发育的调控通路提供依据。【方法】从棉铃虫幼虫中肠中扩增得到HarmFoxAl的cDNA序列,并对其氨基酸序列和蛋白结构进行分析。将HarmFoxAl的ORF序列连接至pET32a载体并转化大肠杆菌Escherichia coli Transetta菌株,IPTG诱导后检测目的蛋白的表达形式,并利用镍柱亲和层析法纯化融合蛋白。通过qPCR检测棉铃虫不同发育阶段(1-6龄幼虫和预蛹),6龄幼虫不同组织(脂肪体、中肠、体壁和头部)以及10 mg/g 2-十三烷酮处理6龄幼虫不同时间后中肠中HarmFoxAl的表达谱。【结果】HarmFoxAl(GenBank登录号:XM021331806)的开放阅读框为669 bp,编码222个氨基酸,蛋白的相对分子质量和等电点分别为25.03 kD和6.34。氨基酸序列分析表明,HarmFoxAl单体蛋白无信号肽、跨膜区和二硫键,核心区域是由4个α螺旋和3个β折叠组成的球状结构。将重组的Transetta (pET32a-HarmFoxAl)菌株用0.5 mmol/L IPTG在25℃条件下诱导5 h,约45 kD的融合蛋白His-HarmFoxAl能以可溶的形式存在于重组菌中,这与预测的分子量(42.8 kD)相一致。发育阶段特异性表达谱表明,HarmFoxAl在棉铃虫1-3龄幼虫期、6龄幼虫期和预蛹期均有表达,且预蛹期的表达量最高。组织表达谱结果表明,该基因在6龄幼虫的脂肪体、中肠和体壁中表达,且脂肪体内的表达量最高,而在头部中不表达。10 mg/g 2-十三烷酮处理棉铃虫6龄幼虫后中肠中HarmFoxAl的表达量显著降低,但随着时间延长其表达量逐渐升高,处理48 h后表达量显著高于对照。【结论】棉铃虫HarmFoxAl在预蛹期和幼虫脂肪体中表达量最高,2-十三烷酮处理幼虫后HarmFoxAl的表达量急速降低后逐渐升高,推测其在棉铃虫变态发育和解毒代谢过程中发挥重要作用。     

Developmental expression and stress induction of glutathione S-transferase in the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana

Developmental and stress-induced expression of Choristoneura fumiferana glutathione S-transferase (CfGST) mRNA and protein were examined using Northern blots and Western blots. High levels of CfGST mRNA and protein were detected in 1st instar larvae and diapausing 2nd instar larvae. Expression of CfGST gradually decreased during larval development from 3rd to 5th instar, after which the expression increased once again, reaching peak levels in 6th instar larvae. CfGST mRNA and protein were undetectable in the pupal stage. Exposure to low temperature did not induce an increase in CfGST expression. Feeding on balsam fir foliage resulted in an increase in the expression of CfGST as compared to larvae that fed on artificial diet. The bacterial insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin (Bt), the non-steroidal ecdysone analog, tebufenozide, and the synthetic pyrethroid, permethrin, induced the expression of CfGST mRNA in 5th instar larvae, whereas the chitin synthesis inhibitor, diflubenzuron, did not have any such effect. These results suggest that CfGST plays an important role in detoxifying various allelochemicals and insecticides in the spruce budworm. The developmental expression pattern strongly suggests that in addition to detoxification, CfGST might be involved in other functions.     

The two duplicated insecticyanin genes, ins-a and ins-b are differentially expressed in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Two gene-specific probes were generated from the unique sequences in the 3' non-coding regions of the two insecticyanin genes, ins-a and ins-b to study the developmental expression of these genes in Manduca sexta. Both genes were initially transcribed in the freshly hatched first instar larvae and then expressed in the epidermis and to a lesser degree in the fat body during every larval feeding stage. In the epidermis of the 4th and 5th instar larvae, both mRNAs appeared shortly before ecdysis and accumulated to maximal levels within a day. As the larval epidermis became pupally committed on day 3 of the 5th (final) instar, INS-a mRNA quickly decreased, whereas INS-b mRNA showed a second peak of accumulation. In the fat body, both genes showed a similar expression pattern within the 4th instar to that of the epidermis except that levels were lower and ins-b mRNA dominated. In the final instar, only ins-b mRNA was present in significant amount. These findings not only reveal that the two duplicated insecticyanin genes have diverged in their expression pattern but also demonstrate, for the first time, that fat body also expresses insecticyanin genes.     

Glutathione S-transferase from the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana: identification, characterization, localization, cDNA cloning, and expression.

A 23-kDa protein that was present at higher levels in diapausing 2nd instar larvae than in feeding 2nd instar larvae of Choristoneura fumiferana was purified, and polyclonal antibodies were raised against this protein. The antibodies were subsequently used to screen a cDNA library that was constructed using RNA from 2nd instar larvae. Eight identical cDNA clones were isolated. The cDNA clone had a 665-bp insert and the longest open reading frame coded for a 203-amino acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 23.37 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed high similarity to glutathione S-transferases and therefore, the cDNA clone was named C. fumiferana glutathione S-transferase (CfGST). Identity of CfGST was confirmed by using affinity-purification as well as enzyme activity assay. CfGST was closer in similarity to insect GST2 members than GST1 members. The apparent Vmax of the purified CfGST towards the substrates glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenezene (CDNB) were similar. However, the enzyme had a three-fold higher affinity towards CDNB than glutathione. Analyses using Northern blot, immunoblot and immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the fat body was the major tissue where the enzyme was synthesized and stored. Higher levels of CfGST protein were present in diapausing 2nd instar larvae compared to feeding 2nd and 6th instar larvae, suggesting that besides detoxification CfGST may have other roles during insect development that are not readily apparent at present. The CfGST cDNA was expressed in a recombinant baculovirus expression system and an active enzyme was produced.     

Cloning and structural characterization of juvenile hormone diol kinase in Spodoptera litura

Juvenile hormone (JH) is one of the key insect hormones that regulate metamorphosis. Juvenile hormone diol kinase (JHDK) is an enzyme involved in JH metabolism and catalyzes JH diol to form a polar end product, JH diol phosphate that has no JH activity. In this study, a JHDK complementary DNA (cDNA) was cloned from Spodoptera litura and the structure and expression of the gene was characterized. The cDNA was 714 base pairs in length and encoded a protein of 183 amino acids with a molecular mass of 21 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.55. Based on the structure, three putative calcium binding motifs and guanosine triphosphate‐binding motifs were predicted in the protein. Modeling of the 3‐D structure showed that the protein consisted of eight α‐helixes linked with loops, with no β‐sheets. The gene was expressed in the epidermis, fat body and midgut of fifth and sixth instar larvae. The expression level in the epidermis was lower than in the fat body and midgut. The gene was expressed at higher levels at the early stages than in the later stages of fifth and sixth instar midgut and fat body. The results suggest that this gene may be involved in the regulation of the JH titer in larvae of S. litura.     

家蚕幼虫BmToll9基因对肽聚糖和金黄色葡萄球菌的响应表达

【目的】Toll信号通路是昆虫中重要的免疫信号通路,其中Toll受体在保持Toll通路的正常免疫应答、抵抗外源病原体中起到关键的作用。本研究旨在探究肽聚糖和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus对家蚕Bombyx mori Toll受体基因BmToll9-1和BmToll9-2表达的影响。【方法】将革兰氏阳性菌细胞壁主要成分肽聚糖和革兰氏阳性菌金黄色葡萄球菌分别注射感染家蚕5龄第1天幼虫,诱导其发生免疫反应;采用实时荧光定量PCR分析注射后不同感染时间点BmToll9-2和BmToll9-1基因在家蚕幼虫中肠、表皮、脂肪体和丝腺中的相对表达水平。【结果】往家蚕5龄幼虫中注射肽聚糖或金黄色葡萄球菌后,BmToll9-2基因出现了时间和组织的差异性表达。注射肽聚糖和金黄色葡萄球菌均能诱导5龄幼虫中肠BmToll9-2基因的表达上调,注射肽聚糖和金黄色葡萄球菌分别在3和6 h时对基因表达的诱导效果最好,且注射金黄色葡萄球菌比注射肽聚糖对基因表达的诱导效果更好。注射金黄色葡萄球菌能引起5龄幼虫表皮、脂肪体和丝腺中BmToll9-2基因的表达上调,分别于注射后24, 6和24 h时诱导效果最好。注射金黄色葡萄球菌亦能诱导同源的BmToll9-1基因的上调表达。【结论】家蚕幼虫BmToll9基因在肽聚糖或金黄色葡萄球菌注射处理后均能在不同组织中发生上调表达,推测BmToll9基因参与了家蚕对肽聚糖和金黄色葡萄球菌的免疫反应。     

Identification of differentially expressed proteins during larval molting of Helicoverpa armigera

Insect molting involves many molecular processes, such as protein degradation and protein synthesis in the epidermis. Various proteins have been implicated in these processes. The differentially expressed proteins during larval molting of Helicoverpa armigera were investigated using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-D-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALTI-TOF-MS). Four larval tissues sampled during molting and feeding were examined. Seventy-seven differentially expressed proteins were identified in these tissues, including 20 proteins from the fifth-molting epidermis (fifth instar molting to sixth instar), 36 proteins from the fifth-molting hemolymph, and 21 from the fifth-molting fat bodies. No obviously different spots were identified from the fifth-molting midgut under these experimental conditions. After application of MALTI-TOF-MS and similarity analysis comparing results to a Drosophila protein database, 30 proteins were identified: 10 proteins from the fifth-molting epidermis, 11 proteins from the hemolymph, and 9 proteins from fat bodies. These proteins were separated into 5 groups according to their probable functions, such as enzymes, regulators, protein hydrolases, receptors, and proteins with unknown functions. These differentially expressed proteins were proposed to be involved in the Helicoverpa molting cascade.     

苦瓜素Ⅰ对斜纹夜蛾几丁质酶基因(SlCht)和几丁质合成酶基因(SlCHS-A)表达及其生长发育的影响

【目的】几丁质酶和几丁质合成酶对昆虫的变态发育极其重要。本研究旨在阐明苦瓜素Ⅰ对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura几丁质酶和几丁质合成酶基因表达及其生长发育的影响。【方法】利用RT-qPCR检测斜纹夜蛾几丁质酶基因(SlCht)和几丁质合成酶基因(SlCHS-A)在斜纹夜蛾不同发育阶段(卵、幼虫、预蛹、蛹和成虫)和4-6龄幼虫不同组织(体壁、中肠、脂肪体、血细胞、头部和马氏管)中的表达水平以及注射苦瓜素Ⅰ溶液(4 μg/头) 24, 48和72 h时斜纹夜蛾SlCht和SlCHS-A在6龄幼虫各组织中的表达水平。分析在斜纹夜蛾4龄幼虫中注射不同浓度(31.25, 62.5, 125, 250和500 ng/头)的苦瓜素Ⅰ溶液对幼虫和蛹历期、幼虫增重、蛹重、蛹长度、化蛹率、羽化率和存活率的影响,并利用体视显微镜观察斜纹夜蛾幼虫的表型变化。【结果】SlCht和SlCHS-A在斜纹夜蛾中的表达具有发育阶段特异性。SlCht和SlCHS-A在卵期表达量最高,幼虫期和预蛹期的表达量较低;在各幼虫期又表现为6龄幼虫期表达量最高,在其他龄期的表达量低。SlCht和SlCHS-A在斜纹夜蛾6龄幼虫中也显示出组织特异性表达,在血细胞和体壁中高表达,在头部、中肠和脂肪体中低表达。在斜纹夜蛾6龄幼虫中注射苦瓜素Ⅰ能诱导SlCht和SlCHS-A在其各组织中表达量降低;在4龄幼虫中注射苦瓜素Ⅰ后,斜纹夜蛾的生长发育受到抑制,幼虫增重延缓,发育历期延长,化蛹率下降甚至化蛹失败,幼虫及蛹出现较高的畸形率。【结论】苦瓜素Ⅰ可通过诱导SlCht和SlCHS-A表达量的降低来实现对斜纹夜蛾生长发育的抑制作用。本研究为进一步阐明苦瓜素对斜纹夜蛾生长发育的抑制机制提供了新的理论基础,并为进一步应用苦瓜素Ⅰ进行防控奠定了基础。     

LncRNA63及其共表达基因Hr3在家蚕中的表达和功能分析

【目的】本研究旨在通过对一个新的长链非编码RNA (long non-coding RNA, lncRNA)及其共表达基因在家蚕Bombyx mori中的表达和功能进行分析,进一步阐明lncRNA在调控家蚕变态发育中的分子机制。【方法】基于前期家蚕脂肪体转录组测序数据,我们发现在蜕皮激素20E(2 μg/μL)处理5龄幼虫早期的脂肪体中lncRNA63表达显著上调,家蚕激素受体基因Hr3与之共表达。利用qRT-PCR对lncRNA63和Hr3在家蚕不同发育时期(4-5龄幼虫、蛹和成虫)、5龄幼虫不同组织(头、体壁、血淋巴、中肠、马氏管、脂肪体、丝腺、精巢和卵巢)和2 μg/μL 20E处理2, 6, 12和24 h后5龄幼虫脂肪体中的表达谱进行分析;采用核质分离检测和原位杂交技术检测lncRNA63在家蚕BmN细胞中的定位;利用dsRNA干涉家蚕5龄幼虫个体中lncRNA63的表达,并利用qRT-PCR检测RNA干涉lncRNA63对头、丝腺、脂肪体和体壁中Hr3表达的影响。【结果】qRT-PCR结果表明,lncRNA63和Hr3在家蚕羽化前的蛹末期有一个表达高峰;二者在家蚕5龄幼虫头、体壁和丝腺中都有较高表达;lncRNA63和Hr3在2 μg/μL 20E处理2, 6和12 h的家蚕5龄幼虫脂肪体中较对照组(无水乙醇处理组)都显著上调,24 h下降到与对照组相当水平,二者的表达趋势完全一致。LncRNA63主要定位于BmN细胞核,但20E可诱导lncRNA63的核质迁移。利用dsRNA干涉lncRNA63表达后,Hr3的表达显著下调。【结论】20E不仅可调控lncRNA63的表达,还可诱导lncRNA63的核质迁移;lncRNA63可通过调控共表达基因Hr3的表达参与家蚕的变态发育过程。     

Synthesis of the same two proteins prior to larval diapause and pupation in the spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana

Spruce budworm larvae produce large quantities of two proteins (Choristoneura fumiferana diapause associated proteins 1 and 2, CfDAP1 and CfDAP2) that are diapause related. These proteins appeared soon after hatching and increased in abundance, reaching maximum levels by four days into the 1st instar, and they remained at high levels until three days after the termination of diapause. These two proteins were purified to homogeneity and their NH2-terminal sequences were obtained. Oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of these NH2-terminal sequences were used in RT-PCR to isolate the cDNA fragments coding for these proteins. These PCR fragments were then used as probes to isolate the cDNAs that contained the complete coding region. The 2.5kb mRNAs coding for these proteins started to appear 24hr after hatching and large quantities of these mRNAs were detected in 1st instar and 2nd instar larvae until the 2nd instar larvae entered diapause. Low levels of these mRNAs were detected in the 2nd instar larvae that were preparing to enter diapause, in those that were in diapause as well as in those that terminated diapause. Low levels of CfDAP1 mRNA were also detected on days 1 and 2 after ecdysis to the 3rd instar. However, no CfDAP1 and CfDAP2 mRNAs could be detected during the 4th and 5th instar larval stages. The mRNAs reappeared 24hr after the 5th instar larvae molted into the 6th instar and increased to reach maximum levels by 60hr after ecdysis. The mRNA levels remained high until 156hr after ecdysis into the 6th instar (36-48hr before pupal ecdysis), after which they disappeared once again. Immunocytochemical analyses showed that CfDAP1 protein was present in 2nd and 6th instar larval fat body but not in 5th instar larval fat body. Thus, the same two genes were expressed for the first time before C. fumiferana larvae entered diapause and for a 2nd time before pupation.     

Isolation of two cDNA clones coding for larval hemolymph proteins of Galleria mellonella

Galleria mellonella a group of four larval hemolymph proteins (LHP) (74, 76, 81 and 82 kDa), which had been earlier shown to be storage proteins, exhibit a stage-specific synthetic pattern. The 82 kDa LHP is synthesized only in day-3 to day-5 last instar larvae, while the other three LHPs are synthesized both in the penultimate (six) and the last instar larvae. None of these LHPs are synthesized in day-0 last instar. With a view to isolate one or more cDNA clones corresponding to these LHPs a cDNA library was prepared in pBR322 starting with poly(A)⁺ RNA from day-5 last instar larval fat body. By differential screening of 714 clones with poly(A)⁺ RNA 39 day-5 larval stage-specific clones were isolated. Two of these clones, designated as 26–38 and 17–36, had 1200–1300 base pair cDNA inserts. Their cDNA inserts did cross hybridize to each other, exhibited different restriction endonuclease digestion patterns and hybridized in northern blots to transcrips of different sizes, thereby suggesting that they represent two separate genes. In addition, the genomic fragments that hybridized in southern blots to the two cDNAs differed in their size. On translation, mRNAs hybrid selected by 26–38 and 17–36 cDNAs produced 76 and 79 kDa polypeptides respectively. Both these genes are expressed in the fat body but not in the midgut, silk glands, Malpighian tubules or carcass. While 26–38 was expressed both in the sixth and seventh (last) instars, 17–36 was expressed only in the last instar. On the basis of tissue and developmental stage specificity of their expression and the sizes of their hybrid selected translation products, these clones are tentatively identified as two LHP-specific cDNA clones. The genes coding for these LHPs appear to be single copy genes.     

基于黏虫转录组的几丁质酶基因筛选和表达分析

昆虫的几丁质酶对昆虫的生长发育致关重要,是生物农药的重要靶标。本研究使用高通量测序技术对迁飞性害虫黏虫Mythimna separata的中肠和表皮组织进行了转录组测序、序列组装、功能注释及差异表达基因分析。对转录组数据库中鉴定出的几丁质酶基因进行了理化性质的预测,包括cDNA长度、蛋白质分子量、氨基酸序列、等电点、不稳定系数、跨膜结构和蛋白结构域等。使用MEGA软件构建了黏虫和其他昆虫几丁质酶的系统进化树,并通过q-PCR验证了黏虫基因在不同组织和发育阶段的表达模式。通过中肠与表皮的转录组测序,获得了19.42 Gb的数据,在COG、GO、KEGG、KOG、Pfam、Swissprot、eggNOG、nr数据库注释到了25 236个Unigene;基因表达分析结果表明,中肠和表皮的差异表达基因共有3 137个,其中中肠高表达基因有1 872个,表皮高表达基因有1 265个。从转录组数据中鉴定出9个几丁质酶基因,其中7个是新的几丁质酶基因,这些基因的cDNA长度在1 362~9 816 bp,SMART结构预测表明几丁质酶含有1个或多个催化结构域。构建的系统进化树将昆虫几丁质酶基因分为9个亚家族。q-PCR结果表明〖STBX〗MsCht2、MsCht5、MsCht6、MsCht7、MsIDGF1在表皮中表达量较高,MsCht4、MsCht11和MsChi-H在中肠中表达量较高,与转录组数据一致;多数几丁质酶基因在蛹期或预蛹期表达量最高,而MsCht4〖STBZ〗在5龄期表达量最高,在蛹期表达量很低。黏虫几丁质酶基因表达上存在不同的差异,不同的几丁质酶基因可能具有不同的功能。本研究筛选出了7个新的几丁质酶基因,为黏虫的生物防治提供了新的靶标。研究结果为进一步研究黏虫几丁质酶的功能奠定了基础。     

胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白RfPGRP-L2在维持红棕象甲肠道菌群稳态中的作用

【目的】明确入侵害虫红棕象甲Rhynchophorus ferrugineus胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白RfPGRP-L2在肠道菌群稳态的维持和调控过程中的作用,将为靶向破坏肠道菌群稳态的害虫控制新策略研发提供新的科学依据和作用靶标。【方法】利用生物信息学方法分析RfPGRP-L2的序列特征。利用RT-qPCR分析RfPGRP-L2在健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫不同组织(头、脂肪体、表皮、前肠、中-/后肠、血淋巴)以及大肠杆菌Escherichia coli DH5α和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus经注射（注射1 μL OD₆₀₀=1.6的菌液）和喂食（取食涂抹1 mL OD₆₀₀=1.6的菌液的甘蔗薄片）两种不同方式分别感染后红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道和脂肪体中的表达量;进行RfPGRP-L2原核表达,利用体外孵育方法检测重组蛋白RfPGRP-L2对大肠杆菌DH5α和金黄色葡萄球菌的凝集和抑菌活性;RNAi干扰RfPGRP-L2后,检测红棕象甲4龄幼虫血淋巴和肠道中大肠杆菌菌落数的变化;利用RT-qPCR分析RNAi干扰RfPGRP-L2后红棕象甲4龄幼虫脂肪体和肠道中抗菌肽基因表达量的变化;利用基于细菌16S rRNA的高通量测序分析RNAi干扰RfPGRP-L2对健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道菌群结构组成的影响。【结果】SMART预测发现红棕象甲RfPGRP-L2基因编码的蛋白中无跨膜结构域也无信号肽,这表明RfPGRP-L2是一种胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白。RT-qPCR检测发现,RfPGRP-L2主要在健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫血淋巴、肠道和脂肪体等免疫组织中表达;被注射感染大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌6 h和12 h后,红棕象甲4龄幼虫脂肪体中RfPGRP-L2的表达量分别显著上调;被喂食感染大肠杆菌6 h后,红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道中RfPGRP-L2的表达量显著增加。重组表达蛋白RfPGRP-L2能引起大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌发生凝集反应,这说明RfPGRP-L2能够识别这两种细菌。当RfPGRP-L2被干扰后,红棕象甲4龄幼虫对肠道和血淋巴中感染EGFP标记的大肠杆菌的清除能力显著弱于对照组;肠道中抗菌肽基因RfCecropin的表达量显著降低;健康红棕象甲4龄幼虫肠道中细菌的菌落数量显著高于对照组,而且肠道菌群结构组成也发生了明显的变化。【结论】红棕象甲体内胞质型肽聚糖识别蛋白RfPGRP-L2能够通过识别细菌并激活肠上皮细胞中相应的免疫信号通路促进抗菌肽基因的表达,从而介导对肠道菌群稳态的调控。     

甜菜夜蛾肽聚糖识别蛋白基因SePGRP-SA的克隆及功能鉴定

【目的】本研究旨在阐明甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua幼虫体内肽聚糖识别蛋白(peptidoglycan recognition protein, PGRP)在响应苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)感染过程中的功能。【方法】利用PCR方法扩增甜菜夜蛾幼虫肽聚糖识别蛋白基因SePGRP-SA全长cDNA;采用qRT-PCR分析SePGRP-SA在甜菜夜蛾不同发育阶段(卵、1-5龄幼虫、预蛹和蛹)及4龄幼虫不同组织(中肠、马氏管、围食膜、脂肪体、血淋巴和表皮)中的表达。通过RNAi技术沉默SePGRP-SA基因72 h后,qRT-PCR检测SePGRP-SA沉默效率及甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫中肠抗菌肽相关基因(Ceropin, Attacin和Defensin)和细菌载量的变化。RNAi沉默SePGRP-SA 24 h后,以苏云金芽胞杆菌菌株Bt-GS57饲喂甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫0, 24, 48, 72, 96和120 h,计算幼虫校正死亡率;饲喂甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫Bt-GS57后0, 24, 48和72 h,利用qRT-PCR检测中肠SePGRP-SA, Ceropin, Attacin和Defensin的相对表达量。【结果】克隆获得甜菜夜蛾SePGRP-SA全长DNA(GenBank登录号：MW265930),开放阅读框长576 bp,编码191个氨基酸,其编码蛋白的预测分子量为21.59 kD。序列分析结果表明,SePGRP-SA具有典型的PGRP和Ami2保守结构域,信号肽为19个氨基酸,为分泌型蛋白;系统进化分析发现,SePGRP-SA与斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura的SlPGRP亲缘关系最近,氨基酸序列一致性达91.1%。发育表达谱结果表明SePGRP-SA在甜菜夜蛾4和5龄幼虫、预蛹和蛹中高表达;组织表达谱结果表明,SePGRP-SA在4龄幼虫各组织中均表达,其中以血淋巴中表达量最高。与注射dsEGFP(对照)相比,注射dsSePGRP-SA的甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫在72 h时中肠SePGRP-SA基因表达量下调了95.26%,Cecropin, Attacin和Defensin表达量显著下调,中肠细菌载量显著升高。注射dsEGFP和dsSePGRP-SA的甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫饲喂Bt-GS57,72 h时幼虫校正死亡率分别为50.00%和73.33%,表明幼虫对Bt-GS57的敏感性明显增加。甜菜夜蛾4龄幼虫取食Bt-GS57后,中肠SePGRP-SA, Cecropin, Attacin和Defensin表达量在48 h均显著增加,72 h时降低。【结论】Bt侵染能够引起甜菜夜蛾SePGRP SA基因激活抗菌肽相关基因Cecropin, Attacin和Defensin的表达。     

褐飞虱自噬相关基因NlATG13的表达与功能分析

【目的】自噬参与多种细胞生理过程,自噬相关蛋白ATG13是ATG1/13复合物的组成部分, 在启动自噬中发挥着重要作用。本研究旨在分析ATG13在褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens中发挥的功能,评估其作为害虫防治靶标的潜力。【方法】基于褐飞虱转录组数据,利用RACE克隆褐飞虱NlATG13的cDNA全长序列;应用生物信息学技术分析NlATG13的核苷酸和氨基酸序列特征。利用RT-qPCR检测其在褐飞虱不同发育阶段(1-5龄若虫和雌雄成虫)和不同组织(5龄若虫头、胸、中肠和脂肪体以及刚羽化雌成虫的卵巢)中的表达模式。通过显微注射dsNlATG13至3龄若虫进行RNAi敲减NlATG13的表达,探究其对褐飞虱生存和中肠细胞自噬的影响;利用RT-qPCR检测RNAi 4 d时3龄若虫中糖原合成与代谢通路相关基因NlGSK3, NlGS和NlGP的表达量。【结果】克隆得到NlATG13的cDNA全长序列(GenBank登录号: MF805752),其开放阅读框长1 203 bp,编码一个含400个氨基酸的蛋白质(GenBank登录号: AWW05678.1)。系统发育分析表明,在纳入分析的物种中,NlATG13蛋白与半翅目温带臭虫Cimex lectularius和茶翅蝽Halyomorpha halys的ATG13蛋白进化关系较为接近。发育表达谱结果表明NlATG13在褐飞虱3和5龄若虫中的表达量显著高于在1-2龄若虫、雌成虫和雄成虫中的; 组织表达谱结果表明NlATG13在5龄若虫头部和脂肪体中的相对表达量较高,在胸部的表达量最低。RNAi结果显示,与dsGFP对照组相比dsNlATG13处理组中褐飞虱中肠细胞中存在明显的糖原颗粒积累,NlGS, NlGSK3和NlGP的表达量均无显著变化,组织ATP含量显著降低;褐飞虱的存活率显著降低,处理第10天时褐飞虱存活率下降到41.4%,而dsGFP对照组的存活率保持在85.6%的较高水平。【结论】 RNA干扰NlATG13基因对褐飞虱的生存和中肠细胞自噬具有显著的抑制效果,NlATG13基因具有作为褐飞虱防治靶标的潜力。