Gene identification and proteomic analysis of the esterases of the cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera

Some of the resistance of Helicoverpa armigera to conventional insecticides such as organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids appears to be due to metabolic detoxification by carboxylesterases. To investigate the H. armigera carboxyl/cholinesterases, we created a data set of 39 putative paralogous H. armigera carboxyl/cholinesterase sequences from cDNA libraries and other sources. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between these sequences and 70 carboxyl/cholinesterases from the recently sequenced genome of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, including several conserved clades of non-catalytic proteins. A juvenile hormone esterase candidate from H. armigera was identified, and B. mori orthologues were proposed for 31% of the sequences examined, however low similarity was found between lepidopteran sequences and esterases previously associated with insecticide resistance from other insect orders. A proteomic analysis of larval esterases then enabled us to match seven of the H. armigera carboxyl/cholinesterase sequences to specific esterase isozymes. All identified sequences were predicted to encode catalytically active carboxylesterases, including six proteins with N-terminal signal peptides and N-glycans, with two also containing C-terminal signals for glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment. Five of these sequences were matched to zones of activity on native PAGE at relative mobility values previously associated with insecticide resistance in this species.     

Differential proteomic analysis of human erythroblasts undergoing apoptosis induced by epo-withdrawal

The availability of Erythropoietin (Epo) is essential for the survival of erythroid progenitors. Here we study the effects of Epo removal on primary human erythroblasts grown from peripheral blood CD34(+) cells. The erythroblasts died rapidly from apoptosis, even in the presence of SCF, and within 24 hours of Epo withdrawal 60% of the cells were Annexin V positive. Other classical hallmarks of apoptosis were also observed, including cytochrome c release into the cytosol, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, Bax translocation to the mitochondria and caspase activation. We adopted a 2D DIGE approach to compare the proteomes of erythroblasts maintained for 12 hours in the presence or absence of Epo. Proteomic comparisons demonstrated significant and reproducible alterations in the abundance of proteins between the two growth conditions, with 18 and 31 proteins exhibiting altered abundance in presence or absence of Epo, respectively. We observed that Epo withdrawal induced the proteolysis of the multi-functional proteins Hsp90 alpha, Hsp90 beta, SET, 14-3-3 beta, 14-3-3 gamma, 14-3-3 epsilon, and RPSA, thereby targeting multiple signaling pathways and cellular processes simultaneously. We also observed that 14 proteins were differentially phosphorylated and confirmed the phosphorylation of the Hsp90 alpha and Hsp90 beta proteolytic fragments in apoptotic cells using Nano LC mass spectrometry. Our analysis of the global changes occurring in the proteome of primary human erythroblasts in response to Epo removal has increased the repertoire of proteins affected by Epo withdrawal and identified proteins whose aberrant regulation may contribute to ineffective erythropoiesis.     

Integrated proteomic and metabolomic analysis of larval brain associated with diapause induction and preparation in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera

Diapause is a developmental arrest that allows an organism to survive unfavorable environmental conditions and is induced by environmental signals at a certain sensitive developmental stage. In Helicoverpa armigera, the larval brain receives the environmental signals for diapause induction and then regulates diapause entry at the pupal stage. Here, combined proteomic and metabolomic differential display analysis was performed on the H. armigera larval brain. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, it was found that 22 proteins were increased and 27 proteins were decreased in the diapause-destined larval brain, 37 of which were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that the expression levels of the differentially expressed proteins were consistent with the 2-DE results. Furthermore, a total of 49 metabolites were identified in the larval brain by GC-MS analysis, including 4 metabolites at high concentrations and 14 metabolites at low concentrations. The results gave us a clue to understand the governing molecular events of the prediapause phase. Those differences that exist in the induction phase of diapause-destined individuals are probably relevant to a special memory mechanism for photoperiodic information storage, and those differences that exist in the preparation phase are likely to regulate accumulation of specific energy reserves in diapause-destined individuals.     

Comparative pathogenesis of the Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus in noctuid hosts of different susceptibility

Neonate larvae of the noctuid moth Spodoptera exigua were susceptible to an infection by Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV). Biological activity (LD(50),ST(50)) of the virus was considerably reduced as compared to its activity in the homologous host, H. armigera. Pathogenesis was studied using a recombinant HaSNPV carrying a green fluorescent protein gene, which induces fluorescence in infected cells to mark infection. In larvae of H. armigera, fluorescence was pronounced in the fat body after 2.9 days post infection and could also be detected in several other tissues. In contrast, fluorescence was not observed in tissues of S. exigua until 9 days post infection and was restricted almost exclusively to cells of the ganglia. Examination of serial sections of wildtype HaSNPV-infected S. exigua-larvae revealed a similar pattern of tissue tropism. Apparently, HaSNPV does not undergo the usual steps in host invasion and infection in this insect species, but targets specifically to nervous tissue.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of indioside D-triggered cell death in HeLa cells

Medicinal plants represent a rich source of cancer drug leads. Indioside D, a furostanol glycoside isolated from Solanum mammosum, was found to possess antiproliferative activity toward a panel of human cancer cell lines. Proteomic analysis of indioside D-treated HeLa cells revealed profound protein changes related to energy production and oxidative stress, suggesting that mitochondria dysfunction plays a role in indioside D-induced apoptosis. Indioside D caused a rapid dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to the activation of caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. The Fas death receptor pathway was also activated following indioside D treatment, and triggered the activation of caspase-8 and cleavage of Bid, which also acted through the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These results suggest that indioside D induced apoptosis in HeLa cells via both intrinsic and extrinsic cell death pathways.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of mouse embryonic stem cells and neonatal-derived cardiomyocytes

Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) spontaneously differentiate via embryo-like aggregates into cardiomyocytes. A thorough understanding of the molecular conditions in ESCs is necessary before other potential applications of these cells such as cell therapy can be materialized. We applied two dimensional electrophoresis to analyze and compare the proteome profiling of spontaneous mouse ESC-derived cardiomyocytes (ESC-DCs), undifferentiated mouse ESCs, and neonatal-derived cardiomyocytes (N-DCs). Ninety-five percent of the proteins detected on the ESC-DCs and N-DCs could be precisely paired with one other, whereas only twenty percent of the ESC proteins could be reliably matched with those on the ESC-DCs and N-DCSs, suggesting a striking similarity between them. Having identified sixty proteins in the said three cell types, we sought to provide possible explanations for their differential expression patterns and discuss their relevance to cell biology. This study provides a new insight into the gene expression pattern of differentiated cardiomyocytes and is further evidence for a close relation between ESC-DCs and N-DCSs.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of proliferating and functionally differentiated mammary epithelial cells

Proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells are governed by hormonal stimuli, cell-cell, and cell-matrix interactions. Terminal differentiation of mammary epithelial cells depends upon the action of the lactogenic hormones, insulin, glucocorticoids, and prolactin that enable them to synthesize and secrete milk proteins. These differentiated cells are polarized and carry out vectorial transport of milk constituents across the apical plasma membrane. To gain additional insights into the mechanisms governing differentiation of mammary epithelial cells, we identified proteins whose expression distinguishes proliferating from differentiated mammary epithelial cells. For this purpose we made use of the HC11 mammary epithelial line, which is capable of differentiation in response to lactogenic hormones. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, we found about 60 proteins whose expression levels changed in between these two differentiation states. Bioinformatic analysis revealed differential expression of cytoskeletal components, molecular chaperones and regulators of protein folding and stability, calcium-binding proteins, and components of RNA-processing pathways. The actin cytoskeleton is asymmetrically distributed in differentiated epithelial cells, and the identification of proteins involved in mRNA binding and localization suggests that asymmetry might in part be achieved by controlling cellular localization of mRNAs. The proteins identified provide insights into the differentiation of mammary epithelial cells and the regulation of this process.     

棉铃虫温度依赖的生长发育及雌性先熟现象

在昆虫中,雄虫先于雌虫羽化,称为雄虫先熟现象,而雌虫先于雄虫羽化,称为雌虫先熟现象。前者最为普遍,后者报道较少。本试验在20、22和25℃下对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera（Hilbner）的生长发育进行了详细的研究。结果显示发育历期随温度的升高而缩短,雌雄间发育历期有着显著的差异,各个温度下雌虫均比雄虫先羽化,表明棉铃虫属于雌性先熟种类,而这种差异主要是由于雌虫的蛹期较短所致。幼虫发育历期与蛹重呈显著的正相关性。     

棉铃虫室内饲养技术的改进

在传统人工饲料饲养技术的基础上 ,对棉铃虫的卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫的饲养器材和操作方法进行了简化和改进。将产于纱布上的卵经消毒晾干后 ,直接放于塑料保鲜袋中孵化。初孵幼虫用毛笔移入特制的带盖 1 0孔饲养盒 ,每孔 1头 ,孔径和高度为 2 5cm× 1 8cm ,接虫前每孔加人工饲料 4～ 5g ,接虫后加盖 ,直至化蛹。幼虫化蛹后用培养皿收集 ,直接放于成虫饲养笼中 ,任其羽化、交配和产卵。采用这一改进饲养技术 ,幼虫存活率、化蛹率、羽化率等均有显著提高 ,棉铃虫的病害明显减少 ,同时节约饲养成本约 5 0 %。     

Serial passage of a Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus in Helicoverpa zea cell cultures

The serial passaging of baculoviruses in cell lines numerous times can result in a variety of mutations or defective viral populations becoming predominant in the cultures. The generation of these mutants during cell culture passage, also known as "the passage effect," can seriously hinder the use of in vitro methods for large-scale production of baculoviruses for use as biopesticides. In an effort to develop a large-scale in vitro method of producing Helicoverpa armigera singly enveloped nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV), it was essential to determine whether or not the passage effect was evident when this virus is serially passaged in cell cultures. An isolate of HaSNPV was serially passaged in Helicoverpa zea cell cultures up to 10 times. The production of occlusion bodies decreased with increasing passage number and there was evidence of defective viruses becoming predominant in cultures after 5 passages. The number of virions present within cross sections of passage 3 occlusion bodies was 1.5 times higher than those from passage 10 occlusion bodies when quantified using electron microscopy. A laboratory bioassay showed that potencies of passage 3 isolates against H. armigera larvae were 8 times higher than potencies of passage 10 isolates. This study indicated that changes typical of the passage effect were evident when HaSNPV was serially passaged in H. zea cell cultures up to 10 times.     

Effects of different brush border membrane vesicle isolation protocols on proteomic analysis of Cry1Ac binding proteins from the midgut of Helicoverpa armigera

Brush border membrane vesicles （BBMV） isolated from insect midguts have been widely used to study CrylA binding proteins. Sample preparation is important in two- dimensional electrophoresis （2-DE）, so to determine a suitable BBMV preparation method in Helicoverpa armigera for 2-DE, we compared three published BBMV preparation methods mostly used in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS- PAGE）. All methods yielded similar types and numbers of binding proteins, but in different quantities. The Abdul-Rauf and Ellar protocol was the best of the three, but had limitations. Sufficient protein quantity is important for research involving limited numbers of insects, such as studies of insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in the field. Consequently, we integrated the three BBMV isolation methods into a single protocol that yielded high quantities of BBMV proteins from H. armigera larval midguts, which proved suitable for 2- DE analysis.     

Gene expression patterns of Helicoverpa armigera gut proteases

Relative quantification of reported gut proteinase cDNAs from Helicoverpa armigera larvae fed on various host plants (cotton, chickpea, pigeonpea, tomato and okra), non-host plant PIs (winged bean, bitter gourd, ground nut, and capsicum) and during larval development has been carried out using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Five trypsin-like and three chymotrypsin-like proteinases were categorized as insensitive or sensitive to most of the proteinase inhibitors (PIs) and insensitive/sensitive to specific PIs based on their expression analysis. These results were supported by amino acid sequence analysis, where diverged amino acids were observed in the regions, which are reported to be involved in typical trypsin-trypsin inhibitor interactions and critical for proteinase inhibitor resistance. Among exopeptidases (five aminopeptidase and three carboxypeptidase), HaAmi4 and HaAmi5 of aminopeptidase and HaCar1 of carboxypeptidase exhibited considerable differential expression. Elastase and cathepsin B-like proteinases were expressed at negligible levels. The proteases identified in the study would be ideal candidates for further interactions studies with protease inhibitors to understand the structural reasons of protease inhibitor insensitivity.     

棉铃虫多核型多角体病毒v-cath同源基因的克隆及序列分析

为获得棉铃虫多核衣壳型多角体病毒(Helicoverpa armigera multiple nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus)基因组序列,采用随机克隆方法,建立HearMNPV的质粒基因文库,并通过对插入片段进行克隆鉴定和序列分析,获得编码组织蛋白酶基因v-cath。该基因阅读框为1026bp,共编码341个氨基酸。核苷酸和氨基酸同源性比较结果表明:HearMNPV的v-cath基因与蓓带夜蛾核型多角体病毒B(Mamestra configurata NPV-B)的同源性最高,而与苹果皮小卷蛾颗粒体病毒(Cydiapomonella GV CpGV)同源性最低,由此认为,杆状病毒科的v-cath基因在进化上存在2种进化方式:一类以点突变为主,基因长度变化不明显;另一类突变以小片段的碱基增减为特征。     

棉铃虫HaTO-like基因的克隆、序列分析和表达特征

【目的】克隆和分析了棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera HaTO-like基因的编码框序列,检测了该基因的时空表达谱以及在棉铃虫感染核型多角体病毒HaSNPV后的转录变化,为深入研究该基因的功能提供理论依据。【方法】本研究利用RT-PCR的方法首次克隆获得HaTO-like基因的全长cDNA序列,通过几种生物信息学软件对该基因的核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列进行了分析,并利用荧光定量PCR技术检测了该基因在棉铃虫不同发育阶段、幼虫组织和成虫组织的表达情况,以及HaSNPV感染对HaTO-like基因表达的影响。【结果】棉铃虫HaTO-like基因cDNA全长为994 bp,开放阅读框为756 bp,编码251个氨基酸,其蛋白序列的N端含有23个氨基酸的信号肽。进一步的序列分析表明棉铃虫HaTO-like与其他昆虫同源蛋白的氨基酸序列一致性不是太高,大概在39%~61%之间,其中与家蚕和脐橙螟在系统进化上关系最近。荧光定量PCR结果表明该基因在棉铃虫的5龄0 h和成虫第1天的的表达量相对较高,在幼虫的头部和表皮内的表达量较其他幼虫组织较高,在成虫的头部和足的表达量也相对较高。而病毒感染则显著地诱导了该基因在棉铃虫幼虫头部和表皮内的表达。【讨论】本研究克隆了棉铃虫HaTO-like基因的全长cDNA序列,分析了该基因的序列特征和表达谱,为进一步阐释该基因的功能奠定理论基础。     

Comparative proteomic analysis of hypoxia-treated and untreated human leukemic U937 cells

We reported recently that moderate hypoxia and hypoxia-mimetic agents could induce growth arrest and differentiation of leukemic cells via the mediation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), but the exact molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, human acute promonocytic leukemic U937 cells were incubated under 2% O2 or in 50 microM of the hypoxia mimetic agent cobalt chloride (CoCl2) and normal oxygen for 24 h, and their protein expression profiles were compared by 2-DE coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS. We identified 62 and 16 proteins that were significantly deregulated by hypoxia and CoCl2 treatment, respectively. These proteins were mainly involved in metabolism, gene expression regulation, signal transduction, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. As an example, N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), a putative differentiation-related gene, was up-regulated in both 2% O2- and CoCl2-treated U937 cells. Moreover, enforced HIF-1alpha expression also elevated NDRG1 mRNA and protein in U937 cells. These data will provide some clues for understanding mechanisms by which leukemic cells response to hypoxia.     

棉铃虫细胞色素P450 cDNA片段的克隆与序列分析

以 5龄实验室敏感品系棉铃虫Helicoverpaarmigera的总RNA为模板 ,采用简并性引物 ,利用反转录 -多聚酶链式反应 (RT PCR)扩增出了 2个新的长度分别为 2 3 7bp和 2 40bp的cDNA片段。序列分析表明 ,2 3 7bp的cDNA片段与棉铃虫P45 0CYP4家族有较高的相似性 ,最高达 73 %;而 2 40bp的cDNA片段与CYP6家族有较高的相似性 ,最高达 49%。     

棉铃虫Polycalin基因的克隆及其表达分析

【目的】通过对棉铃虫Polycalin基因的克隆及其表达谱分析,进一步明确Polycalin基因在抗性中发挥的作用,为棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的抗性治理提供理论依据。【方法】通过RACE结合PCR技术克隆获得了棉铃虫Polycalin基因的全长序列,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术测定了在棉铃虫不同发育时期、幼虫肠道不同部位的Polycalin基因表达量,比较了棉铃虫取食含Cry1Ac蛋白的饲料后,Polycalin基因表达量的变化。【结果】该基因全长序列为2 955 bp,开放阅读框为2 781 bp,编码926个氨基酸(Gen Bank登录号为KP100652);预测蛋白的分子量为101.68 ku,等电点为4.57。推导的氨基酸序列中,N末端含有20个氨基酸组成的信号肽,含有8个O-糖基化位点,3个N-糖基化位点,C末端存在2个GPI结合位点。Polycalin在棉铃虫所有发育阶段都可以表达,幼虫期表达量较高,尤其在1~3龄幼虫体内表达量最高,在卵、成虫和蛹中的表达量较低。棉铃虫4龄幼虫取食含活化Cry1Ac蛋白的人工饲料后,Polycalin基因的表达受到抑制。【结论】研究结果可以为进一步揭示Polycalin基因的功能及其在Bt杀虫机制中的作用奠定基础。     

菜虫净对辣椒棉铃虫的防效评价

菜虫净是中国热带农业科学院环境与植物保护研究所研发出的一种环境友好复合型防治瓜类、辣椒、豇豆害虫、害螨与线虫中试药剂。为了进一步科学、合理使用菜虫净防治瓜类、辣椒、豇豆害虫、害螨与线虫的发生与危害,探讨其对作物生长发育的安全性,以辣椒品种台湾特大黄皮角辣椒为研究对象,就菜虫净对棉铃虫的防治效果及其处理前后辣椒种子发芽率、幼苗长势、移栽后辣椒株高、主茎粗、叶宽、分枝茎长、花蕾数进行了比较分析。试验结果表明,菜虫净1000倍液、1500倍稀释液不仅对棉铃虫具有良好的防治效果,而且对植株生长具有良好的促进作用;菜虫净500倍液虽然对棉铃虫具有良好防治效果,但植株生长畸形。因此,综合考虑经济、高效和简便等因素,菜虫净1000—1500倍稀释液可广泛用于防治棉铃虫的发生与危害。     

Learning in the nectar foraging behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera

Abstract .1. Learning may enable insects to obtain nectar from flowers more efficiently. Learning in nectar foraging has been shown primarily in studies of bees and butterflies. Here, learning is demonstrated in the nectar foraging behaviour of a noctuid moth, Helicoverpa armigera .
2. The present studies show that: (1) previous experience with a flowering host species increases the probability of that species being selected for nectar foraging, and (2) previous experience of a particular flower type (food source at bottom or top of the corolla tube) increases the likelihood of the food source being found when that flower type is being searched.
3. The implications of these findings for understanding the pattern of oviposition observed in wild populations of this important pest species are discussed.