Induction of astrocyte argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and dexamethasone

Arginine is an intermediate in the elimination of excess nitrogen and is the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis. Arginine synthesis has been reported in brain tissue. We have studied the activity of the arginine biosynthetic enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase in dexamethasone and/or dibutyryl cyclic AMP treated rat astrocyte cultures. Argininosuccinate lyase activity was stimulated by treatment with either effector and an additive effect was obtained when both agents were added simultaneously. Argininosuccinate synthetase was also increased in dexamethasone treated astrocytes. The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on argininosuccinate synthetase was variable, suggesting a role for additional factors in its regulation as compared to argininosuccinate lyase. Regulation of arginine synthesis in astrocytes may be important to insure that arginine is not limiting for nitric oxide synthesis in neural tissue.     

Characterization of a Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) brummer gene and analysis of its role in lipid metabolism

The brummer (bmm) genes encode the lipid storage droplet‐associated triacylglycerols (TAG) lipases, which belong to the Brummer/Nutrin subfamily. These enzymes hydrolyze the ester bonds in TAG in lipid metabolism and act in insect energy homeostasis. Exposure to some agricultural chemicals leads to increased fecundity, which necessarily involves lipid metabolism, in some planthopper species. However, the biological roles of bmm in planthopper lipid storage and mobilization have not been investigated. Here, the open reading frame (ORF) of bmm (Nlbmm) was cloned and sequenced from the brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens). The ORF is 1014 bp encoding 338 amino acid residues. Nlbmm contained patatin domains and shared considerable evolutionary conservation with other insect bmms. Nlbmm is highly expressed in the fat body, consistent with its roles in lipid metabolism. Injection with Nlbmm double‐stranded RNA (dsNlbmm) led to reduced Nlbmm mRNA accumulation, but did not influence expression of several genes related to lipid synthesis including acyl‐CoA‐binding protein (ACBP), acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), and a lipophorin receptor (LpR). Nlbmm knockdown led to increased TAG contents in whole bodies, accumulation of total fat body lipid, and decreased hemolymph lipid content. Nlbmm knockdown did not influence the synthesis and distribution of glycerol. We infer that Nlbmm acts in TAG breakdown and fat metabolism in N. lugens.     

RNA interference of argininosuccinate synthetase restores sensitivity to recombinant arginine deiminase (rADI) in resistant cancer cells

Background  

Sensitivity of cancer cells to recombinant arginine deiminase (rADI) depends on expression of argininosuccinate synthetase (AS), a rate-limiting enzyme in synthesis of arginine from citrulline. To understand the efficiency of RNA interfering of AS in sensitizing the resistant cancer cells to rADI, the down regulation of AS transiently and permanently were performed in vitro, respectively.     

Knockdown of TOR causing ovarian diapause in a genetically stable brachypterous strain of Nilaparvata lugens

Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), is one of the most damaging pests of rice crops. BPH is a migratory insect with a delayed ovarian development in migrants classified as reproductive diapause. The molecular mechanism of reproductive diapause remains unclear, although we suspect it might be regulated by one or more nutrient signaling pathways. The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway regulates cell growth in response to nutritional information, which raised a hypothesis that TOR mediates BPH reproductive diapause. We used a pure brachypterous strain (BS) and a predominantly macropterous strain (MS) to investigate the roles of NlTOR in BPH reproductive diapause. We found that NlTOR is expressed from the nymphal to adult stages, with a higher expression level of NlTOR in BS adults at 1, 2, and 4 days posteclosion than in MS at the same time points. Injection of dsNlTOR into BS nymphs resulted in the termination of BPH female ovary development and the retardation of nymph development. We infer that TOR signaling functions in BPH reproductive diapause by regulating the expression of NlFoxA and NlVitellogenin.     

褐飞虱过氧化物酶基因NlPOD1的克隆、鉴定及功能分析

【目的】探明褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens过氧化物酶基因NlPOD1的分子特性、表达模式和生物学功能。【方法】基于褐飞虱转录组数据,利用PCR技术克隆获得NlPOD1基因全长cDNA序列;利用生物信息学手段分析其序列特征;通过qRT-PCR技术检测NlPOD1在褐飞虱不同发育时期(卵、1-5龄若虫和初羽化雌雄成虫)和5龄若虫不同组织(头部、脂肪体、血淋巴和肠道)中的表达水平,以及不同微生物(大肠杆菌Escherichia coli、金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus和金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae)（1×10⁷/mL）注射感染褐飞虱5龄若虫不同时间后的诱导表达模式;利用RNAi技术沉默褐飞虱 5 龄若虫NlPOD1基因,并通过生物测定分析NlPOD1基因沉默和接种金龟子绿僵菌(1×108/mL)后褐飞虱的存活率及致死中时(LT₅₀)。【结果】获得褐飞虱NlPOD1全长 cDNA 序列(GenBank登录号: MZ682107),其开放阅读框长2 049 bp,编码682个氨基酸,含有一个典型的动物亚铁血红素过氧化物酶结构域(An_peroxidasedomain),且N端包含一段由29个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽。系统发育分析表明,NlPOD1与半翅目其他昆虫的POD亲缘关系较近,其中与茶翅蝽Halyomorpha halys POD亲缘关系最近。发育表达谱结果表明,NlPOD1在褐飞虱不同发育阶段均有表达,其中卵期表达量最低,5龄若虫中表达量最高;组织表达谱结果表明,NlPOD1在褐飞虱5龄若虫不同组织中均有表达,且肠道和血淋巴中的表达量显著高于头部和脂肪体中的;微生物诱导表达模式表明,与注射PBS的对照组相比,大肠杆菌诱导48 h内各时间点NlPOD1在褐飞虱5龄若虫中的表达量显著上调,而在金黄色葡萄球菌和金龟子绿僵菌诱导下,NlPOD1表达量均呈现先上调后回稳的态势。RNAi分析结果显示,显微注射dsNlPOD1可显著抑制NlPOD1的表达水平。通过RNAi抑制NlPOD1表达后褐飞虱5龄若虫存活率不变,但注射dsNlPOD1联合金龟子绿僵菌感染对褐飞虱5龄若虫的LT₅₀(4.5 d)显著低于注射dsGFP联合金龟子绿僵菌感染的对照组的LT₅₀(5.4 d),说明沉默NlPOD1后褐飞虱对金龟子绿僵菌侵染的抵御能力显著降低。【结论】NlPOD1在褐飞虱病原防御过程中发挥重要作用,可作为开发RNAi和病原真菌联合介导的褐飞虱防治技术中的一个潜在靶标。     

褐飞虱两个糖转运蛋白的功能分析及调控海藻糖代谢的影响

海藻糖转运蛋白(Trehalose transporter, Tret)可将昆虫“血糖”——海藻糖由脂肪体转运到血淋巴中,是维持昆虫体内海藻糖平衡的重要转运蛋白。本研究通过对褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens两条糖转运蛋白序列(NlTret1、NlTret1 X1)进行生物信息学分析,并利用RNAi技术沉默NlTret1与NlTret1 X1基因,探讨其对褐飞虱调控海藻糖代谢的生物学功能。生物信息学分析表明,NlTret1与NlTret1 X1分别有1 353 bp和1 488 bp的开放阅读框,编码具有450和495个氨基酸残基,蛋白分子量大小为49.984 kDa和53.059 kDa,理论等电点pI为6.53和7.46;保守结构域分析NlTret1和NlTret1 X1分别包含10个和12个跨膜结构域,属于MFS超家族;二级结构以及三级结构预测NlTret1和NlTret1 X1主要包含无规卷曲和α螺旋结构。进化树分析显示NlTret1和NlTret1 X1皆与同为半翅目昆虫的Tret1蛋白亲缘关系接近。与注射dsGFP相比RNAi后显著抑制了靶标基因的表达量。荧光定量检...     

单季稻田的蜘蛛群落及其与褐飞虱的相关性研究

通过对南京地区４种不同类型单季稻田蜘蛛群落的结构及其与褐飞虱的相关性研究,结果表明,该地区蜘蛛群落由１０科２１种组成,其中草间小黑蛛、食虫瘤胸蛛、拟水狼蛛为优势种。物种丰富度、多样性化防田低于生防田,而均匀性则施药田大于不施药田。不同移栽时间的稻田,丰富度、多样性、均匀性迟栽田低于早栽田。蜘蛛与褐飞虱各发育阶段的相关性分析表明,蜘蛛与褐飞虱长翅成虫相关性好,而与低龄若虫相关性差;蜘蛛与褐飞虱的相关性主要由褐飞虱田间第１次若虫高峰时的蜘蛛量和蛛虱比决定,模拟的回归方程为：ｒ＝ － ０．１９９７＋ ０．００７５６ｘ１＋ ０．３３７１ｘ２（Ｆ＞ Ｆ０．０２３）。     

沉默类胰岛素多肽(Ilp)基因对褐飞虱翅和卵巢发育及海藻糖代谢的影响

[目的]类胰岛素多肽(insulin-like peptide,Ilp)位于胰岛素信号通路最上游,其在糖类物质调控中发挥关键作用.本研究则旨在探究Ilp在褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens海藻糖代谢平衡的调控作用.[方法]以褐飞虱5龄若虫为实验材料,采用RNAi技术干扰Ilps的表达,观察RNAi后褐飞虱的表型...     

褐飞虱ABCB基因的克隆与表达分析

三磷酸腺苷结合盒转运蛋白(ATP-binding cassette,ABC)广泛分布于各种生物体中,是最大的膜蛋白家族之一。在昆虫中,ABC转运子不仅在分子转运过程中有重要的功能,同时在杀虫剂抗性、代谢和发育中都起到重要的作用。本研究克隆和鉴定了褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens St l ABCB基因(NlABCB),结果表明NlABCB基因全长1468 bp,含有一个长度为459 bp的开放阅读框,编码153个氨基酸。利用定量PCR检测NlABCB基因在褐飞虱体内的表达,发现NlABCB转录本在褐飞虱的所有发育阶段都有表达,在1龄若虫中表达量最低,随着生长发育表达量逐渐升高。NlABCB在褐飞虱5龄若虫的中肠中表达量最高。研究发现该基因与褐飞虱的生理活动有关。构建NlABCB-dsRNA载体,转化大肠杆菌Escherichia coli HT115后,经IPTG诱导,形成NlABCB-dsRNA,喂养褐飞虱取食含NlABCB-dsRNA人工饲料,发现褐飞虱的存活率明显降低。因此该基因的克隆和功能鉴定,对于作物的抗虫育种,尤其对水稻害虫的生物防治将起到重要的促进作用。     

Met和Kr-h1基因在褐飞虱变态发育中的功能分析

【目的】保幼激素受体Methoprene-tolerant(Met)控制保幼激素信号传导途径中重要下游转录因子Krüppelhomolog 1(Kr-h1)的表达,调控昆虫的变态发育。本研究旨在探究褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens Met基因与Kr-h1在褐飞虱变态发育中的功能。【方法】利用PCR技术扩增Nl Met基因的ORF序列。通过RNA干扰技术分别或同时沉默褐飞虱若虫的Nl Met和Nl Kr-h1基因,进一步研究其功能。【结果】克隆得到Nl Met,其开放阅读框包含1 185 bp,编码395个氨基酸,包括b HLH,PAS-A,PAS-B和PAC 4个结构域;其中PAS-B和PAC保守性较高,而b HLH和PAS-A保守性相对较低。采用RNA干扰技术沉默Nl Met和Nl Kr-h1基因后发现,单独对4龄若虫Nl Kr-h1基因干扰后,若虫阶段及初羽化雌虫和雄虫死亡率均显著上升(P0.05);对5龄若虫Nl Kr-h1基因干扰后只有若虫死亡率上升(P0.05),单独对Nl Met基因干扰后死亡率没有显著变化(P0.05);二者共同沉默后的死亡率同单独对Nl Kr-h1沉默时类似。此外,我们还发现单独对4龄若虫Nl Kr-h1干扰后在雌虫中出现了生殖器畸形,虽然Nl Met干扰并未出现生殖器发育畸形现象,但二者共同干扰后,在若虫、初羽化雌雄成虫中畸形比例均显著增加(P0.05)。【结论】Nl Met与下游转录因子Nl Kr-h1对褐飞虱变态发育起到重要作用,影响若虫到成虫的变态和外生殖器的发育。本研究有助于揭示Nl Met和Nl Kr-h1在昆虫变态发育中的重要作用。     

褐飞虱表皮蛋白基因NlICP的克隆及功能研究

表皮蛋白与几丁质结合构成抵御外界不良环境的昆虫角质层, 在昆虫的生长发育及蜕皮硬化中具有重要的作用。为了探讨表皮蛋白基因在褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens生长发育中的功能, 本研究根据褐飞虱转录组测序信息, 对其中1个预测为编码表皮蛋白的Unigene36450序列进行了克隆, 并应用荧光定量PCR和RNA干扰（RNAi）技术分别对该基因的表达规律和功能进行了研究。结果表明： 克隆的 Unigene36450全长cDNA开放阅读框长585 bp, 编码的蛋白含194个氨基酸, 具有典型的表皮蛋白R&R保守结构域, 命名为NlICP。转录水平的时序表达分析发现, NlICP仅在褐飞虱若虫期表达, 且在3龄若虫体内表达量最高, 提示该基因编码的蛋白属于幼虫表皮蛋白。RNA干扰结果显示, 取食dsNlICP的1龄末2龄初（孵化后第3 天）若虫在干扰6 d和8 d时, NlICP基因的表达量分别较取食dsGFP的对照组下降58.8%和45.6%, 差异极显著(P<0.01); 干扰后部分褐飞虱若虫因蜕皮不完全死亡, 干扰5 d的存活率较对照下降26.7%。本研究结果提示, NlICP与褐飞虱若虫的生长发育及蜕皮相关, 可以作为褐飞虱防治的潜在靶标基因。     

大尺度下褐飞虱种群空间结构初步分析

褐飞虱是我国主要的水稻害虫,有着复杂的空间结构.地统计学可用来分析空间相关变量的结构和插值模拟空间相关变量的分布.运用地统计学中的变差函数和克立格插值法对广东省褐飞虱种群3个主要世代在早稻田间的空间结构进行分析和模拟的结果表明,大尺度的褐飞虱田间种群的空间分布为聚集型,不同世代褐飞虱种群的局部空间结构有差异,聚集的范围分别为400、200和205km;空间分布模拟地图能反映褐飞虱种群在田间的具体分布情况,广东西部地区每一世代褐飞虱的发生密度均高于东部地区.     

Drought stress reduces the feeding preference of Nilaparvata lugens due to the accumulation of abscisic acid and callose deposition in rice

The incidence of drought stress in plants has been increasing due to global warming, and the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) induces the formation of physical barriers in plants, such as callose accumulation. The brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens Stål) occurs throughout Asia and feeds on rice, but the effects of drought stress on BPH feeding remain unclear. In this study, we observed changes in callose formation and ABA content in rice during drought stress. ABA content and the relative expression of ABA synthesis genes OsNCED3 and OsNCED5 were higher in drought-stressed rice than the non-stressed control. Similarly, the expression levels of callose synthesis genes and callose deposition were significantly higher in drought-stressed rice as compared to non-stressed plants, and this impacted BPH feeding. Our results indicated that rice resistance to BPH increased during drought stress due to the accumulation of callose and increasing ABA levels. Our findings provide a basis for understanding BPH feeding performance on rice during drought stress and offer novel insights relative to control during periods of water shortage.     

大尺度下褐飞属种群空间结构初步分析

褐飞虱是我国主要的水稻害虫,有着复杂的空间结构,地统计学可用来分析空间相关变量的结构和插植模拟空间相关变量的分布,运用地统计学中的变差函数和克立格插值法对广东省褐飞虱种群3个主要世代在早稻田间的空间结构进行分析和模拟的结果表明,大尺度的褐飞虱田间种群的空间分布为聚集型,不同世代群在田间的具体分布情况,广东西部地区第一世代褐飞虱的发生密度均高于东部地区。     

Molecular characterization and gene functional analysis of Dicer‐2 gene from Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Geometroidea)

Abstract Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Geometroidea), a serious rice pest in many countries of Asia, causes a great loss in rice production every year. RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful technology for gene function study in insects and a potential tool for pest control. As a core component of RNAi pathway, Dicer‐2 (Dcr‐2) protein determines the production of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and is crucial for the efficiency of RNAi. In this study, the full‐length complementary DNA (cDNA) of N. lugens Dcr‐2 (NlDcr‐2) was first cloned and analyzed, and then the RNAi experiment was conducted to explore the function of NlDcr‐2 gene. The complete Dcr‐2 cDNA of N. lugens was 4 971 bp in length with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1,656 amino acids. Phylogenetic and protein domain analysis showed that the predicted NlDcr‐2 protein was similar to Tribolium castaneum. In the RNAi experiment, the messenger RNA level of NlDcr‐2 was significantly reduced by NlDcr‐2 double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) (dsDcr‐2). Fifty‐five per cent decrease of NlDcr‐2 was found after 4 days of unremitting feeding. No significant effect was observed on the development of N. lugens after dsRNA ingestion.     

2006年安庆地区褐飞虱大发生特点及其原因分析

2006年褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens Stl大发生的特点主要有:迁入虫量大、回迁峰次明显;短翅型成虫发生早、虫口高;田间种群增长迅速,全市普遍重发,局部暴发;田块间虫口差异大。分析认为导致大发生的主要原因是:丰富的初迁虫源奠定了大发生的基础;褐飞虱生物型变化,食料条件丰富;单季稻面积扩大,从食料和生境2个方面为褐飞虱发生提供利好条件;褐飞虱对主治药剂吡虫啉产生抗性,促进褐飞虱暴发。还就加强异地监测、抗药性监测、田间调查等,提出建议。     

褐飞虱flightin的原核表达及其差异表达检测

flightin最早发现于果蝇Drosophila melanogaster的间接飞行肌中,并且定位于粗肌丝。这种蛋白对维持肌节的结构和功能起到了重要的作用,但其在具有长短翅型分化的褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens Stl的不同翅型间差异并不清楚。本研究以长翅型雌虫褐飞虱cDNA为模板,通过PCR扩增得到褐飞虱flightin基因ORF全长,将其连接到表达载体pGEX-6P-1中以与谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)融合表达。将表达载体转入大肠杆菌表达株Rosseta,在不同温度、不同浓度IPTG的条件下诱导表达flightin,得到了最优表达条件,获得了高水平可溶性表达。在用GST抗体进行Western blotting验证GST-flightin融合重组蛋白表达的正确性后,我们通过GST柱纯化了的GST-flightin,进而用纯化后的蛋白免疫新西兰兔制备了高特异性的多克隆抗体。最后,我们用制备的多克隆抗体检测了长、短翅型雌成虫和不同发育阶段的褐飞虱体内flightin的表达差异。结果显示,flightin仅在长翅型成虫中表达,在短翅型雌成虫中未检测到其明显表达,而且flightin只在成虫期表达。本研究为进一步研究褐飞虱的flightin与其它蛋白互作、翅肌发育和翅型分化打下了基础。     

褐飞虱核糖体小亚基蛋白S8基因NlRPS8的克隆及其表达分析

【目的】核糖体蛋白在生物体内具有重要作用,本研究旨在探明核糖体蛋白S8在褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens生长发育过程中的表达规律和功能。【方法】本文根据褐飞虱基因表达谱提供的差异表达基因信息及转录组提供的基因核心序列,结合褐飞虱基因组比对分析,对褐飞虱核糖体S8基因进行了预测,并通过RT-PCR获得了褐飞虱核糖体小亚基蛋白S8的全长c DNA序列,命名为NlRPS8(Gen Bank登录号:KU341337)。【结果】NlRPS8基因全长627 bp,编码208个氨基酸。进化分析表明,褐飞虱与桑粉介壳虫Maconellicoccus hirsutus亲缘关系最为接近。应用荧光定量PCR分析了基因NlRPS8的表达规律,结果表明,NlRPS8基因在褐飞虱怀卵雌虫中表达量最高,而在雄成虫、初羽化雌成虫与1~5龄若虫表达量相对较低;在褐飞虱体内,NlRPS8基因在卵巢中表达量最高,中肠次之,在其他部位表达量较低。在抗性品种ASD7和RHT上,NlRPS8基因表达量分别为感性品种TN1上的1.99倍和2.14倍。NlRPS8基因在经过饥饿处理1 d的褐飞虱组中表达量为正常组的1.6倍。【结论】研究结果显示NlRPS8基因在褐飞虱生长、繁殖中发挥作用,为进一步研究NlRPS8基因在褐飞虱生长发育和对抗性品种适应中的功能提供了线索。     

Study of the relationship between the content of the rare earth element Eu in rice plants and in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Abstract The current study investigated changes in the content of the rare earth element Europium (Eu) in roots, shoots and leaves of rice plants and in Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) using an Eu marker and hydroponic culture. The results showed that N. lugens infestation significantly reduced Eu content in roots, shoots and leaves of two rice varieties, Shenyou 1 and Xieyou 963. The Eu content in roots, shoots and leaves of the susceptible variety, Shenyou 1, was significantly higher than that in the resistant variety, Xieyou 963. The Eu content of N. lugens fed on Shenyou 1 was significantly higher than of those fed on Xieyou 963. In addition, the Eu level was elevated at a higher density of N. lugens infestation. Eu content in the bodies of N. lugens was related to their weight and honeydew excretion, with a significant positive correlation. Thus, Eu content in the bodies of N. lugens can be considered an index of the amount of phloem sap taken in by N. lugens because the amount of honeydew excretion is proportional to the amount of phloem sap consumed. The ratios of Eu content in N. lugens to that in roots, shoots and leaves of rice plants were elevated at a higher N. lugens infestation density. That ratio was maximal in leaves, was intermediate in shoots and was minimal in roots. There was no significant difference in ratios between the two plant varieties. An Eu marker may be useful in the screening of resistant varieties and in the study of the mechanisms of resistance.