Identification and analysis of genes differentially expressed in the Spodoptera litura fat body in response to the biocontrol fungus, Nomuraea rileyi

Nomuraea rileyi is an important pathogenic fungus that can successfully control Spodoptera litura. However, little is known on how S. litura responds to N. rileyi infection. A forward suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA library was constructed from the S. litura fat body and the up-regulated genes were identified to isolate differentially expressed genes in response to N. rileyi. A total of 345/1175 random clones screened by cDNA array dot blotting were sequenced, resulting in 117 uniquely expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Potential functional genes were identified by BLAST searches and were categorized into seven groups associated with different biological processes based on the literature and gene ontologies. Among 117 genes, 74 had matches in the non-redundant (NR) protein database and were found to be involved in different biological processes, while 43 of the screened genes were classified to the "unknown function" gene group. Notably, only two genes had previously been reported in S. litura and most of the screened genes showed less similarity to known sequences based on BLASTn results, suggesting that 115 genes were found for the first time in S. litura. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of seven randomly selected genes revealed that most were differentially expressed after N. rileyi infection. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that four genes (Hsp70, Hsp90, gallerimycin, and cysteine proteinase) were significantly up-regulated after N. rileyi infection. Taken together, the present study identified up-regulated S. litura genes in response to N. rileyi infection. Further investigations are needed to unravel the molecular mechanisms of the genes or proteins potentially involved in the S. litura innate immune defense against N. rileyi infection.     

Gene expression patterns of trembling aspen trees following long-term exposure to interacting elevated CO2 and tropospheric O3

Expression of 4600 poplar expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was studied over the 2001-2002 growing seasons using trees of the moderately ozone (O(3))-tolerant trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) clone 216 exposed to elevated CO(2) and/or O(3) for their entire 5-yr life history. Based on replication of the experiment in years 2001 and 2002, 238 genes showed qualitatively similar expression in at least one treatment and were retained for analysis. Of these 238 genes, 185 were significantly regulated (1.5-fold) from one year to the other in at least one treatment studied. Less than 1% of the genes were regulated 2-fold or more. In the elevated CO(2) treatment, relatively small numbers of genes were up-regulated, whereas in the O(3) treatment, higher expression of many signaling and defense-related genes and lower expression of several photosynthesis and energy-related genes were observed. Senescence-associated genes (SAGs) and genes involved in the flavonoid pathway were also up-regulated under O(3), with or without CO(2) treatment. Interestingly, the combined treatment of CO(2) plus O(3) resulted in the differential expression of genes that were not up-regulated with individual gas treatments. This study represents the first investigation into gene expression following long-term exposure of trees to the interacting effects of elevated CO(2) and O(3) under field conditions. Patterns of gene-specific regulation described in this study correlated with previously published physiological responses of aspen clone 216.     

核受体因子FTZ-F1在斜纹夜蛾响应虫螨腈及辛硫磷胁迫中的作用机制

【目的】本研究旨在揭示昆虫蜕皮激素信号通路上的关键核受体因子FTZ-F1在斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura响应虫螨腈和辛硫磷胁迫中的作用机制。【方法】使用生物信息学方法鉴定斜纹夜蛾FTZ-F1基因,并进行序列比对及系统发育树构建;将LC₃₀浓度辛硫磷和虫螨腈浸叶处理的桑叶分别喂食斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫,并分别收集取食药叶后1, 12, 24, 36和48 h时存活的幼虫,使用qRT-PCR技术检测幼虫体内SlFTZ-F1的表达水平;使用RNAi技术沉默SlFTZ-F1基因,并使用qRT-PCR技术检测注射dsRNA后SlFTZ-F1的表达水平;将LC₃₀浓度虫螨腈和辛硫磷浸叶处理的桑叶分别喂食沉默了SlFTZ-F1的斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫,喂食后24和48 h统计斜纹夜蛾幼虫死亡率;选取8个斜纹夜蛾谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(SlGST)基因,使用qRT-PCR技术检测沉默了SlFTZ-F1基因的斜纹夜蛾幼虫这些SlGST基因的表达水平。【结果】斜纹夜蛾SlFTZ-F1开放阅读框长1 665 bp,编码555个氨基酸,等电点为6.39,理论分子量61.77 kD,SlFTZ-F1具有DNA结合域、FTZ-F1 box及配体结合域;系统发育分析表明,SlFTZ-F1与草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的SfFTZ-F1聚为一个亚分支。与ddH₂O处理的对照相比,LC₃₀浓度虫螨腈处理后1, 24和36 h以及LC₃₀浓度辛硫磷处理后24和36 h,斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫SlFTZ-F1的表达量均显著上调。与注射dsGFP的对照组相比,斜纹夜蛾幼虫在注射dsSlFTZ-F1后48 h SlFTZ-F1基因的表达量显著下降;分别将LC₃₀浓度虫螨腈和辛硫磷处理的桑叶喂食沉默了SlFTZ-F1的斜纹夜蛾3龄幼虫,48 h时与对照组相比斜纹夜蛾幼虫死亡率分别显著升高22%和28%;沉默SlFTZ-F1的斜纹夜蛾幼虫8个SlGST基因的表达量均显著下降。【结论】虫螨腈及辛硫磷显著诱导斜纹夜蛾幼虫SlFTZ-F1基因表达,沉默SlFTZ-F1后斜纹夜蛾幼虫对虫螨腈和辛硫磷的敏感性显著升高,解毒酶SlGST基因的表达受到显著抑制,说明发育相关的转录因子FTZ-F1在斜纹夜蛾响应常用杀虫剂胁迫中发挥了重要作用。     

EST sequencing and time course microarray hybridizations identify more than 700 <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago truncatula</Emphasis> genes with developmental expression regulation in flowers and pods

To evaluate the molecular mechanisms during pod and seed formation in legumes, starting with the development of reproductive organs, we constructed two cDNA libraries from developing flowers (MtFLOW) and pods including seeds (MtPOSE) of the model plant Medicago truncatula Gaertner. A total of 2,516 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) clustered into 1,776 nonredundant sequences (2k-set), which were annotated and assigned to functional classes. While about 30% of the ESTs encoded proteins of yet unknown function, typical annotations pointed to seed storage proteins, LTPs and lipoxygenases. The 2k-set was used to upgrade Mt6k-RIT microarrays (Küster et al. in J Biotechnol 108: 95, 2004) to Mt8k versions representing approximately 6,300 nonredundant M. truncatula genes. These were used to perform time course expression profiling studies based on hybridizations of samples that covered eight different developmental stages from flower buds to almost mature pods versus leaves as a common reference. About 180 up- and 70 downregulated genes were typically found for each stage and in total, 782 genes were either twofold up- or downregulated in at least one of the eight stages investigated. Based on this set, a combination of self-organizing map and hierarchical clustering revealed genes displaying expression regulation during characteristic stages of M. truncatula flower and pod development. Amongst those, several genes encoded proteins related to seed metabolism and development including novel regulators and proteins involved in signaling.Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Gene expression profiling of hereditary exencephaly in chickens

In this preliminary study, differentially expressed genes were investigated in cranial tissues from chickens with hereditary exencephaly using cDNA microarrays containing 1,152 genes and expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Genes showing twofold or greater differences at P < 0.05 between affected and normal cranial cells were considered to be candidates for hereditary exencephaly in chicken. Eighteen ESTs (11 known genes/homologues) were upregulated and 108 ESTs (51 known genes/homologues) were downregulated. The EST AL584231 (ROS006C9), orthologous to human MTHFD1, a known candidate gene for human neural tube defects (NTDs), was expressed at the same level both in normal and affected chicken cranial tissues. ESTs AL584253 (ROS006F7, thioredoxin reductase 1) and AL585511 (ROS024H9, thioredoxin), both involved in NTD pathogenic pathways in mice, were downregulated and had mean ratios of 0.41 and 0.04 for expression in affected vs. normal cells respectively. Expression differences of these two ESTs were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. These data indicate that ESTs AL584253 and AL585511 are candidates for hereditary exencephaly in chickens.     

Classification of sequences expressed during the primordial and basidiome stages of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Two complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries were constructed from tissues isolated from primordia and basidiomes of Agaricus bisporus to characterize genes involved in mushroom development. Using single-pass sequencing of 869 cDNA clones, we found 477 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), including 466 not previously described in the databases for A. bisporus. A BLASTX search revealed that 374 ESTs had similarities with protein sequences available from databases; 193 of these ESTs were categorized according to their putative function. Most ESTs were assigned to one of four roles: metabolism (23%), cell structure (15%), cell growth and division (12%), and protein destination and storage (10%). The remaining ESTs with putative homologues were classified in 10 additional categories. Many ESTs could not be functionally assigned. Based on redundancy levels, at least 4 ESTs were preferentially expressed in each tissue type. Sequence analysis also suggested the presence of paralog tyrosinase genes in the A. bisporus genome.     

Sequence analysis of expressed sequence tags from an ABA-treated cDNA library identifies stress response genes in the moss Physcomitrella patens.

Partial cDNA sequencing was used to obtain 169 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in the moss, Physcomitrella patens. The source of ESTs was a random cDNA library constructed from 7 day-old protonemata following treatment with 10(-4) M abscisic acid (ABA). Analysis of the ESTs identified 69% with homology to known sequences, 61% of which had significant homology to sequences of plant origin. More importantly, at least 11 ESTs had significant similarities to genes which are implicated in plant stress-responses, including responses which may involve ABA. These included a cDNA associated with desiccation tolerance, two heat shock protein genes, one cold acclimation protein cDNA and five others that may be involved in either oxidative or chemical stress or both, i.e., Zn/Cu-superoxide dismutase, NADPH protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (PorB), selenium binding protein, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S transferase. Analysis of codon usage between P. patens and seed plants indicated that although mosses and higher plants are to a large extent similar, minor variations also exists that may represent the distinctiveness of each group.     

Growth inhibitory and antifeedant activity of extracts from Melia dubia to Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera larvae

The growth inhibitory activity and deterrency of Melia dubia (Meliaceae) extracts to Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera were investigated. Artificial diet bioassays using neonate larvae of both S. litura and H. armigera indicated that dichloroethane (DCE) and methanol (Me) extracts of M. dubia inhibited growth in a dose dependent manner. DCE and Me-5II fractions also resulted in 50% deterrency at concentrations of 22.5 and 16.8 micrograms/cm2 respectively against S. litura larvae in a leaf disc-choice test. The DCE-5 fraction was found to be more toxic to larvae (LC50 of 0.65%) than the Me-5II (LC50 of 0.8%), 72 hr after topical application. Both fractions lack contact toxicity, but the deterrent effect persisted for at least 60 hr under laboratory conditions. Although salannin was isolated from the DCE fraction to show antifeedant activity, the physico-chemical characteristics of the active fractions DCE-5 and Me-5II were not identical with either salannin or azadirachtin.     

BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACT OF STELLERA CHAMAEJASME AGAINST FIVE PEST INSECTS

Abstract Biological activity of an extract of the root of Stellera chameajasme with ethanol by dip (SCEE) against 5 insect pests, Pieris rapae, Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera litura, Myzus persicae , and Ostrina fumalis as tested. The LD, of stomach poison of SCEE against the fifth instar larvae of P. rapae was 12. 32 μarvae day 2 after treatment. With SCEE at concentration of 5, 2. 5 and 50 mg/mL, the fifth instar larvae of P. rapae , the third instar larvae of P. xylostella , and the third instar larvae of S. litura by disc leaf dipped method, had corrected mortalities of 100%, 31. 03 % and 16. 67 % 7 days after treatment respectively. The LC₅₀ of SCEE against M. persicae was 0. 599 2 mg/mL after day 2 treatment by leaf dipped method. With SCEE at 10 mg/mL for the third instar larvae of O. furnucalis by mixture pesticide method, the corrected mortalities of 65. 52% and 85. 72% days 7 and day 14 after treatments respectively. The results showed that SCEE possessed strong biological activity to P. rapae, O. furnacalis , and M. persicae , while possessed weak biological activity to S. litura and P. xylostella .     

猪脂肪组织表达序列标签(ESTs)大规模测序及分析

利用大规模DNA序列测定的方法,对猪脂肪组织进行了表达序列标签(Expressed Sequence Tag,EST)序列测定,获得高质量EST共7790个,并对此进行了初步分析。使用STACK-PACK软件进行聚类分析,得到4354个基因聚类,包括3609个单拷贝基因和745个多拷贝基因;将候选基因序列用BlastN与nr库进行比较(e=1e-10),从4354个候选基因中得到2712个已知基因,其中单基因为1987个,多拷贝基因为725(3694克隆)个;未知功能基因和新EST有2109个克隆。根据BlastN结果,利用基因组文库添加序号(GenBank Accession No．)为索引,构建了猪脂肪组织已知功能基因表达谱。从基因表达谱可以看出,在猪脂肪组织中参与代谢的基因所占比例最高,在某些方面也显示了脂肪组织旺盛的代谢活性。同时发现在猪脂肪组织中主组织相容性抗原(Major Histocompatibility Complex,MHC)或与MHC相关的基因表达丰度很高。其中单拷贝基因181个,多拷贝基因44个,共计257个克隆,占细胞机体防御(cell and organism defense)总数的44．9％。占总已知基因数的5.4％。提取出全部与MHC相关的EST序列(257个克隆),发现所有EST的部分序列(长约200个碱基),几乎分布在每一个已知猪BAC的所有编码序列上。据此推测,构成MHC的这些EST序列中,有一段长约200个碱基(200bp)的碱基序列高度保守,MHC基因中每一段编码序列都包含有这一段序列。这些MHC序列虽然在不同的BAC上其蛋白的域不同,但均为高度保守区域,并且都与免疫功能密切相关。猪脂肪中如此大量表达的MHC部分保守序列,由于与免疫功能高度相关,在MHC基因的传递过程中,可以反复复制,并能够稳定遗传。