Expression and localization of the Spodoptera frugiperda allatotropin (Spofr-AT) and allatostatin (Spofr-AS) genes

Manduca sexta allatotropin and allatostatin were the first corpora allata (CA) regulating neuropeptides identified from Lepidoptera. Recently, we cloned the allatotropin (Spofr-AT) and the allatostatin (Spofr-AS) genes from the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. Using one-step RT-PCR for semi-quantification of the gene expression, we now demonstrate that three mRNA isoforms of the Spofr-AT gene and the Spofr-AS gene are expressed in brain, digestive tract, and reproductive organs of larvae, pupae, and adults in a time- and tissue-specific manner. Expression rates in the brain and in various parts of the digestive tract prove the dual role of the peptides as brain/gut (neuro)peptides. The functional meaning of ovarian and testes expression of the genes is not yet clear, although myoregulatory properties of the peptides are probable. The tissue-specific localization of the prohormone expression, as demonstrated by whole mount in situ hybridization, confirms the overall distribution of the prohormones as shown by RT-PCR and supports the pleiotropic functions of the peptides.     

棉铃虫及粘虫肠中咽侧体静止激素样活性物质对咽侧体活性的影响

利用放射化学的方法分别检测了棉铃虫Helicoverpaarmigera、粘虫Mythimnaseparata幼虫和成虫肠中咽侧体静止激素 (allatostatin ,AS)样的活性物质。发现在棉铃虫、粘虫幼虫和成虫肠中均存在的AS样活性物质 ,可以在体外抑制咽侧体 (corporaallata,CA)的保幼激素 ( juvenilehormone,JH)的生物合成。生物测定的结果表明 ,粘虫幼虫肠中AS样活性物质的含量较棉铃虫的高 ;粘虫 1个幼虫肠当量对CA的JH合成的抑制率达 4 3% ,而棉铃虫幼虫肠只有 2 6%。无论是棉铃虫还是粘虫 ,雌成虫中肠对CA的抑制比雄成虫中肠的高 ,后肠对CA的JH合成的抑制明显的低于中肠对CA的抑制。中肠对CA的JH合成的抑制是可回复的。中肠粗提物经蛋白酶水解后对CA合成JH的抑制率降低 ,表明肠中AS样的活性物质是肽或蛋白质     

棉铃虫及粘虫肠中咽侧体静止激素样活性物质对咽侧体活性的影响

利用放射化学的方法分别检测了棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera、粘虫Mythimna separata幼虫和成虫肠中咽侧体静止激素（allatostatin, AS）样的活性物质。发现在棉铃虫、粘虫幼虫和成虫肠中均存在的AS样活性物质,可以在体外抑制咽侧体（corpora allata, CA）的保幼激素（juvenile hormone, JH）的生物合成。生物测定的结果表明,粘虫幼虫肠中AS样活性物质的含量较棉铃虫的高;粘虫1个幼虫肠当量对CA的JH合成的抑制率达43%,而棉铃虫幼虫肠只有26%。无论是棉铃虫还是粘虫,雌成虫中肠对CA的抑制比雄成虫中肠的高,后肠对CA的JH合成的抑制明显的低于中肠对CA的抑制。中肠对CA的JH合成的抑制是可回复的。中肠粗提物经蛋白酶水解后对CA合成JH的抑制率降低,表明肠中AS样的活性物质是肽或蛋白质。     

The distribution of hop latent viroid within plants of Humulus lupulus and attempts to obtain viroid-free plants

The detectability of hop latent viroid (HLVd) was investigated in field-grown hop (Humulus lupulus L.; an herbaceous perennial in which all the aerial parts die at the onset of winter) plants, using dot-blot hybridisation. The viroid was readily detected in all aerial tissues in the second half of the growing season but it could not be detected very early in the season. Between early- and mid-season, HLVd was first detected at the base of the new stems and then apparently spread up them as they grew but only became detectable near the tips of the shoots at mid-season, approximately at the time most elongation growth ended and flowering began. Petioles were the most convenient tissues to test, being easy to collect and, relative to leaf lamina tissue, low in inhibitors. Both dot-blot and in situ hybridisation failed to detect HLVd in shoot tips taken from plants grown at two ‘low’ temperatures (10°C and 15°C). Failure to produce any viroid-free plants by in vitro culture from such tips suggested that they did contain viroid but at levels too low to detect by either method. Lower temperatures and smaller explants are now being investigated as means of producing viroid-free plants.     

Identification of mariner‐like elements belonging to the cecropia subfamily in two closely related Helicoverpa species

Abstract Mariner transposons are widespread in eukaryote genomes and have been used as transposon vectors in insect transgenesis. We examined two closely related Helicoverpa species, the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera and corn earworm Helicoverpa zea, for the presence of mariner‐like elements (MLEs). Multiple copies of two distinct MLEs, Hamar1 and Hamar2, were isolated in H. armigera, and a MLE showing a high degree of conservation to Hamar1 was detected in H. zea and was named Hzmar1. These MLEs belong to the cecropia subfamily, containing indels in the transposase coding region. Sequence analysis indicated the earlier invasion of Hamar1 and relatively recent activity of Hamar2.     

A survey of the relative abundance of specific groups of cellulose degrading bacteria in anaerobic environments using fluorescence in situ hybridization

AIMS: The utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for detecting uncultured micro-organisms in environmental samples has been shown in numerous habitats. In this study a suite of three FISH probes for cellulolytic bacteria is described and their efficacy is demonstrated by quantifying the relative abundance of the target micro-organisms in a range of industrial biomass samples. METHODS AND RESULTS: The probes were designed from data derived from an artificial landfill leachate reactor study and 16S rRNA gene databases. The original biomass sample proved to be well described by the three probes targeting a total of 51% of the bacterial (EUBMIX targeted) cells in quantitative FISH experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Three probes were developed and applied to samples from a range of industrial digesters. The CSTG1244 probe, specific for organisms closely related to Clostridium stercorarium, were observed in the widest range of samples (7 of the 19 samples tested). The CTH216a FISH probe, specific for organisms closely related to Clostridium thermocellum, described the highest proportion of the bacterial population within any one sample (46% in an anaerobically digested sludge sample). Finally, the BCE216a probe, specific for organisms closely related to Bacteroides cellulosolvens, achieved the lowest level of hybridisation of the three probes tested. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates that the three groups of anaerobic cellulolytic micro-organisms were present in different bioreactors but at variable abundances ranging from low (where other organisms would have been responsible for cellulolysis) to high. We showed the potential of using group specific FISH probes and quantitative FISH in environmental studies. The utility of using newly designed FISH probes was demonstrated by their ability to detect and quantify the target bacterial groups in samples from a range of industrial wastewater digesters.     

Localization of the anti‐cancer peptide EGFR‐lytic hybrid peptide in human pancreatic cancer BxPC‐3 cells by immunocytochemistry

Cationic lytic‐type peptides have been studied for clinical application in various infections and cancers, but their functional cellular mechanisms remain unclear. We generated anti‐cancer epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐lytic hybrid peptide, a 32‐amino‐acid peptide composed of an EGFR‐binding sequence and lytic sequence. In this study, we investigated the distribution of EGFR‐lytic hybrid peptide in BxPC‐3 human pancreatic cancer cells by an immunocytochemical (ICC) method. Distribution of EGFR protein expression was unchanged after treatment with EGFR‐lytic peptide compared with non‐treated cells. In confocal laser scanning microscopy, immunostaining of EGFR‐lytic peptide was observed in the cytoplasm, mostly in the form of granules. Some staining was also localized on the mitochondrial membrane. At the ultrastructure level, cells treated with EGFR‐lytic peptide had a low electron density, disappearance of microvilli, and swollen mitochondria. Fragments of cell membrane were also observed in the proximity of the membrane. In immunoelectron microscopy, EGFR‐lytic peptide was observed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm. A number of granules were considered swollen mitochondria. Activation of the caspase pathway as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction was also examined to determine the cytotoxic activity of EGFR‐lytic peptide; however, no effect on cell death after EGFR‐lytic treatment was observed, and moreover, apoptosis was not found to play a critical role in the cell death mechanism. These results suggest that EGFR‐lytic peptide is localized on cell and mitochondrial membranes, with disintegration of the cell membrane contributing mainly to cell death. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular cloning and characterisation of two calmodulin isoforms of the Madagascar periwinkle Catharanthus roseus

Involvement of Ca(2+) signalling in regulation of the biosynthesis of monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIA) in Catharanthus roseus has been extensively studied in recent years, albeit no protein of this signalling pathway has been isolated. Using a PCR strategy, two C. roseus cDNAs encoding distinct calmodulin (CAM) isoforms were cloned and named CAM1 and CAM2. The deduced 149 amino acid sequences possess four Ca(2+) binding domains and exhibit a close identity with Arabidopsis CAM isoforms (>91%). The ability of CAM1 and CAM2 to bind Ca(2+) was demonstrated following expression of the corresponding recombinant proteins. Furthermore, transient expression of CAM1-GFP and CAM2-GFP in C. roseus cells showed a typical nucleo-cytoplasm localisation of both CAMs, in agreement with the wide distribution of CAM target proteins. Using RNA blot analysis, we showed that CAM1 and CAM2 genes had a broad pattern of expression in C. roseus organs and are constitutively expressed during a C. roseus cell culture cycle, with a slight inhibitory effect of auxin for CAM1. Using RNA in situ hybridisation, we also detected CAM1 and CAM2 mRNA in the vascular bundle region of young seedling cotyledons. Finally, using specific inhibitors, we also showed that CAMs are required for MIA biosynthesis in C. roseus cells by acting on regulation of expression of genes encoding enzymes that catalyse early steps of MIA biosynthesis, such as 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase and geraniol 10-hydroxylase.