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.     

桔小实蝇肽聚糖识别蛋白基因BdPGRP-SB1的克隆及功能鉴定

【目的】为探究肽聚糖识别蛋白(PGRP)基因BdPGRP-SB1在桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis免疫中的作用。【方法】本研究利用PCR克隆桔小实蝇BdPGRP-SB1全长cDNA序列;利用生物信息学软件对该基因核苷酸序列及其编码的氨基酸序列特征进行分析。采用RT-qPCR分析BdPGRP-SB1在桔小实蝇不同发育阶段(卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫)及5日龄成虫不同组织(中肠、马氏管、后肠、脂肪体、卵巢和精巢)中的表达模式;对桔小实蝇5日龄雌成虫分别注射大肠杆菌Escherichia coli 0111:B4肽聚糖(PGN-EB)和金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus肽聚糖(PGN-SA)后检测BdPGRP-SB1表达水平变化。利用RNAi沉默BdPGRP-SB1的表达,测定大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌诱导后桔小实蝇雌成虫的死亡率及大肠杆菌诱导后抗菌肽(AMP)基因attacin-A, defensin和diptercin表达变化情况。【结果】克隆获得桔小实蝇BdPGRP-SB1的全长cDNA序列(GenBank登录号: MN892482),开放阅读框长558 bp,编码185个氨基酸,其编码蛋白预测分子量为21.45 kD,等电点为8.57。序列分析表明,BdPGRP-SB1无跨膜结构域,具有PGRP保守结构域,前端具有信号肽,为分泌型蛋白;具有Zn²⁺依赖性酰胺酶活性和DAP型肽聚糖识别位点。系统进化分析发现,BdPGRP-SB1与辣椒实蝇B. latifrons的PGRP-SB1亲缘关系最近,氨基酸序列一致性达96%。发育表达模式表明,BdPGRP-SB1在桔小实蝇3日龄幼虫和成虫期高表达;组织表达谱结果显示BdPGRP-SB1在5日龄成虫各组织中均有表达,在脂肪体内表达量最高。PGN-EB和PGN-SA均能诱导桔小实蝇雌成虫体内BdPGRP-SB1表达水平变化。通过RNAi抑制BdPGRP-SB1表达后,注射大肠杆菌导致桔小实蝇雌成虫死亡率显著升高,以及attacin-A, defensin和diptercin表达量显著上调。【结论】结果说明桔小实蝇BdPGRP-SB1参与识别革兰氏阴性细菌,并可能参与桔小实蝇Imd途径调控其免疫反应。     

Expression of the Tribolium castaneum （Coleoptera： Tenebrionidae） hsp83 gene and its relation to oogenesis during ovarian maturation

Heat shock proteins (HSP) can protect organisms and cells from thermal damage. In this study, we cloned the full length cDNA encoding the HSP83 protein (the homologue of HSP90) of Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle). The isolated cDNA contains the full coding sequence, a partial 5′ untranslated region of 55 bp and the complete 3′ untranslated region. We found the hsp83 gene is located on chromosome 5 of the T. castaneum genome. The predicted HSP83 protein sequence has a high similarity (on average 86.77%) with that of other insect species. The expression of the hsp83 gene in the whole body and in the ovary could be induced with heat stress (40°C for 1 h) in newly hatched (within 3 h post emergence) and mature (10 days post emergence) beetles. Under normal conditions, the hsp83 expression in the ovary is about 3-fold higher than in the whole body at both stages. No significant difference in hsp83 expression was observed between the two ovarian developmental stages regardless if the beetles were treated with heat shock or not. The expression of the HSP83 protein in the whole body could also be induced with heat stress in newly hatched and mature beetles. However, in the ovary, HSP83 was only expressed in the follicle cells of mature beetles and not in newly hatched beetles, regardless if the beetles were treated with heat shock or not. Furthermore, the females were not able to produce mature oocytes after knock-down of the hsp83 expression by injecting dsRNA. These results suggest that the HSP83 protein is involved in protection against heat stress and could be involved in oogenesis during ovarian maturation of T. castaneum.     

The miRNA machinery targets Mei‐P26 and regulates Myc protein levels in the Drosophila wing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in cell‐cycle regulation and in some cases shown to have a role in tissue growth control. Depletion of miRNAs was found to have an effect on tissue growth rates in the wing primordium of Drosophila, a highly proliferative epithelium. Dicer‐1 (Dcr‐1) is a double‐stranded RNAseIII essential for miRNA biogenesis. Adult cells lacking dcr‐1, or with reduced dcr‐1 activity, were smaller than normal cells and gave rise to smaller wings. dcr‐1 mutant cells showed evidence of being susceptible to competition by faster growing cells in vivo and the miRNA machinery was shown to promote G₁–S transition. We present evidence that Dcr‐1 acts by regulating the TRIM‐NHL protein Mei‐P26, which in turn regulates dMyc protein levels. Mei‐P26 is a direct target of miRNAs, including the growth‐promoting bantam miRNA. Thus, regulation of tissue growth by the miRNA pathway involves a double repression mechanism to control dMyc protein levels in a highly proliferative and growing epithelium.     

MicroRNA signatures predict dysregulated vitamin D receptor and calcium pathways status in limb girdle muscle dystrophies (LGMD) 2A/2B

miRNA expression profile and predicted pathways involved in selected limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD)2A/2B patients were investigated. A total of 187 miRNAs were dysregulated in all patients, with six miRNAs showing opposite regulation in LGMD2A versus LGMD2B patients. Silico analysis evidence: (1) a cluster of the dysregulated miRNAs resulted primarily involved in inflammation and calcium metabolism, and (2) two genes predicted as controlled by calcium‐assigned miRNAs (Vitamin D Receptor gene and Guanine Nucleotide Binding protein beta polypeptide 1gene) showed an evident upregulation in LGMD2B patients, in accordance with miRNA levels. Our data support alterations in calcium pathway status in LGMD 2A/B, suggesting myofibre calcium imbalance as a potential therapeutic target. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

棉铃虫c-Jun氨基末端激酶基因的克隆、表达谱及对UV-A胁迫的响应

【目的】本研究旨在克隆棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera c-Jun氨基末端激酶(c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK)基因,并对其进行序列和表达模式分析,探讨该基因在棉铃虫生长发育及响应UV胁迫方面的作用。【方法】利用RT-PCR与RACE技术克隆棉铃虫JNK基因,并利用生物信息学方法对其编码的氨基酸序列进行分析;采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测其在棉铃虫不同发育阶段(卵、1-6龄幼虫、蛹、雌雄成虫)、成虫不同组织(去除触角和复眼的头、胸、腹、触角、复眼、足、翅、中肠、卵巢)中及雌成虫在UV-A照射不同时间(0, 30, 60, 90, 120和150 min)下的相对表达量变化。【结果】克隆获得一个棉铃虫JNK基因并命名为HaJNK(GenBank登录号:MH719009),其cDNA序列全长为2 431 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长1 191 bp,编码396个氨基酸,编码蛋白质的相对分子量为45.01 kD,等电点为6.35,无跨膜结构,无信号肽。系统进化分析显示,棉铃虫HaJNK与其他昆虫JNK具有很高的同源性。发育阶段表达分析表明,HaJNK在棉铃虫卵期表达量最高;组织特异性分析显示该基因在成虫复眼、胸部及卵巢部位特异性表达。UV-A照射能诱导棉铃虫雌成虫体内HaJNK的表达,随着照射时间的延长,其表达量呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在照射60 min时表达量达到峰值。【结论】HaJNK在棉铃虫不同龄期、成虫不同组织和UV-A照射不同时间的雌成虫中差异表达,提示其在响应UV-A胁迫的分子机制中具有重要意义。     

番茄潜叶蛾卵黄原蛋白受体基因TaVgR在生殖发育调控中的作用

【目的】本研究旨在明确卵黄原蛋白受体(vitellogenin receptor, VgR)在番茄潜叶蛾Tutaabsoluta生殖发育过程中的功能,为潜叶类害虫的绿色防控提供候选靶标。【方法】基于番茄潜叶蛾转录组数据,采用RT-PCR扩增TaVgR基因cDNA全序列,并进行生物信息分析;通过RT-qPCR分析TaVgR在番茄潜叶蛾不同发育阶段(1-4龄幼虫、1-7日龄雌蛹和雌成虫)和雌成虫不同组织(头、体壁、前肠、中肠、后肠、卵巢、脂肪体和马氏管)中的表达模式;进一步利用RNAi抑制番茄潜叶蛾雌蛹体内TaVgR的表达,并观测沉默TaVgR基因后番茄潜叶蛾卵巢发育及繁殖力的变化。【结果】克隆获得番茄潜叶蛾TaVgRcDNA(GenBank登录号: MZ682118)序列,其开放阅读框序列长5 496 bp,编码1 831个氨基酸,推测的蛋白分子量约为206 kD,等电点为5.17,信号肽包含N-端前18个氨基酸残基,并具有典型LDLR家族蛋白保守功能域。RT-qPCR结果显示,TaVgR转录水平随着番茄潜叶蛾龄期的增加逐渐上升,雌成虫羽化后达到最高水平;TaVgR在番茄潜叶蛾雌成虫的卵巢中表达量最高。TaVgR RNAi对初期雌蛹中TaVgR的表达抑制率为62.04%~72.55%,导致卵黄蛋白在卵巢中的沉积受阻,卵巢管和卵粒长度缩短,成虫10日单雌总产卵量及后代卵孵化率降低,最终引起番茄潜叶蛾繁殖力下降。【结论】TaVgR基因在番茄潜叶蛾雌成虫和卵巢中高表达,且沉默该基因严重阻碍其卵巢发育和降低繁殖力。本研究为开发以VgR基因作为靶标的鳞翅目害虫防治新技术奠定了理论基础。     

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。     

大螟HSC70基因克隆及表达模式分析

【目的】近年来,大螟Sesamia inferens (Walker)对水稻的为害逐渐加重并成为水稻的重要害虫之一。随着全球气候变暖,大螟的分布区域也在逐渐向北延伸。HSP70家族作为分子伴侣参与生物生长发育并对外界刺激产生响应,对生物功能蛋白质的正确折叠及其转运有着重要意义。本研究旨在明确HSP70家族HSC70基因在大螟不同组织、不同发育阶段以及低温胁迫下的表达差异,初步探讨大螟对环境适应的分子机理。【方法】应用RT-PCR及RACE技术从大螟5龄幼虫中克隆得到HSC70基因;进行基因组验证,得到其基因组序列,分析内含子的位置及大小;应用实时定量PCR技术分析大螟HSC70基因的表达模式。【结果】大螟HSC70基因长2 160 bp,命名为Sihsc70（GenBank登录号：KJ639908）,开放阅读框长1 962 bp,编码653个氨基酸,推测分子量为71.6 kDa。其氨基酸序列中含有3个HSP70家族保守序列,在C-末端存在细胞质定位信号,说明大螟HSC70是细胞质热激蛋白家族成员。大螟HSC70基因组序列长度为3 522 bp（GenBank登录号：KJ639909）,含有2个内含子,长度分别为685 bp（位于编码区上游）和803 bp（位于编码区内）。在大螟5龄幼虫的不同组织中Sihsc70表达量差异不显著（P＞0.05）,其中在中肠、后肠和体壁中的表达量较高,在唾腺中的表达量最低;在大螟不同发育阶段中,Sihsc70的表达量在雌成虫最低,较高的3个阶段依次为卵、2龄幼虫和5龄幼虫,分别为雌成虫表达量的6.33,3.21和1.86倍;相对于对照组（27℃）,低温胁迫对大螟5龄幼虫HSC70基因表达的影响差异不显著（P＞0.05）。【结论】结果说明,大螟HSC70基因在不同发育阶段和幼虫不同组织中具有不同的表达水平,而低温胁迫不能诱导该基因大量表达。     

亚洲玉米螟卵黄原蛋白基因的克隆、表达谱及对UV-A胁迫的响应

【目的】本研究克隆亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因,分析其表达模式,旨在探究UV-A胁迫对亚洲玉米螟Vg基因表达及生殖力的影响。【方法】采用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆亚洲玉米螟Vg基因的全长,并用生物信息学方法分析其特征;利用RT-qPCR检测亚洲玉米螟不同发育阶段(卵、1-5龄幼虫、蛹和成虫)、雌成虫不同组织(头、足、表皮、卵巢、中肠和脂肪体)中和雌成虫在UV-A胁迫不同时间(0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5和4 h)下该基因的相对表达量。测定UV-A照射不同时长(0, 1, 2, 3和4 h/d)后亚洲玉米螟成虫的生殖及F_1代发育情况。【结果】克隆获得亚洲玉米螟Vg基因的序列,命名为OfVg(GenBank登录号:MK782978)。该基因全长5 760 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长5 331 bp,编码1 776个氨基酸,蛋白相对分子量为202.10 kD,等电点为9.06。OfVg包含Vg-N, DUF 1943D和VWD 3个功能结构域,无跨膜区结构。系统发育分析表明,OfVg与鳞翅目其他昆虫的Vg的亲缘关系最近。发育表达谱表明,OfVg基因在雌成虫中表达量显著高于其他龄期的表达量,且在雌虫羽化24 h时OfVg表达量最高;组织表达谱表明,OfVg基因在雌成虫脂肪体中特异表达。UV-A照射能诱导雌成虫OfVg的表达,随着照射时间的延长,其表达量先下降再快速上升,在照射3.5 h时其表达量最高,然后骤降;UV-A处理1, 2和3 h/d雌成虫的产卵量显著增加,且F_1代幼虫发育历期显著延长。【结论】OfVg基因在亚洲玉米螟不同发育阶段、雌成虫不同组织中和UV-A照射不同时间的雌成虫中差异表达。本研究为深入研究UV-A胁迫对亚洲玉米螟发育和繁殖的影响奠定了基础。     

Identification and comparative analysis of the ovary and testis microRNAome of mud crab Scylla paramamosain

The role of microRNA (miRNA) in reproductive regulation is attracting increasingly more attention. In this study, we obtained 9,643,114 and 15,498,999 raw reads from the ovary and testis library of important farmed mud crab Scylla paramamosain, respectively. After data mining, a total of 4,096,464 and 11,737,973 mappable small RNA sequences remained for analysis. By mapping to the reference genome and expressed sequence tag (EST) of Daphnia pulex and other crabs, a total of 1,417 miRNAs were identified. On the basis of 1,417 miRNAs, 514 (36.3%) unique miRNAs coexpressed in the gonad of female and male libraries, and 336 (23.7%) and 567 (40%) expressed preferentially in female and male libraries, respectively. Analysis of library sequencing data resulted in the identi?cation of 108 miRNAs (out of 1,417; 7.6%) that showed signi?cant differential expression between the two samples. Of these, 13 miRNAs were expressed only in the testis, two miRNAs were expressed only in the ovary, and 93 miRNAs were coexpressed: 57 (61.3%) were upregulated (ovary/testis) and 36 (38.7%) were downregulated (ovary/testis). To confirm the expression patterns of the predicted miRNAs, we randomly selected 14 candidate miRNAs from 108 differentially expressed miRNAs and performed stem–loop real time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) assays in five ovary developing stages. Five miRNAs showed similar expression patterns in almost every stage as those revealed by identification of differentially expressed genes (IDEG6) analysis. The above five miRNAs were predicted to match the 3′‐untranslated region of the published S. paramamosain gene. Four out of five miRNA had a regulation effect on many genes, especially the genes related to gonadal development.