烟实夜蛾性信息素合成激活肽基因的分子克隆

根据家蚕Bombyx mori和玉米夜蛾Helicoverpa zea的性信息素合成激活肽基因序列,设计若干套引物, 以烟实夜蛾Heliothis assulta基因组DNA为模板进行PCR扩增, 得到0.63 kb的特异性DNA片段。该片段克隆进适当载体,序列测定和同源比较, 查明烟实夜蛾的基因组中存在性信息素合成激活肽基因。烟实夜蛾的性信息素合成激活肽由33个氨基酸组成, C末端是FXPRL结构,是目前发现的第4种昆虫性信息素合成激活肽。在该神经肽第14和第15个氨基酸之间, 插入一个0.42 kb的内含子。 进一步的分析证明了烟实夜蛾的性信息素合成激活肽基因在潜成虫期的食道下神经节中表达。

Molecular cloning of a gene encoding the protein for pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide in Heliothis assulta

Sex pheromone production in lepidopteran insects is regulated by the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), which is produced in suboesophageal ganglion. We first reported the molecular characterization of a gene encoding the Heliothis assulta PBAN ( Has PBAN) by polymerase chain reaction. A 630 bp fragment containning the entire Has PBAN gene was isolated and characterized. Has PBAN gene comprised two exons interspersed by a single intron, and the consensus sequence for splicing junction is identified at the exon/intron boundary. The result showed that PBAN gene is localized in the genome of H.assulta. Further, the gene expression analysis suggests that the PBAN mRNA is present in suboesophageal ganglion.