Systematic Investigation of the Hemolymph Proteome ofManduca sextaat the Fifth Instar Larvae Stage Using One- and Two-Dimensional Proteomics Platforms

Purification and structural characterization of lectin with antibacterial and anticancer properties from grubs of hide beetle, Dermestes frischii

Lectins or haemagglutinins are diverse classes of non-immune proteins; they bind to carbohydrates and are abundant in nature. In the present study, a coleopteran lectin from grubs of hide beetle, Dermestes frischii called DFL, was purified by glutaraldehyde (fixative-agent) fixed hen erythrocytes and characterized further for its functional properties. The purified DFL was stable between pH range 5 to 9 and heat-stable up to 50C. It was insensitive to EDTA and did not require any divalent cations. DFL native molecular mass was approximately 69 kDa with three different polypeptide subunits of 33 (pI ~4.4), 22 (pI ~6) and 14 (pI ~4.4) kDa. Haemagglutinating activity of DFL was highly inhibited by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. DFL partial peptide sequences obtained from peptide mass fingerprinting experiments matched with amino acid sequences of lectins from different organisms confirmed its nature. Biological properties of purified DFL namely antibacterial and bacterial agglutination experiments revealed that DFL have both the effects against laboratory cultures of Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and habitat bacterial isolates of Staphylococcus cohnii and Bacillus cereus. In addition, the DFL exhibited substantial anticancer properties against HeLa cells. These results concluded that purified DFL could serve as a potent therapeutic agent for various biomedical applications.

Proteomics of purified lamellocytes from Drosophila melanogaster HopTum-l identifies new membrane proteins and networks involved in their functions

In healthy Drosophila melanogaster larvae, plasmatocytes and crystal cells account for 95% and 5% of the hemocytes, respectively. A third type of hemocytes, lamellocytes, are rare, but their number increases after oviposition by parasitoid wasps. The lamellocytes form successive layers around the parasitoid egg, leading to its encapsulation and melanization, and finally the death of this intruder. However, the total number of lamellocytes per larva remains quite low even after parasitoid infestation, making direct biochemical studies difficult. Here, we used the Hop^Tum-l mutant strain that constitutively produces large numbers of lamellocytes to set up a purification method and analyzed their major proteins by 2D gel electrophoresis and their plasma membrane surface proteins by 1D SDS-PAGE after affinity purification. Mass spectrometry identified 430 proteins from 2D spots and 344 affinity-purified proteins from 1D bands, for a total of 639 unique proteins. Known lamellocyte markers such as PPO3 and the myospheroid integrin were among the components identified with specific chaperone proteins. Affinity purification detected other integrins, as well as a wide range of integrin-associated proteins involved in the formation and function of cell-cell junctions. Overall, the newly identified proteins indicate that these cells are highly adapted to the encapsulation process (recognition, motility, adhesion, signaling), but may also have several other physiological functions (such as secretion and internalization of vesicles) under different signaling pathways. These results provide the basis for further in vivo and in vitro studies of lamellocytes, including the development of new markers to identify coexisting populations and their respective origins and functions in Drosophila immunity.

Changes in composition and levels of hemolymph proteins during metamorphosis of Manduca sexta

The tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is a lepidopteran model species widely used to study insect biochemical processes. Some of its larval hemolymph proteins are well studied, and a detailed proteomic analysis of larval plasma proteins became available in 2016, revealing features such as correlation with transcriptome data, formation of immune complexes, and constitution of an immune signaling system in hemolymph. It is unclear how the composition of these proteins may change in other developmental stages. In this paper, we report the proteomes of cell-free hemolymph from prepupae, pupae on day 4 and day 13, and young adults. Of the 1824 proteins identified, 907 have a signal peptide and 410 are related to immunity. Drastic changes in abundance of the storage proteins, lipophorins and vitellogenin, for instance, reflect physiological differences among prepupae, pupae, and adults. Considerably more proteins lacking signal peptide are present in the late pupae, suggesting that plasma contains relatively low concentrations of intracellular components released from remodeling tissues during metamorphosis. The defense proteins detected include 43 serine proteases and 11 serine protease homologs. Some of these proteins are members of the extracellular immune signaling network found in feeding larvae, and others may play additional roles and hence confer new features in the later life stages. In summary, the proteins and their levels revealed in this study, together with their transcriptome data, are expected to stimulate focused explorations of humoral immunity and other physiological systems in wandering larvae, pupae, and adults of M. sexta and shed light upon functional and comparative genomic research in other holometabolous insects.

Developmental and sexual divergence in the olfactory system of the marine insect Clunio marinus

An animal's fitness strongly depends on successful feeding, avoidance of predators and reproduction. All of these behaviours commonly involve chemosensation. As a consequence, when species' ecological niches and life histories differ, their chemosensory abilities need to be adapted accordingly. The intertidal insect Clunio marinus (Diptera: Chironomidae) has tuned its olfactory system to two highly divergent niches. The long-lived larvae forage in a marine environment. During the few hours of terrestrial adult life, males have to find the female pupae floating on the water surface, free the cryptic females from their pupal skin, copulate and carry the females to the oviposition sites. In order to explore the possibility for divergent olfactory adaptations within the same species, we investigated the chemosensory system of C. marinus larvae, adult males and adult females at the morphological and molecular level. The larvae have a well-developed olfactory system, but olfactory gene expression only partially overlaps with that of adults, likely reflecting their marine vs. terrestrial lifestyles. The olfactory system of the short-lived adults is simple, displaying no glomeruli in the antennal lobes. There is strong sexual dimorphism, the female olfactory system being particularly reduced in terms of number of antennal annuli and sensilla, olfactory brain centre size and gene expression. We found hints for a pheromone detection system in males, including large trichoid sensilla and expression of specific olfactory receptors and odorant binding proteins. Taken together, this makes C. marinus an excellent model to study within-species evolution and adaptation of chemosensory systems.

Mating precedes selective immune priming which is maintained throughout bumblebee queen diapause

Background

Understanding the mechanisms by which organisms adapt to unfavourable conditions is a fundamental question in ecology and evolutionary biology. One such mechanism is diapause, a period of dormancy typically found in nematodes, fish, crustaceans and insects. This state is a key life-history event characterised by arrested development, suppressed metabolism and increased stress tolerance and allows an organism to avoid prolonged periods of harsh and inhospitable environmental conditions. For some species, diapause is preceded by mating which can have a profound effect on female behaviour, physiology and key biological processes, including immunity. However, our understanding of how mating impacts long-term immunity and whether these effects persist throughout diapause is currently limited. To address this, we explored molecular changes in the haemolymph of the ecologically important pollinator, the buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris. B. terrestris queens mate prior to entering diapause, a non-feeding period of arrested development that can last 6–9 months. Using mass-spectrometry-based proteomics, we quantified changes in the pre-diapause queen haemolymph after mating, as well as the subsequent protein expression of mated queens during and post-diapause.

Results

Our analysis identified distinct proteome profiles associated with diapause preparation, maintenance and termination. More specifically, mating pre-diapause was followed by an increase in the abundance of antimicrobial peptides, key effectors of the immune system. Furthermore, we identified the elevated abundance of these proteins to be maintained throughout diapause. This finding was in contrast to the general reduction observed in immune proteins during diapause suggestive of selective immune priming and expression during diapause. Diapause also affected the expression of proteins involved in cuticular maintenance, olfaction, as well as proteins of unknown function, which may have roles in diapause regulation.

Conclusions

Our results provide clear molecular evidence for the consequences and benefits of mating at the immune level as it precedes the selective increased abundance of antimicrobial peptides that are sustained throughout diapause. In addition, our results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms by which bumblebees prepare for, survive, and recover from diapause, insights that may have implications for our general understanding of these processes in other insect groups.

CpxR negatively regulates the production of xenocoumacin 1, a dihydroisocoumarin derivative produced by Xenorhabdus nematophila

Xenocoumacin 1 (Xcn1), a major antimicrobial compound produced by Xenorhabdus nematophila, has great potential for use in agricultural productions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of CpxR, a global response regulator associated with the mutualism and pathogenesis of X. nematophila, on the antimicrobial activity and Xcn1 production. The mutation of cpxR could promote the production of Xcn1 significantly with its level in ΔcpxR mutant being 3.07 times higher than that in the wild type. Additionally, the expression levels of xcnA‐L genes, which are responsible for the production of Xcn1, were increased in ΔcpxR mutant while the expression levels of xcnMN, which are required for the conversion of Xcn1 into Xcn2 was reduced. Noticeably, Xcn2 was also enhanced on account of the conversion of excessive Xcn1 in spite of low expression levels of xcnM and xcnN in ΔcpxR mutant. The transcriptional levels of ompR and lrp, encoding the global response regulators OmpR and Lrp which negatively and positively regulate the production of Xcn1 were concurrently decreased and increased, respectively. Correspondingly, ΔcpxR mutant also exhibited increased antimicrobial activities in vitro and in vivo. Together, these findings suggest that CpxR negatively regulates xcnA‐L genes expression while positively regulating xcnMN expression in X. nematophila YL001, which led to a high yield of Xcn1 in ΔcpxR mutant.

Protein regulation and Apoptotic induction in human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) through lectin from G. beauts

Lectins are proteins that show a variety of biological activities. Nevertheless, information on lectin from Gluttonous beauts and their anticancer activities are very limited. In this study, we purified a lectin from hemolymph of G. beauts and identified its molecular weight to be 66kDa. The effect of lectin at different concentrations (μg/mL) on the cell growth and apoptosis were evaluated against MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells, whereas cytotoxicity to the MCF-7 cells mediated by lectin was observed and the mechanism of action of the lectin in including apoptosis in cancer cells via the intrinsic pathway was also proposed. The MCF-7 cells were employed for in vitro studies on cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis and apoptotic DNA fragmentation. In MCF-10A cells lectin did not show any adverse effect even at higher concentration. Cell cycle analysis also showed a significant cell cycle arrest on selected cells after lectin treatment. Western blotting suggested that lectin up regulates the apoptotic protein expression in MCF-7 cells while it down regulates the level of Bcl-2 expression.

Changes in the Plasma Proteome of Manduca sexta Larvae in Relation to the Transcriptome Variations after an Immune Challenge: Evidence for High Molecular Weight Immune Complex Formation

Manduca sextais a lepidopteran model widely used to study insect physiological processes, including innate immunity. In this study, we explored the proteomes of cell-free hemolymph from larvae injected with a sterile buffer (C for control) or a mixture of bacteria (I for induced). Of the 654 proteins identified, 70 showed 1.67 to >200-fold abundance increases after the immune challenge; 51 decreased to 0-60% of the control levels. While there was no strong parallel between plasma protein levels and their transcript levels in hemocytes or fat body, the mRNA level changes (i.e.I/C ratios of normalized read numbers) in the tissues concurred with their protein level changes (i.e.I/C ratios of normalized spectral counts) with correlation coefficients of 0.44 and 0.57, respectively. Better correlations support that fat body contributes a more significant portion of the plasma proteins involved in various aspects of innate immunity. Consistently, ratios of mRNA and protein levels were better correlated for immunity-related proteins than unrelated ones. There is a set of proteins whose apparent molecular masses differ considerably from the calculatedMr's, suggestive of posttranslational modifications. In addition, some lowMrproteins were detected in the range of 80 to >300 kDa on a reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel, indicating the existence of highMrcovalent complexes. We identified 30 serine proteases and their homologs, 11 of which are known members of an extracellular immune signaling network. Along with our quantitative transcriptome data, the protein identification, inducibility, and association provide leads toward a focused exploration of humoral immunity inM. sexta.

PROTEOMICS ANALYSIS OF OVEREXPRESSED PLASMA PROTEINS IN RESPONSE TO COLD ACCLIMATION IN Ostrinia furnacalis

Many insects in temperate regions overwinter in diapause. In these insects, one of the metabolic adaptations to cold stress is the synthesis of responsive proteins. Using proteomic analysis, an investigation aimed to a better understanding of the molecular adaptation mechanisms to cold stress was carried out in Ostrinia furnacalis larva. Proteins were extracted from the larval hemolymph collected from both control and overwintering larva. By polyethylene glycol precipitation, approximately 560 protein spots were separated and visualized on two-dimensional (2D) gels after silver staining. Eighteen protein spots were found to be upregulated in overwinter larval plasma in different patterns. As an initial work, 13 of these proteins were identified using MALDI TOF/TOF MS. The differentially overexpressed proteins include heat shock 70 kDa cognate protein, small heat shock protein (sHSP), putative aliphatic nitrilase, arginine kinase, phosphoglyceromutase, triosephosphateisomerase, and glutathione transferase. Alterations in the levels of these proteins were further confirmed by qPCR. This study is the first analysis of differentially expressed plasma proteins in O. furnacalis diapause larvae under extremely low temperature conditions and gives new insights into the acclimation mechanisms responsive to cold stress. Our results also support the idea that energy metabolism, alanine and proline metabolism, and antioxidative reaction act in the cold acclimation of O. furnacalis diapause larvae.

Larval Helicoverpa zea Transcriptional, Growth and Behavioral Responses to Nicotine and Nicotiana tabacum

The polyphagous feeding habits of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), underscore its status as a major agricultural pest with a wide geographic distribution and host plant repertoire. To study the transcriptomic response to toxins in diet, we conducted a microarray analysis of H. zea caterpillars feeding on artificial diet, diet laced with nicotine and Nicotiana tabacum (L.) plants. We supplemented our analysis with growth and aversion bioassays. The transcriptome reflects an abundant expression of proteases, chitin, cytochrome P450 and immune-related genes, many of which are shared between the two experimental treatments. However, the tobacco treatment tended to elicit stronger transcriptional responses than nicotine-laced diet. The salivary factor glucose oxidase, known to suppress nicotine induction in the plant, was upregulated by H. zea in response to tobacco but not to nicotine-laced diet. Reduced caterpillar growth rates accompanied the broad regulation of genes associated with growth, such as juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase. The differential expression of chemosensory proteins, such as odorant binding-protein-2 precursor, as well as the neurotransmitter nicotinic-acetylcholine-receptor subunit 9, highlights candidate genes regulating aversive behavior towards nicotine. We suggest that an observed coincidental rise in cannibalistic behavior and regulation of proteases and protease inhibitors in H. zea larvae signify a compensatory response to induced plant defenses.

Semi-quantitative analysis of changes in the plasma peptidome of Manduca sexta larvae and their correlation with the transcriptome variations upon immune challenge

The tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, has been used as a biochemical model for studying insect physiological processes. While the transcriptomes of its fat body, hemocytes, midgut, and antennae have been examined in several studies, limited information is available for proteins in tissues, cells, or body fluids of this insect. In keeping pace with the M. sexta genome project, we launched a pilot study to identify differences in the peptidome of cell-free hemolymph samples from larvae injected with buffer or a mixture of bacteria. At 24 h after injection, plasma was collected and treated with 50% acetonitrile to precipitate large proteins. The supernatants, containing peptides (<25 kDa) and other stable proteins (>25 kDa), were digested with trypsin and analyzed by nano-liquid chromatography and nano-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) on an LTQ Orbitrap XL mass spectrometer. Known M. sexta cDNA sequences and gene transcripts from the draft genome were translated in silico to generate a database of polypeptides (i.e. peptides and proteins) in this species. By searching the database, we identified 268 hemolymph polypeptides, 50 of which showed 1.67-200 fold abundance increases after the immune challenge, as judged by significant changes in normalized spectral counts between the control and induced plasma. These included a total of 33 antimicrobial peptides (attacins, cecropins, defensins, diapausins, gallerimycin, gloverin, lebocins, lysozymes), pattern recognition receptors, and proteinase inhibitors. Although there was no strong parallel (correlation coefficients: -0.13, 0.11, 0.39 and 0.62) between plasma peptide levels and their transcript levels in control or induced hemocytes or fat body, we observed the mRNA level changes in hemocytes and fat body concurred with their peptide level changes with correlation coefficients of 0.67 and 0.76, respectively. These data suggest that fat body contributed a significant portion of the plasma polypeptides involved in various aspects of innate immunity after the bacterial injection.

The hemolymph proteome of fed and starved Drosophila larvae

The co-operation of specialized organ systems in complex multicellular organisms depends on effective chemical communication. Thus, body fluids (like blood, lymph or intraspinal fluid) contain myriads of signaling mediators apart from metabolites. Moreover, these fluids are also of crucial importance for immune and wound responses. Compositional analyses of human body fluids are therefore of paramount diagnostic importance. Further improving their comprehensiveness should increase our understanding of inter-organ communication. In arthropods, which have trachea for gas exchange and an open circulatory system, the single dominating interstitial fluid is the hemolymph. Accordingly, a detailed analysis of hemolymph composition should provide an especially comprehensive picture of chemical communication and defense in animals. Therefore we used an extensive protein fractionation workflow in combination with a discovery-driven proteomic approach to map out the detectable protein composition of hemolymph isolated from Drosophila larvae. Combined mass spectrometric analysis revealed more than 700 proteins extending far beyond the previously known Drosophila hemolymph proteome. Moreover, by comparing hemolymph isolated from either fed or starved larvae, we provide initial provisional insights concerning compositional changes in response to nutritional state. Storage proteins in particular were observed to be strongly reduced by starvation. Our hemolymph proteome catalog provides a rich basis for data mining, as exemplified by our identification of potential novel cytokines, as well as for future quantitative analyses by targeted proteomics.

Chemosensory proteins, major salivary factors in caterpillar mandibular glands

Research in the field of insect-host plant interactions has indicated that constituents of insect saliva play an important role in digestion and affect host chemical defense responses. However, most efforts have focused on studying the composition and function of regurgitant or saliva produced in the labial glands. Acknowledging the need for understanding the role of the mandibular glands in herbivory, we sought to make a qualitative and semi-quantitative comparison of soluble luminal protein fractions between mandibular and labial glands of Vanessa gonerilla butterfly larvae. Amylase and lysozyme were inspected as possible major enzymatic activities in the mandibular glands aiding in pre-digestion and antimicrobial defense. Although detected, neither of these enzymatic activities was prominent in the luminal protein preparation of a particular type of gland. Proteins isolated from the glands were identified by mass spectrometry and by searching an EST-library database generated for four other nymphalid butterfly species, in addition to the public NCBI database. The identified proteins were also quantified from the data using "Quanty", an in-house program. The proteomic analysis detected chemosensory proteins as the most abundant luminal proteins in the mandibular glands. In comparison to these proteins, the relative amounts of amylase and lysozyme were much lower in both gland types. Therefore, we speculate that the primary role of the mandibular glands in Lepidopteran larvae is chemoreception which may include the detection of microorganisms on plant surfaces, host plant recognition and communication with conspecifics.

Comparative analysis of hemolymph proteome maps in diapausing and non-diapausing larvae of Sesamia nonagrioides

Background

Sesamia nonagrioides is a noctuid that feeds on maize, sugar cane and sorghum in North Africa and Southern Europe. Larvae reared under long day conditions pupate after 5 or 6 larval instars, whereas larvae reared under short day conditions enter diapause and undergo up to 12 molts before dying or pupating. To better understand the mechanism of larval development and diapause, we identified proteins with different expressions in the sixth instar of diapausing and non-diapausing larvae.

Results

A total of 52 differentially regulated proteins were detected in the hemolymph of the diapausing or non-diapausing larvae at the beginning or end of the sixth instar. From these proteins, 11 were identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS or MALDI-TOF/TOF MS/MS): 5 were upregulated in the hemolymph of non-diapausing larvae and 6 in the hemolymph of the diapausing larvae. Interestingly, some proteins were expressed only in non-diapausing larvae but none was expressed only in the hemolymph of diapausing larvae. The possible functions of some of these proteins related to diapause maintenance or to larval-pupal metamorphosis are discussed.

Conclusions

The 2-DE proteomic map of S. nonagrioides hemolymph shows differential protein expression in diapausing and non-diapausing larvae. Some proteins that showed higher expression in the diapausing larvae at the end of the sixth instar could be involved in JH level maintenance thus in the diapause status maintenance. On the contrary, other proteins that showed the highest expression or that were expressed only in the non-diapausing larvae could be involved in larval-pupal metamorphosis.

Comparative analysis of proteome maps of silkworm hemolymph during different developmental stages

Background

The silkworm Bombyx mori is a lepidopteran insect with four developmental stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. The hemolymph of the silkworm is in an open system that circulates among all organs, and functions in nutrient and hormone transport, injury, and immunity. To understand the intricate developmental mechanisms of metamorphosis, silkworm hemolymph from different developmental stages, including the 3^rd day of fifth instar, the 6^th day of fifth instar, the 3^rd day of pupation, the 8^th day of pupal stage and the first day of the moth stage, was investigated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

Results

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that from the larval to moth stages, silkworm hemolymph proteins changed markedly. Not only did major proteins such as SP1, SP2, and the 30 K lipoprotein change, but other proteins varied greatly at different stages. To understand the functions of these proteins in silkworm development, 56 spots were excised from gels for analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). We identified 34 proteins involved in metamorphosis, programmed cell death, food digestion, metabolism, and nutrient storage and transport. Most proteins showed different expression at different stages, suggesting functions in development and metamorphosis. An abundance of proteins related to immunity were found, including hemolin, prophenoloxidase, serine proteinase-like protein, paralytic peptide-binding protein, and protease inhibitor.

Conclusions

Proteomics research not only provides the opportunity for direct investigation of protein expression patterns, but also identifies many attractive candidates for further study. Two-dimensional maps of hemolymph proteins expressed during the growth and metamorphosis of the silkworm offer important insights into hemolymph function and insect metamorphosis.

Analysis of mutually exclusive alternatively spliced serpin-1 isoforms and identification of serpin-1 proteinase complexes in Manduca sexta hemolymph

Mutually exclusive alternative splicing produces transcripts for 12 serpin-1 isoforms in Manduca sexta that differ only in the region encoding the carboxyl-terminal 36-40-amino acid residues. This variable region includes the reactive center loop, which determines the inhibitory selectivity of the serpin. We investigated mRNA levels of individual serpin-1 isoforms by quantitative PCR. The 12 isoforms were expressed at similar levels in hemocytes, but in fat body isoform B mRNA was present at significantly higher levels than isoforms C, D, E, F, G, J, K, and Z. To investigate the presence of individual serpin-1 isoforms in plasma we used immunoaffinity purification of serpin-1 isoforms from M. sexta plasma, followed by two-dimensional PAGE and identification of protein spots by digestion with a series of proteinases and analysis of the resulting peptides by MALDI-TOF/TOF. We identified nine of the 12 serpin-1 isoforms and, through analysis of putative serpin-1-proteinase complexes, identified three endogenous M. sexta proteinase targets of serpin-1. Our results suggest that M. sexta serpin-1 isoforms A, E, and J can inhibit hemolymph proteinase 8, which activates the cytokine spätzle. At least one isoform of serpin-1 can inhibit hemocyte proteinase 1, another M. sexta blood proteinase. In addition, a complex of serpin-1K in a complex with M. sexta midgut chymotrypsin was identified, suggesting serpin-1 isoforms may also function to protect insect tissues from digestive proteinases that may leak into the hemocoel.

Changes in the proteomes of the hemocytes and fat bodies of the flesh fly Sarcophaga bullata larvae after infection by Escherichia coli

Background

Insects have an efficient self-defense system that is based on innate immunity. Recent findings have disclosed many parallels between human and insect innate immunity, and simultaneously fine differences in the processes between various species have been revealed. Studies on the immune systems of various insect species may uncover the differences in their host defense strategies.

Results

We analyzed the proteomes of the hemocytes and fat bodies of Sarcophaga bullata larvae after infection by Escherichia coli. The 2-DE gels of the hemocytes and fat bodies of infected larvae were compared with those of aseptically injured larvae. Our analysis included the construction of protein maps of the hemocyte cells and cells from fat bodies, the identification of the changed proteins, in response to infection, using LC-MS/MS, and the estimation of the trends in expression of these proteins at three time points (30 min, 6 hours and 22 hours) after infection. In total, seven changed spots were found in the hemocytes, and four changed spots were found in the fat bodies. Three types of trends in protein expression were observed. Cofilin and transgelin were undetectable at 30 min after infection but were continuously up-regulated in the induced larvae after 22 hours. A prophenoloxidase isoform and lectin subunit α were slightly up-regulated at 30 min after infection, and their protein levels reached the highest points after 6 hours but decreased after 22 hours. T-Complex subunit α, GST, ferritin-like protein and an anterior fat body protein (regucalcin homologue) were down-regulated at 22 hours after infection.

Conclusions

Many proteins identified in our study corresponded to the proteins identified in other insects. Compared to the former studies performed in insects, we presented 2-D protein maps of the hemocytes and fat bodies and showed the trends in expression of the immune-elicited proteins.

Extensive conserved synteny of genes between the karyotypes of Manduca sexta and Bombyx mori revealed by BAC-FISH mapping

Background

Genome sequencing projects have been completed for several species representing four highly diverged holometabolous insect orders, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera. The striking evolutionary diversity of insects argues a need for efficient methods to apply genome information from such models to genetically uncharacterized species. Constructing conserved synteny maps plays a crucial role in this task. Here, we demonstrate the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization with bacterial artificial chromosome probes as a powerful tool for physical mapping of genes and comparative genome analysis in Lepidoptera, which have numerous and morphologically uniform holokinetic chromosomes.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We isolated 214 clones containing 159 orthologs of well conserved single-copy genes of a sequenced lepidopteran model, the silkworm, Bombyx mori, from a BAC library of a sphingid with an unexplored genome, the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. We then constructed a BAC-FISH karyotype identifying all 28 chromosomes of M. sexta by mapping 124 loci using the corresponding BAC clones. BAC probes from three M. sexta chromosomes also generated clear signals on the corresponding chromosomes of the convolvulus hawk moth, Agrius convolvuli, which belongs to the same subfamily, Sphinginae, as M. sexta.

Conclusions/Significance

Comparison of the M. sexta BAC physical map with the linkage map and genome sequence of B. mori pointed to extensive conserved synteny including conserved gene order in most chromosomes. Only a few rearrangements, including three inversions, three translocations, and two fission/fusion events were estimated to have occurred after the divergence of Bombycidae and Sphingidae. These results add to accumulating evidence for the stability of lepidopteran genomes. Generating signals on A. convolvuli chromosomes using heterologous M. sexta probes demonstrated that BAC-FISH with orthologous sequences can be used for karyotyping a wide range of related and genetically uncharacterized species, significantly extending the ability to develop synteny maps for comparative and functional genomics.

Proteomic and bioinformatic analysis on endocrine organs of domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori L. for a comprehensive understanding of their roles and relations

Three organs of silkworm larva endocrine system, including brain (Br), subesophageal ganglion (SG) and prothoracic glands (PG), were studied employing shotgun LC-MS/MS combined with bioinformatic analysis to comprehensively understand their roles and relations. Totally, 3430, 2683, and 3395 proteins were identified including 1885 common and 652, 253, and 790 organ-specific ones in Br, SG, and PG, respectively. Identified common-expressed proteins indicated the existence of intrinsic complex interactions among these parts of endocrine system. Most of the reputed organs-specific proteins were identified by this approach. KEGG pathway analysis showed 162 same pathways among the 169, 164, and 171 relating Br, SG, and PG. This analysis revealed functional similarities with exceptional resemblance in their metabolism and signaling pathways of the three organs. On the other hand, 70, 57, and 114 organ-specific enzymes related pathways were detected for Br, SG, and PG confirming their functional differences. These results reveal a cooperative mechanism among the three endocrine organs in regulating various physiological and developmental events, and also suggest that the organ-specific proteins might be the fundamental factors responsible for the functional differentiation of these organs.

CpxRA influences Xenorhabdus nematophila colonization initiation and outgrowth in Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes through regulation of the nil locus

The gammaproteobacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila mutualistically colonizes an intestinal region of a soil-dwelling nematode and is a blood pathogen of insects. The X. nematophila CpxRA two-component regulatory system is necessary for both of these host interactions (E. Herbert et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73:7826-7836, 2007). Mutualistic association of X. nematophila with its nematode host consists of two stages: initiation, where a small number of bacterial cells establish themselves in the colonization site, and outgrowth, where these cells grow to fill the space. In this study, we show that the Cpx system is necessary for both of these stages. X. nematophila DeltacpxR1 colonized fewer nematodes than its wild-type parent and did not achieve as high a density as did the wild type within a portion of the colonized nematodes. To test whether the DeltacpxR1 host interaction phenotypes are due to its overexpression of mrxA, encoding the type I pilin subunit protein, we assessed the colonization phenotype of a DeltacpxR1 DeltamrxA1 double mutant. This mutant displayed the same colonization defect as DeltacpxR1, indicating that CpxR negative regulation of mrxA does not play a detectable role in X. nematophila-host interactions. CpxR positively regulates expression of nilA, nilB, and nilC genes necessary for nematode colonization. Here we show that the nematode colonization defect of the DeltacpxR1 mutant is rescued by elevating nil gene expression through mutation of nilR, a negative regulator of nilA, nilB, and nilC. These data suggest that the nematode colonization defect previously observed in DeltacpxR1 is caused, at least in part, by altered regulation of nilA, nilB, and nilC.

Identification of natural target proteins indicates functions of a serralysin-type metalloprotease, PrtA, in anti-immune mechanisms

Serralysins are generally thought to function as pathogenicity factors of bacteria, but so far no hard evidence of this (e.g., specific substrate proteins that are sensitive to the cleavage by these proteases) has been found. We have looked for substrate proteins to a serralysin-type proteinase, PrtA, in a natural host-pathogen molecular interaction system involving Manduca sexta and Photorhabdus luminescens. The exposure in vitro of hemolymph to PrtA digestion resulted in selective cleavage of 16 proteins, provisionally termed PAT (PrtA target) proteins. We could obtain sequence information for nine of these PrtA sensitive proteins, and by searching databases, we could identify six of them. Each has immune-related function involving every aspect of the immune defense: beta-1,3 glucan recognition protein 2 (immune recognition), hemocyte aggregation inhibitor protein (HAIP), serine proteinase homolog 3, six serpin-1 variants, including serpin-1I (immune signaling and regulation), and scolexins A and B (coagulation cascade effector function). The functions of the identified PrtA substrate proteins shed new light on a possible participation of a serralysin in the virulence mechanism of a pathogen. Provided these proteins are targets of PrtA in vivo, this might represent, among others, a complex suppressive role on the innate immune response via interference with both the recognition and the elimination of the pathogen during the first, infective stage of the host-pathogen interaction. Our results also raise the possibility that the natural substrate proteins of serralysins of vertebrate pathogens might be found among the components of the innate immune system.

Comprehensive royal jelly (RJ) proteomics using one- and two-dimensional proteomics platforms reveals novel RJ proteins and potential phospho/glycoproteins

Royal jelly (RJ) is an exclusive food for queen honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) that is synthesized and secreted by young worker bees. RJ is also widely used in medical products, cosmetics, and as health foods. However, little is known about RJ functionality and the total protein components, although recent research is attempting to unravel the RJ proteome. We have embarked on a detailed investigation of the RJ proteome, using a modified protein extraction protocol and two complementary proteomics approaches, one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1-DGE and 2-DGE) in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry. Simultaneously, we examined total soluble protein from RJ collected at 24, 48, and 72 h after honey bee larvae deposition twice (in two flower blooming seasons), to check differences, if any, in RJ proteome therein. Both 1- and 2-D gels stained with silver nitrate revealed similar protein profiles among these three time points. However, we observed a clear difference in two bands (ca. MW of 55 and 75 kDa) on 1-D gel between the first and the second collection of RJ. A similar difference was also observed in the 2-D gel. Except for this difference, the protein profiles were similar at the 3 time points. As the RJ from 48 (or sometimes 72) is commercially used, we selected the RJ sample at 48 h for detailed analysis with the first collection. 1-DGE identified 90 and 15 proteins from the first and second selection, respectively; in total, 47 nonredundant proteins were identified. 2-DGE identified 105 proteins comprising 14 nonredundant proteins. In total, 52 nonredundant proteins were identified in this study, and other than the major royal jelly protein family and some other previously identified proteins, 42 novel proteins were identified. Furthermore, we also report potentially post-translationally modified (phosphorylation and glycosylation) RJ proteins based on the Pro-Q diamond/emerald phosphoprotein/glycoprotein gel stains; MRJP 2p and 7p were suggested as potential phosphoproteins. The 2-DGE data were integrated to develop a 2-D gel reference map, and all data are accessible through RJ proteomics portal (http://foodfunc.agr.ibaraki.ac.jp/RJP.html).