Molecular characterization and expression of a heat shock protein gene (HSP90) from the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval)

Genomic exploration of retrocopies in Insect pests of plants and their role in the expansion of heat shock proteins superfamily as evolutionary targets

BACKGROUND

Gene duplication is a dominant mechanism for the evolution of genomes and plays a key role in genome expansion. Gene duplication via retroposition produces RNA-mediated intron-less copies called retrocopies, that may gain regulatory sequence and biological function to generate retrogenes. Retrocopies dynamics have been reported in several model insect species, but there is still a huge knowledge gap about retrocopies dynamics in most insects, and their role in adaptation.

RESULTS

In this study, we reported retrocopy dynamics in 40 species of insect pests of plants belonging to six insect orders. We identified a total of 9,930 retrocopies, which is so far the largest set of retrocopies identified in insects. The identified retrocopies were further grouped into 2,599 Retrogenes, 4,578 Chimeras, 1,241 Intact retrocopies, and 1,512 Pseudogene. We also analyzed all the identified retrogenes that were annotated into 506 gene families. The highest number of retrogenes annotated belong to the heat shock proteins superfamily and are present across all the 40 species from the six orders. We found a significant expansion of the heat shock protein superfamily in the studied species. Almost all the retrogenes, including those belonging to heat shock proteins, are under purifying selection. In summary, we report the retrocopies and retrogenes dynamics in a large set of insect pests of plants and the expansion of the heat shock protein family due to retroposition.

CONCLUSION

This study unveils retrocopy dynamics in the insect pests of plants and highlights the evolution of new genes due to retroposition, and their role in important gene families' expansion.

Differential Antioxidant Enzyme Gene Expression and Functional Analysis of Pyridaben-Susceptible and -Resistant Strains of Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) under High Temperature Stress

Tetranychus truncatus (Acari: Tetranychidae) has caused serious economic losses on some crops (soybean, corn, and cotton) in China, and has developed resistance to most acaricides. Our laboratory study found that T. truncatus was resistant to pyridaben and also adapted to high temperature (34-40 °C). High temperature stress may cause arthropods to produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage. Antioxidant enzymes, as the main antioxidants, can reduce the damage caused by excessive ROS in arthropods. In order to study the adaptation mechanism of the pyridaben-resistant strain of T. truncatus to high temperature and the role of antioxidant enzyme genes under high temperature stress, four antioxidant enzyme genes, TtSOD, TtPOD3, TtPOD4, and TtGSTs2, were screened according to the transcriptome sequencing data of pyridaben-susceptible and -resistant strains in T. truncatus. Firstly, the phylogeny and structure analyses of these four genes were carried out. Then, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) technology was used to analyze the gene expression patterns of antioxidant enzymes in two strains of T. truncatus at three different high temperature ranges (34 °C, 38 °C, and 42 °C). The results showed that the expression levels of four antioxidant enzyme genes of two strains of T. truncatus were induced by high temperature stress, and the expression levels of antioxidant enzyme genes were significantly different in each development state. The gene expression of antioxidant enzyme genes in resistant strains at the adult stage was significantly higher than that in susceptible strains. After the TtSOD and TtPOD4 genes of adult mites of the resistant strain were silenced by RNA interference (RNAi) technology, the mortality rate of mites with TtPOD4 gene silencing reached 41.11% after 96 h at 34 °C, which was significantly higher than that of the control and TtSOD gene silencing. It has been confirmed that the TtPOD4 gene plays a key role in the adaptation of pyridaben-resistant strain of T. truncatus to high temperature. It lays a theoretical foundation for revealing the thermal adaptation mechanism of T. truncatus.

Immunostimulation of Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Araneae: Theridiidae) in juvenile and adult stages. Immunity reactions to injury with foreign body and Bacillus subtilis infection

To assess the immune potential of spiders, in the present study juvenile and adult females of Parasteatoda tepidariorum were exposed to Bacillus subtilis infection, injury by a nylon monofilament and a combination of both. The expression level of selected immune-related genes: defensin 1 (PtDEF1), lysozyme 1 (PtLYS1), lysozyme C (PtLYSC), lysozyme M1 (PtLYSM1), autophagy-related protein 101 (PtATG101), dynamin (PtDYN) and heat shock proteins (HSP70) (PtHSPB, PtHSPB2A, PtHSPB2B), production of lysozyme and HSP70 proteins, and hemocytes viability were measured. The obtained results indicated expression of the lysozyme, autophagy-related protein and HSP70 genes in both ontogenetic stages of P. tepidariorum. It has been also shown that the simultaneous action of mechanical and biological factors causes higher level of lysozyme and HSP70, cell apoptosis intensity and lower level of hemocytes viability than in the case of exposure to a single immunostimulant. Moreover, mature females showed stronger early immune responses compared to juveniles.

Identification and expression analysis of heat shock protein family genes of gall fly (Procecidochares utilis) under temperature stress

Heat shock proteins (HSP) are molecular chaperones involved in many normal cellular processes and environmental stresses. At the genome-wide level, there were no reports on the diversity and phylogeny of the heat shock protein family in Procecidochares utilis. In this study, 43 HSPs were identified from the genome of P. utilis, including 12 small heat shock proteins (sHSPs), 23 heat shock protein 40 (DNAJs), 6 heat shock protein 70 (HSP70s), and 2 heat shock protein 90 (HSP90s). The characteristics of these candidates HSP genes were analyzed by BLAST, and then phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the spatiotemporal expression patterns of sHSPs and HSP70s in P. utilis after temperature stress. Results showed that most sHSPs could be induced under heat stress during the adult stage of P. utilis, while a few HSP70s could be induced at the larval stage. This study provides an information framework for the HSP family of P. utilis. Moreover, it lays an important foundation for a better understanding of the role of HSP in the adaptability of P. utilis to various environments.

The potential for using aerated steam to eradicate strawberry mite and two-spotted spider mite on strawberry transplants

In this study, we investigated if a steam treatment program used to produce disease-free strawberry transplants has the potential to also eliminate strawberry mite (Phytonemus pallidus) and two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Crowns of strawberry plants collected in a commercial field, containing young, folded leaves with all life stages of P. pallidus, and strawberry leaf discs on water agar with T. urticae with non-diapausing adult females and eggs from a laboratory rearing, were exposed to warm aerated steam in a steam cabinet in a series of four experimental runs over 2 years. The steam treatments constituted of a 1-h pre-treatment with 37 °C steam followed by a 1-h recovery period at 21-25 °C, and then a main steam treatment at 44 °C for either 2, 4 (both P. pallidus and T. urticae) or 6 h (the more heat tolerant T. urticae only). After steaming, the plant material with P. pallidus or T. urticae were incubated at 21-25 °C until survival was assessed after 1-6 days, depending on the mite species and life-stage. Non-steamed plant material with mites was used as controls. The 4-h treatment killed all P. pallidus eggs, larvae and adults, and the 2-h treatment killed all individuals in all three stages except for one egg in one of the runs. There were no or minor effects of the steam treatments on T. urticae adult and egg survival. Based on these results, the tested steam treatments may be used to eliminate the strawberry mite but not the two-spotted spider mite from strawberry planting material.

Characterization, and Functional Analysis of Hsp70 and Hsp90 Gene Families in Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a destructive mulberry pest, causing great damage to mulberry in China. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved in various signal pathways and regulate lots of physiological processes in insects. The function of Hsps in G. pyloalis, however, has still received less attention. Here, we identified five Hsp genes from G. pyloalis transcriptome dataset including two Hsp70 family genes (GpHsp71.3 and GpHsp74.9) and three Hsp90 family genes (GpHsp82.4, GpHsp89, and GpHsp93.4). Quantitative Real-time PCR validation revealed that all Hsps of G. pyloalis have significant expression in pupal and diapause stage, at which the larvae arrest the development. Expressions of GpHsp71.3 and GpHsp82.4 were increased significantly after thermal treatment at 40°C, and this upregulation depended on heat treatment duration. Furthermore, silencing GpHsp82.4 by RNA interference led to a significant increase in mortality of G. pyloalis larvae under the heat stress compared to the control group. After starvation stress, the expression levels of GpHsp82.4 and GpHsp93.4 were significantly increased. At last, after being parasitized by the parasitoid wasp Aulacocentrum confusum, Hsp70 and Hsp90 genes of G. pyloalis were decreased significantly in the early stage of parasitization and this moderation was affected by time post-parasitization. This study highlights the function of G. pyloalis Hsps in response to environmental stress and provides a perspective for the control of this pest.

Transcriptome analysis reveals gene expression differences in Liriomyza trifolii exposed to combined heat and abamectin exposure

Liriomyza trifolii is an invasive pest of horticultural and vegetable crops that possesses robust competitive advantages that enable it to replace closely-related species. High temperatures often occur concomitantly with insecticide usage during L. trifolii outbreaks. In this study, we compared the transcriptomes of L. trifolii exposed to high temperature (40 °C T40), insecticide (LC50 of technical grade abamectin, I50) and combined high temperature and abamectin exposure (IT5040, I50 followed by T40; and TI4050, T40 followed by I50). RNA-seq generated and revealed 44,633 unigenes with annotation data; these were compared with COG and KEGG databases for functional classification and enrichment analysis. Compared with the I50 treatment, COG classification indicated that 'post-translational modification, protein turnover, chaperones' was enriched in the IT5040 treatment. In the TI4050 treatment, 'carbohydrate transport and metabolism' was the most abundant group. The most enriched KEGG pathways in the TI4050 and IT5040 treatments were 'longevity regulating pathway - multiple species' and 'protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum', respectively. Subsequent annotation and enrichment analyses indicated that stress-related genes such as CYP450s and HSPs were differentially expressed in the I50 vs. TI4050 or I50 vs. IT5040 treatment groups. Three commercial insecticide formulations were also used to further verify the expression of selected differentially-expressed genes. This study will be conductive to consider the temperature effect on insecticide tolerance in L. trifolii, and provides a framework for improving the application efficiency of insecticides in hot weather, which will ultimately reduce the overuse of pesticides.

Evidence of Immune Modulators in the Secretome of the Equine Tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata

Anoplocephala perfoliata is a neglected gastro-intestinal tapeworm, commonly infecting horses worldwide. Molecular investigation of A. perfoliata is hampered by a lack of tools to better understand the host-parasite interface. This interface is likely influenced by parasite derived immune modulators released in the secretome as free proteins or components of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Therefore, adult RNA was sequenced and de novo assembled to generate the first A. perfoliata transcriptome. In addition, excretory secretory products (ESP) from adult A. perfoliata were collected and EVs isolated using size exclusion chromatography, prior to proteomic analysis of the EVs, the EV surface and EV depleted ESP. Transcriptome analysis revealed 454 sequences homologous to known helminth immune modulators including two novel Sigma class GSTs, five α-HSP90s, and three α-enolases with isoforms of all three observed within the proteomic analysis of the secretome. Furthermore, secretome proteomics identified common helminth proteins across each sample with known EV markers, such as annexins and tetraspanins, observed in EV fractions. Importantly, 49 of the 454 putative immune modulators were identified across the secretome proteomics contained within and on the surface of EVs in addition to those identified in free ESP. This work provides the molecular tools for A. perfoliata to reveal key players in the host-parasite interaction within the horse host.

Characteristic and expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90 genes from Tyrophagus putrescentiae and their response to thermal stress

The development of insects is critically affected by temperature, which therefore plays an important role in the control of stored grain pests. Extreme temperature stress conditions lead to biological responses in mites, such as the synthesis of heat shock proteins. Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp) is a pest mite in stored grain that has negative effects on both economy and health. Since T. putrescentiae population dynamics are strongly influenced by temperature, in the present study we have cloned the cDNA of HSP70 and HSP90 (referred to as TpHSP70-1, TpHSP70-2 and TpHSP90) and determined their expression by fluorescence real time quantitative PCR. TpHSP70 and TpHSP90 showed high homology with similar genes in other species and the open reading frames of TpHSP70-1, TpHSP70-2 and TpHSP90 encoded proteins of 665, 661 and 718 amino acid residues, respectively. Under thermal stress, expression of TpHsp70-1 and TpHsp90 was up-regulated at higher temperatures, suggesting their role in the defense against thermal stress.

Stress response and silencing verification of heat shock proteins in Dermatophagoides farinae under temperature stress

Dermatophagoides farinae is a major exogenous allergen. Its ability to tolerate adverse external temperatures makes it responsible for widespread occurrence of allergies. Heat shock protein (HSP), a recognized temperature stress response gene, but its role in D. farinae remained unclear. Here, we performed a comprehensive study. First, we found that 25 °C was the optimal temperature, and all mites died at 48 or -20 °C for 1 h (LT100). Thus, 41 °C (LT15), 43 °C (LT25), 45 °C (LT45), and -10 °C (LT25) were selected as stress temperatures to perform de novo RNA-seq. Then, 17 main genes of the 47 differentially expressed HSP, were detected by qRT-PCR. Temperature and time gradient versus expression magnitude histogram revealed that HSP70, HSP83-1, HSP83-2, and HSP16-1 showed heat stress response only at 41-43 °C, while HSC71 and HSF played a regulatory role under both heat and cold stress, particularly HSF, with strong intensity, long duration, and quick upregulation at recovery for 10-20 min. Finally, gene expression and D. farinae survival rates significantly decreased following RNAi. These findings indicated that HSPs conferred thermo-tolerance or cold-tolerance to D. farinae. In conclusion, this was the first meaningful exploration that confirmed HSP and HSF playing an important role in temperature resistance of D. farinae.

Analysis of Differentially Expressed Transcripts in Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) Exposed to Different Temperature Coefficient Insecticides

The existence of a temperature effect of insecticides frustrated the control of the green plant bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür). Previous studies mostly focused on the application of insecticides, but the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we report a transcriptome profiling of A. lucorum treated by three kinds of temperature coefficient insecticides (TCIs) (positive TCI: imidacloprid, negative TCI: b-cypermethrin and non-effect TCI: phoxim) at 15 °C, 25 °C and 35 °C by using next- and third-generation RNA-Seq methods. A total of 34,739 transcripts were annotated from 277.74 Gb of clean data. There were more up-regulated transcripts than down-regulated transcripts in all three kinds of TCI treatments. Further Venn diagrams indicate the regulatory transcripts and regulatory modes were different at the three temperatures. The responses to imidacloprid involved more detox and stress response transcripts such as cytochrome P450 (CYP450), carboxylesterase (CarE) and catalase (CAT) at 35 °C, which was the case for beta-cypermethrin at 15 °C. UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UGT) and heat shock protein (HSP) transcripts were heavily involved, and thus deserve particular note in the temperature effect of insecticides. This high-confidence transcriptome atlas provides improved gene information for further study on the insecticide temperature effect related physiological and biochemical processes of A. lucorum.

Screening of reference genes and quantitative real-time PCR detection and verification in Dermatophagoides farinae under temperature stress

Dermatophagoides farinae is an important source of indoor allergens that shows strong tolerance to external temperatures. However, the regularity and mechanism of tolerance are still unclear. Based on our previous RNA-seq and annotation of D. farinae under temperature stress, it is planned to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the temperature stress response by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). However, the lack of reference genes directly limited the detection and confirmation of DEGs. Accordingly, in this study, we have selected six candidates as reference genes in D. farinae: 60S RP L11, 60S RP L21, α tubulin, GAPDH, Der f Mal f 6, and calreticulin, and evaluated their expression stabilities as affected by heat and cold stresses, using geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, comparative ΔCt and RefFinder methods. Then the expression level of 15 DEGs were detected and verified. geNorm analysis showed that α tubulin and calreticulin were the most stable reference genes under heat stress and cold stress of D. farinae. Similar evaluation results were obtained by NormFinder and BestKeeper, in which 60S RP L21 and α tubulin were the most stable reference genes. By comparative ΔCt method and a comprehensive evaluation of RefFinder, α tubulin was identified as the most ideal reference gene of D. farinae under heat and cold stresses. Furthermore, qRT-PCR detection results of 15 DEGs were almost identical to the RNA-seq results, indicating that α tubulin is stable as a reference gene. This study provided technical support for DEGs expression studies in D. farinae using qRT-PCR.

HSP superfamily of genes in the malaria vector Anopheles sinensis: diversity, phylogenetics and association with pyrethroid resistance

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that are involved in many normal cellular processes and various kinds of environmental stress. There is still no report regarding the diversity and phylogenetics research of HSP superfamily of genes at whole genome level in insects, and the HSP gene association with pyrethroid resistance is also not well known. The present study investigated the diversity, classification, scaffold location, characteristics, and phylogenetics of the superfamily of genes in Anopheles sinensis genome, and the HSP genes associated with pyrethroid resistance.

METHODS

The present study identified the HSP genes in the An. sinensis genome, analysed their characteristics, and deduced phylogenetic relationships of all HSPs in An. sinensis, Anopheles gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti by bioinformatic methods. Importantly, the present study screened the HSPs associated with pyrethroid resistance using three field pyrethroid-resistant populations with RNA-seq and RT-qPCR, and looked over the HSP gene expression pattern for the first time in An. sinensis on the time-scale post insecticide treatment with RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

There are 72 HSP genes in An. sinensis genome, and they are classified into five families and 11 subfamilies based on their molecular weight, homology and phylogenetics. Both RNA-seq and qPCR analysis revealed that the expression of AsHSP90AB, AsHSP70-2 and AsHSP21.7 are significantly upregulated in at least one field pyrethroid-resistant population. Eleven genes are significantly upregulated in different period after pyrethroid exposure. The HSP90, sHSP and HSP70 families are proposed to be involved in pyrethroid stress response based in expression analyses of three field pyrethroid-resistant populations, and expression pattern on the time scale post insecticide treatment. The AsHSP90AB gene is proposed to be the essential HSP gene for pyrethroid stress response in An. sinensis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the information frame for HSP superfamily of genes, and lays an important basis for the better understanding and further research of HSP function in insect adaptability to diverse environments.

Intraspecific variation among Tetranychid mites for ability to detoxify and to induce plant defenses

Two genotypes coexist among Kanzawa spider mites, one of which causes red scars and the other of which causes white scars on leaves, and they elicit different defense responses in host plants. Based on RNA-Seq analysis, we revealed here that the expression levels of genes involved in the detoxification system were higher in Red strains than White strains. The corresponding enzyme activities as well as performances for acaricide resistance and host adaptation toward Laminaceae were also higher in Red strains than White strains, indicating that Red strains were superior in trait(s) of the detox system. In subsequent generations of strains that had survived exposure to fenpyroximate, both strains showed similar resistance to this acaricide, as well as similar detoxification activities. The endogenous levels of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid were increased similarly in bean leaves damaged by original Red strains and their subsequent generations that inherited high detox activity. Jasmonic acid levels were increased in leaves damaged by original White strains, but not by their subsequent generations that inherited high detox activity. Together, these data suggest the existence of intraspecific variation - at least within White strains - with respect to their capacity to withstand acaricides and host plant defenses.

Characterization of Multiple Heat-Shock Protein Transcripts from Cydia pomonella: Their Response to Extreme Temperature and Insecticide Exposure

The economically important fruit pest Cydia pomonella (L.) exhibits a strong adaptability and stress tolerance to environmental stresses. Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) play key roles in insects in coping with environmental stresses. However, little is known about the spatiotemporal expression patterns of HSPs and their response to stresses in C. pomonella. In this study, a thermal treatment-recovery test was performed, and the expression profiles of a novel isolated HSP, named CpHSP40, and six CpHSPs were determined. Third-instar larvae were able to recover from cold shock (0 °C) and heat shock (40 °C). Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells harboring recombinant pET-28a (+)-CpHSP40 plasmid showed significant temperature tolerance. CpHSPs were developmentally and tissue-specifically expressed. The responses of CpHSPs to 0 and 40 °C (with or without recovery) and insecticide exposure were varied. All of these indicated that the expression of HSPs plays a role in the development and in environmental adaptation in C. pomonella.

Identification of heat shock cognate protein 70 gene (Alhsc70) of Apolygus lucorum and its expression in response to different temperature and pesticide stresses

Heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) is a very important stress-resistance protein of insects against environmental stresses. We employed fluorescent real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western-blot techniques to analyze the transcriptional and translational expression profiles of AlHSC70 under extreme temperature (4°C and 40°C) or 4 pesticide stresses in Apolygus lucorum. The results showed that the expression of AlHSC70 were significantly induced by cyhalothrin or extremely high temperature (40°C) in both transcriptional and translational levels (P < 0.05), while the transcriptional and translational level of AlHSC70 decreased significantly in treatments of chlorpyrifos or extreme cold temperature (4°C) (P < 0.05). Moreover, after Apolygus lucorum treated by imidacloprid or emamectin benzoate, the expression of AlHSC70 was only up-regulated significantly at the transcriptional level (P < 0.05), although obviously up-regulated at the translational level of AlHSC70. Therefore, this study confirmed that the Alhsc70 gene played important roles in response to both temperature and pesticide stresses, especially for cyhalothrin or extremely high temperature (40°C). In addition, the significant polynomial regression correlations between temperature and the Alhsc70 expression level were shown in all the nymph and adult stages (P < 0.01), indicating temperature was an important factor to affect the relative expression of Alhsc70.

Detoxification mechanisms of honey bees (Apis mellifera) resulting in tolerance of dietary nicotine

Insecticides are thought to be among the major factors contributing to current declines in bee populations. However, detoxification mechanisms in healthy, unstressed honey bees are poorly characterised. Alkaloids are naturally encountered in pollen and nectar, and we used nicotine as a model compound to identify the mechanisms involved in detoxification processes in honey bees. Nicotine and neonicotinoids have similar modes of action in insects. Our metabolomic and proteomic analyses show active detoxification of nicotine in bees, associated with increased energetic investment and also antioxidant and heat shock responses. The increased energetic investment is significant in view of the interactions of pesticides with diseases such as Nosema spp which cause energetic stress and possible malnutrition. Understanding how healthy honey bees process dietary toxins under unstressed conditions will help clarify how pesticides, alone or in synergy with other stress factors, lead to declines in bee vitality.

Characterizing heat shock protein 90 gene of Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) and its expression in response to different temperature and pesticide stresses

In this study, we cloned a full-length cDNA of heat shock protein (HSP) gene of Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) [AlHSP90, KC109781] and investigated its expression in response to temperature and pesticide stresses. The open reading frame (ORF) of AlHSP90 is 2,169 bp in length, encoding a 722 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 82.99 kDa. Transcriptional and translational expression profiles of AlHSP90 under extreme temperature or pesticide stresses were examined by fluorescent real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. Results showed that the expression profiles of AlHSP90 protein were in high agreement with those of AlHSP90 RNA and indicated that AlHSP90 was not only an important gene for A. lucorum adults in response to extremely high temperature, but also involved in the resistance or tolerance to cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, chlorpyrifos, and emamectin benzoate, especially for female adults to emamectin benzoate and for male adults to cyhalothrin. Transcriptional results of AlHSP90 also confirmed that AlHSP90 was an important gene involved in the resistance or tolerance to both temperature and pesticide stresses. In addition, our study also revealed that ∼24 °C may be the suitable temperature range for A. lucorum survival, which is also confirmed by the results of the expression of AlHSP90, the nymph mortality, and the intrinsic rate of increase (r m) when A. lucorum is reared at six different temperatures. Therefore, these studies are significant in elucidating the AlHSP90 in response to temperature and pesticide stresses and would provide guidance for A. lucorum management with different pesticides or temperatures in fields.

Heat shock protein genes (hsp20, hsp75 and hsp90) from Pieris rapae: molecular cloning and transcription in response to parasitization by Pteromalus puparum

Most molecular work on the roles of heat shock proteins (hsps) in host-parasite interaction has focused on vertebrates, rather than invertebrates. Here the full length complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences of three hsp genes (hsp20, hsp75 and hsp90) were amplified from Pieris rapae, and their transcriptional responsiveness to parasitization by the endoparasitic wasp Pteromalus puparum were investigated. The cDNA sequence analysis of hsp20, hsp75 and hsp90 revealed open reading frames of 531, 2 328 and 2 157 bp in length, which encode proteins with calculated molecular weights of 19.5, 75.48 and 82.7 kDa, respectively. The comparison of amino acid sequences showed that P. rapae hsp20 shared highly divergent homology to that of other insects, while hsp75 and hsp90 showed high homology to their counterparts of other species. The expression analysis indicated that these three genes were influenced in response to parasitization by P. puparum. The hsp20 transcripts in parasitized pupae were higher compared to non-parasitized pupae. The expression of hsp75 and hsp90 were down-regulated following parasitization. The results indicate that hsps are involved in host-parasitoid interactions.

Genome sequence of the bacterium Streptomyces davawensis JCM 4913 and heterologous production of the unique antibiotic roseoflavin

Streptomyces davawensis JCM 4913 synthesizes the antibiotic roseoflavin, a structural riboflavin (vitamin B(2)) analog. Here, we report the 9,466,619-bp linear chromosome of S. davawensis JCM 4913 and a 89,331-bp linear plasmid. The sequence has an average G+C content of 70.58% and contains six rRNA operons (16S-23S-5S) and 69 tRNA genes. The 8,616 predicted protein-coding sequences include 32 clusters coding for secondary metabolites, several of which are unique to S. davawensis. The chromosome contains long terminal inverted repeats of 33,255 bp each and atypical telomeres. Sequence analysis with regard to riboflavin biosynthesis revealed three different patterns of gene organization in Streptomyces species. Heterologous expression of a set of genes present on a subgenomic fragment of S. davawensis resulted in the production of roseoflavin by the host Streptomyces coelicolor M1152. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. davawensis is a close relative of Streptomyces cinnabarinus, and much to our surprise, we found that the latter bacterium is a roseoflavin producer as well.