Spatiotemporal expression and functional analysis of the Ostrinia furnacalis stuxnet gene
Author of the article:WU Xiao-Yu YANG Xing-Zhuo LIANG Jia ZHAO Xian-Guo ZHAO Zhang-Wu DU Juan
Author's Workplace：Key Laboratory of Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Crop Pest Monitoring and Green Control, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Key Words：Ostrinia furnacalis; stuxnet; polycomb-group; spatiotemporal expression; functional analysis
Abstract：
[Objectives] The aim
of this study was to identify the Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis stuxnet (stx) gene, Ofstuxnet (Ofstx), clarify its
function and investigate the potential of using this gene to develop a novel
pest control strategy based on epigenetic regulation. [Methods] The full-length cDNA sequence of the Ofstx gene
was obtained using the reverse transcription technique, and its gene sequence
obtained by full-length cDNA sequencing. RNA was extracted from 3rd to 5th instar larvae and from different tissues (head, midgut, fat
body), and the relative expression of the Ofstx gene in these age groups
and tissues was detected using RT-qPCR. [Results] The total length of the Ofstx gene was
2 112 bp, The encoding protein contained 703 amino acids, has a predicted
molecular weight of 76.98 ku, and an isoelectric point of 8.30. Amino acid
sequence comparison of the Ofstx gene and homologous
proteins from other species showed that they all contained an UBL conserved
domain. A phylogenetic tree shows that the Ofstx gene is highly
homologous with Noctuid stx genes，including that of Spodoptera frugiperda. qPCR
results show that relative expression of Ofstx was highest in the head
and that overall expression was highest in 4th instar larvae. [Conclusion] The stx gene is mainly expressed
in the head of O. furnacalis, and in fourth instar larvae than in third and
fifth instar larvae. This suggests that this gene may be involved in the
regulation of growth and development. Further research is required to reveal
its specific functions.