bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A P element‐homologous sequence in the house fly, Musca domestica
Authors: Lee Seung Hoon , Clark Jonathan B. , Kidwell Margaret G. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractSequences homologous to the P transposable element have been identified in Musca domestica. Sequence analysis of a genomic clone (Md‐P1) indicates that, although the house fly P element has lost its coding capacity, the basic general structure of drosophilid P elements is present. The house fly P element sequence shares a number of structural features with that from the blow fly, Lucilia cuprina, including a large intron separating exons 1 and 2, two additional introns interrupting exon 2 and the apparent absence of inverted repeat termini. Within a relatively well‐conserved central region, the house fly sequence shows 59% similarity to the D. melanogaster P element, but distal regions are more diverged. Southern blot analysis of several strains indicated the presence of at least four P element copies.
Cloning of a family of serine protease genes from the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis
Authors: Gaines P. J. , Sampson C. M. , Rushlow K. E. , Stiegler G. L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractSerine protease gene fragments approximately 480 nucleotides in length were amplified from Ctenocephalides felis larval and adult cDNA libraries using degenerate oligonucleotide PCR primers. Partial clones of thirty‐eight distinct serine protease encoding sequences were isolated, and nineteen different full‐length cDNAs encoding mature serine proteases were subsequently cloned and sequenced. All of the mature proteases contained the histidine, aspartic acid and serine amino acids of the catalytic triad characteristic of serine proteases. The mature C. felis serine proteases had amino acid sequences that were at most 29–53% identical to those known insect and arachnid serine proteases. Two of the C. felis gene sequences had similarity with the Drosophila melanogaster developmental genes snake and stubble. mRNA expression of selected serine protease genes was examined in different life stages, tissues, genders, and in response to bloodfeeding.
Is the insect glutathione S‐transferase I gene family intronless?
Authors: Lougarre A. , Bride J. M. , Fournier D. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe genes coding for class I glutathione S‐transferases in insects were believed to be intronless because the coding sequence was not interrupted by an intron. But sequences of the untranslated 5′ end of transcripts revealed the presence of an intron in housefly and Drosophila genes suggesting that most insect GSTI genes are in fact interrupted.
Cloning and characterization of the ribosomal protein CcP0 of the medfly Ceratitis capitata
Authors: Gagou M.‐E. , Ballesta J. P. G. , Kouyanou S. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe gene of the ribosomal protein CcP0, the third member of the ribosomal P‐protein family of the medfly Ceratitis capitata, was identified by genomic and cDNA sequence analysis. It codes for a polypeptide of 317 amino acids and its predicted amino acid sequence shows great similarity to the P0 proteins of other eukaryotic organisms. The CcP0 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the 34‐kDa recombinant protein was identical to the P0 protein of purified medfly ribosomes. Both proteins reacted positively with a specific monoclonal antibody against the highly conserved C terminus of eukaryotic ribosomal P proteins. Interestingly, the medfly CcP0 seems to be the only P0 protein of higher eukaryotic organisms with basic character (pI 8.5), as shown by electrofocusing of purified ribosomes.
A member of the Hsp60 gene family from the peach potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer.)
Authors: Stanley K. , Fenton B. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractA novel cDNA clone encoding a mitochondrial Hsp60 was isolated from a Myzus persicae cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence consisted of 2348 bp and contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 1722 bases. The putative protein encoded by this ORF consisted of 574 amino acids and was designated MPHSP60. Comparison of MPHSP60 with other Hsp60s found that it was most similar to Hsp60 from Culicoides variipennis (85.6% similarity). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that MPHSP60 is clustered together with other insect Hsp60s. Comparisons were also made between MPHSP60 and SymL, the GroEL homologue of Myzus persicae endosymbionts.
Molecular systematics of the Phlebotomine sandflies of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotomus) based on ITS2 rDNA sequences. Hypotheses of dispersion and speciation
Authors: Depaquit J. , Ferté H. , Léger N. , Killick‐Kendrick R. , Rioux J.‐A. , Killick‐Kendrick M. , Hanafi H. A. , Gobert S. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractPhylogenetic Paraphlebotomus relationships are inferred by a study based on the sequences of ITS2, which has been sequenced in nine Paraphlebotomus species: P. alexandri, P. andrejevi, P. jacusieli, P. kazeruni, P. mireillae, P. mongolensis, P. saevus, P. sergenti and P. similis and in two out‐groups species of the subgenus Phlebotomus: P. papatasi and P. duboscqi. Paraphlebotomus alexandri appears as the sister group of all other Paraphlebotomus sandflies. Among the other species, three groupings are clearly highlighted: andrejevi and mongolensis;mireillae and saevus;jacusieli, kazeruni, sergenti and similis. These groupings are related to speculations about the migration of Paraphlebotomus from a centre of dispersion located in the Middle East sometime from the early Eocene to the late Miocene.
Molecular cloning and expression of Tenebrio molitor ultraspiracle during metamorphosis and in vivo induction of its phosphorylation by 20‐hydroxyecdysone
Authors: Nicolaï M. , Bouhin H. , Quennedey B. , Delachambre J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractUsing a RT‐PCR approach, the Tenebrio molitor homologue of Drosophila Ultraspiracle (TmUSP) was characterized. Its DNA binding domain shows a degree of identity with those of the other insect USPs. However, the ligand binding domain is closer to those of retinoid X receptors. Using an antibody raised against DmUSP, Western blot analysis of proteins from epidermis and other tissues revealed five immunoreactive bands, corresponding to different phosphorylated forms of a unique polypeptide, as shown by λ‐phosphatase treatment. The nuclear form of TmUSP seems unphosphorylated. An in vivo 20‐hydroxyecdysone treatment increases considerably and rapidly the phosphorylated forms of TmUSP. This post‐translational modification may play a role in the 20‐hydroxyecdysone response.
Extrachromosomal transposition of the transposable element Minos occurs in embryos of the silkworm Bombyx mori
Authors: Shimizu K. , Kamba M. , Sonobe H. , Kanda T. , Klinakis A. G. , Savakis C. , Tamura T. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractTo assess the ability of the transposable element Minos to act as a vector for genetic manipulation of the silkworm Bombyx mori, an extrachromosomal transposition assay based on three plasmids was performed. The three plasmids – helper, donor and target – were co‐injected into preblastoderm embryos. Low molecular weight DNA was extracted from the embryos at the stage of blastokinesis and used to transform Escherichia coli. High frequency of transposition was observed in the presence of a helper plasmid possessing an intronless Minos transposase gene, whereas transposition did not occur in the presence of a helper plasmid with the intron‐bearing transposase gene. Sequence analysis of the insertion sites showed that Minos always inserts into a TA dinucleotide. Although the insertions are distributed throughout the target gene, there was a preference for certain insertion sites. However, no consensus could be identified in the sequence flanking the target site. The results strongly suggest that the transposable element Minos has the potential to be used as a vector in the silkworm and probably in other lepidopteran insects.
Molecular cloning and characterization of a putative cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel from Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Miyazu M. , Tanimura T. , Sokabe M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractWe have cloned a cDNA encoding a putative cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channel from Drosophila melanogaster. The N‐terminal half of the predicted protein, designated as CNGL, shows a high degree of sequence similarity with the known CNG channel proteins. CNGL has a long hydrophilic C‐terminal stretch that is absent in other CNG channels. Northern blot analysis revealed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) corresponding to the size of the cloned cDNA is expressed in Drosophila heads. Immunolocalization studies showed that CNGL is expressed in the brain, including the medulla, lobulla and lobulla plate, the antennal lobe glomeruli, and mushroom bodies. These results suggest a possible role of the putative CNGL channel in the processing of visual and olfactory information in the nervous system of Drosophila.
Sibling species in the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex differ in levels of mRNA expression for the salivary peptide, maxadilan
Authors: Yin H. , Norris D. E. , Lanzaro G. C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMaxadilan is a small (≈ 7 kDa) protein found in the saliva of sand fly species in the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex, vectors of the parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis, Leishmania chagasi. It is a potent vasodilator and also has immunomodulatory affects. Maxadilan recovered from different sibling species of the Lu. longipalpis complex differ in amino acid content by as much as 23%, however all variants possess equivalent vasodilatory activity. Therefore, the dramatic differences in vasodilatory activity of the saliva from different sibling species is probably due to differences in the amounts of maxadilan in their saliva. This is significant because it has been suggested that maxadilan may influence the pathogenesis of leishmanial infections. In this study we measured the amount of maxadilan messenger RNA (mRNA) per pair of salivary glands from individual sand flies by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) using a competitive method. We report a method using the gene of interest, in this case maxadilan, amplified by the PCR from genomic DNA, as a competitor in the quantitative RT‐PCR, taking advantage of differences in the size of these products due to the presence of an intron. Significant differences in amounts of maxadilan mRNA among colonies from Central and South America are described. We found a strong correlation between the amount of maxadilan mRNA detected in salivary glands of different Lu. longipalpis sibling species and previously described differences in the size of erythemas produced by the bite of these species. Therefore, variation in the amount of mRNA suggests that differences in the vasodilatory properties of saliva among the different sibling species are the result of differences in the amount of maxadilan present in the saliva and not differences in the potency of maxadilan peptide variants. The geographical distribution of species with high or low levels of maxadilan gene expression are concordant with the distribution of atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis resulting from infection with Le. chagasi, lending credence to earlier suggestions that maxadilan may be involved with visceralization of this parasite.
Molecular identification of Anopheles minimus s.l. beyond distinguishing the members of the species complex
Authors: Van Bortel W. , Trung H. D. , Roelants P. , Harbach R. E. , Backeljau T. , Coosemans M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractCorrect species identification is the starting point for studying the epidemiological role of vectors. Identification is mostly achieved using morphological criteria, but this fails when sibling species and species with overlapping morphological characters are involved. The problem with the identification of Anopheles minimus s.l., one of the most widespread malaria vectors in South‐East Asia, is twofold: it is a complex of at least two isomorphic species, and based on morphology, members of the complex are difficult to distinguish from closely related species. An identification method was developed for An. minimus species A and C, and four related species, An. aconitus, An. pampanai, An. varuna and An. jeyporiensis. PCR‐amplified internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) ribonuclear DNA (rDNA) fragments were digested with restriction endonuclease BsiZI. Clear diagnostic banding patterns for the six species were obtained on agarose gels. Testing field‐collected specimens from different regions in South‐East Asia indicated that the technique will be applicable over a wide geographical area. From this it is clear that molecular identification has to focus not only on the species of complexes, but also on related species if they hamper the morphological identification of the ‘sensu lato species’.
Identification and analysis of Lydia, a LTR retrotransposon from Lymantria dispar
Authors: Pfeifer T. A. , Ring M. , Grigliatti T. A. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractDegenerative PCR primers to conserved amino acid motifs were used to identify an LTR retrotransposon from Lymantria dispar. The isolated retrotransposon, Lydia, is 6655 base pairs (bp) in length and contains perfect 300 bp terminal repeats. The identified gag and pol related ORFs have a high degree of similarity to the corresponding regions of the retrotransposon Ted from Trichoplusia ni, although several reading frameshifts and missense mutations are evident. The high degree of similarity between Lydia and Ted LTRs lends support for a family of lepidopteran retrotransposons. Southern blot analysis of individuals from two geographically distinct gypsy moth populations demonstrates that Lydia is found in both populations and the position of this element within the genome of these isolated populations is variable.
Cloning and transcriptional expression of a leucokinin‐like peptide receptor from the Southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)
Authors: Holmes S. P. , He H. , Chen A. C. , Lvie G. W. , Pietrantonio P. V. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractLeucokinins are invertebrate neuropeptides that exhibit myotropic and diuretic activity. Only one leucokinin‐like peptide receptor is known, the lymnokinin receptor from the mollusc Lymnaeastagnalis. A cDNA encoding a leucokinin‐like peptide receptor was cloned from the Southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus, a pest of cattle world‐wide. This is the first neuropeptide receptor known from the Acari and the second known in the subfamily of leucokinin‐like peptide G‐protein‐coupled receptors. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 40% identity to the lymnokinin receptor. The receptor transcript is present in all tick life stages as determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We also propose that the sequence AAF50775.1 from the Drosophila melanogaster genome (CG10626) encodes the first identified insect leucokinin receptor.
Heat‐shock protein 90 is down‐regulated during pupal diapause in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, but remains responsive to thermal stress
Authors: Rinehart Joseph P. , Denlinger David L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractHeat‐shock protein 23 (hsp23) and hsp70 are both known to be strongly up‐regulated during pupal diapause in the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis. This prompted us to investigate whether hsp90 was also up‐regulated during diapause. To test this possibility, we developed a partial clone of a hsp90 family member for use as a probe in Northern blot hybridization. Both high and low temperature exposure up‐regulated hsp90 transcripts in nondiapausing individuals. In contrast to hsp23 and hsp70, hsp90 was down‐regulated following entry into diapause, and returned to prediapause levels after diapause termination. The response of hsp90 to heat shock and cold shock remained intact during diapause: both shocks evoked elevated expression. The results indicate differential regulation of hsps during diapause and in response to thermal injury inflicted on diapausing pupae.
Molecular cloning of a second prophenoloxidase cDNA from the mosquito Armigeres subalbatus: prophenoloxidase expression in blood‐fed and microfilariae‐inoculated mosquitoes
Authors: Huang L. H. , Christensen B. M. , Chen C. C. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMelanization constitutes an important component in various aspects of insect life, including cuticular sclerotization, egg‐shell tanning, melanization of parasites and wound healing. Recently, a cDNA encoding prophenoloxidase (pro‐PO), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of melanotic material in insects, was cloned from microfilariae (mf)‐inoculated mosquitoes, Armigeres subalbatus. However, results of Northern blot analyses indicated that two pro‐POs might be present in Ar. subalbatus and these pro‐POs might be responsible for two distinct physiological functions, egg‐shell tanning and melanization of parasites. Subsequently, the second pro‐PO cDNA (As‐pro‐PO II) was cloned from blood‐fed Ar. subalbatus by rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction. The 2210 bp As‐pro‐PO II cDNA contains a 41 bp 5′‐non‐coding region, a 2064 bp open reading frame and a 105 bp 3′‐non‐coding region. A hydrophobic signal peptide for endoplasmic reticulum targeting is not found in the N‐terminal region. The deduced amino acid sequence of As‐pro‐PO II shares a high degree of identity (81.5%) with that of the As‐pro‐PO I obtained from mf‐inoculated Ar. subalbatus. Both Northern blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that these two mosquito pro‐POs are persistently expressed in mosquito haemocytes and not in fat body, midgut, or ovaries. The expression of As‐pro‐PO I and As‐pro‐PO II in mosquitoes is associated with melanization of mf and blood feeding, respectively.
The rate of terminal nucleotide loss from a telomere of the mosquito Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Walter M. F. , Bozorgnia L. , Maheshwari A. , Biessmann H. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractUsing a single copy pUChsneo transgene insertion at the Anopheles gambiae 2L telomere, this chromosome end was monitored by genomic Southern blots for forty‐four mosquito generations. During this time, the chromosome end lost terminal nucleotides at an apparently constant rate of 55 bp/generation, which can be accounted for by incomplete DNA replication and does not imply exonuclease activity. No telomere elongation events were detected, suggesting that a previously described gene conversion event at this transgene does not occur very frequently. Moreover, no evidence for elongation by transposable elements was found, as described in Drosophila melanogaster. These results are consistent with the proposal that gene conversion between complex terminal satellite repeats that are present at natural telomeres, represents the major telomere elongation mechanism in A. gambiae. Such recombination events between repetitive sequences would occur more frequently than between the single copy pUChsneo transgene on the 2L homologues.
Evolutionary change in the structure of the regulatory region that drives tissue and temporally regulated expression of alcohol dehydrogenase gene in Drosophila funebris
Authors: Amador A. , Papaceit M. , Juan E. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe Adh locus of Drosophilidae is organized as a single gene transcribed from two spatially and temporally regulated promoters except in species of the repleta group, which have two single promoter genes. Here we show that in Drosophila funebris the Adh gene is transcribed from a single promoter, in both larva and adult, with qualitative and quantitative species specific‐differences in tissue distribution. The gene is expressed in larval fat body but in other tissues such as gastric caeca, midgut and Malpighian tubules its expression is reduced compared to most Drosophilidae species, and in adults it is almost limited to the fat body. The comparative analysis of gene expression of two strains, which differ by a duplication, indicates that the cis elements necessary for this pattern of expression in larvae are included in the region of 1.55 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site. This new organization reveals the evolution of a different regulatory strategy to express the Adh gene in the subgenus Drosophila.
cDNA cloning of two different serine protease inhibitor precursors in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria
Authors: Simonet G. , Claeys I. , Vanderperren H. , November T. , De Loof A. , Vanden Broeck J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractRecently, a novel serine protease‐inhibiting peptide family, designated as the ‘pacifastin family’, has been described in locusts and crayfish. All members of this family possess a characteristic cysteine‐rich domain. The present study describes the cDNA cloning, sequencing and transcript distribution of two novel pacifastin‐related peptide precursors in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. Only one of the encoded peptides (HI) was identified previously, whereas six others represent new members of the pacifastin family. Northern blot analysis showed that both precursor transcripts are present in adult locust fat body. These could not be detected in the midgut. Interestingly, an in silico data mining approach of the expressed sequence tags (EST) database revealed the existence of Manduca sexta and Bombyx mori cDNAs that display pronounced sequence similarities with these locust pacifastin‐related transcripts.
The involvement of ovarian tumour in the intracellular localization of Sex‐lethal protein
Authors: Hinson S. , Nagoshi R. N. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe Drosophila ovarian tumour gene is required at multiple times in the germline for oogenesis. A second gene, Sex‐lethal, controls sex determination in the soma and also has a separate germline function affecting similar oogenic stages as ovarian tumour. We demonstrate that ovarian tumour is not required for early Sex‐lethal gene expression in the female germline, as had been previously reported. Instead, we provide evidence that ovarian tumour has a specific role in the developmentally regulated accumulation of SEX‐LETHAL protein within the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, the examination of nurse cell polytene chromosomes produced by certain ovarian tumour mutations showed that SEX‐LETHAL protein can associate with discrete chromosomal sites in the germline and that this pattern appears to change as the egg chamber matures. This is the first indication that SEX‐LETHAL is capable of direct physical interactions with chromosomes (albeit in a mutant background) and is consistent with the developmentally regulated nuclear localization of SEX‐LETHAL being important for oogenesis.
An intron enhancer activates the immunoglobulin‐related Hemolin gene in Hyalophora cecropia
Authors: Roxström‐Lindquist K. , Lindström‐Dinnetz I. , Olesen J. , Engström Y. , Faye I. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Hemolin is the only insect member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily reported to be up‐regulated during an immune response. In diapausing pupae of Hyalophora cecropia the gene is expressed in fat body cells and in haemocytes. Like the mammalian Ig κ light chain gene, the Hemolin gene harbours an enhancer including a κB motif in one of its introns. This motif binds the H. cecropia Rel factor Cif (Cecropia immunoresponsive factor). The Hemolin third intron also mediates transient reporter gene expression in immunoresponsive Drosophila mbn‐2 cells. Co‐transfections of Drosophila SL2 cells showed that the Drosophila Rel factor Dif (Dorsal‐related immunity factor), transactivates reporter gene constructs through the intron. Moreover, a 4.8‐fold synergistic activation was obtained when Dif is combined with the rat C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer element‐binding protein) and human HMGI (high mobility group protein I). This is the first report of an insect immune‐related gene that is up‐regulated by an enhancer activity conferred through an intron.