title: Type-A allatostatins from the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda: molecular cloning, expression and tissue-specific localization.
abstract: The gene encoding the Spodoptera frugiperda allatostatin type-A peptide family (Y/FXFGL-amides) was isolated from S. frugiperda brain cDNA. The gene encodes a precursor of 231 amino acids containing nine (or ten) Y/FXFGL-a peptides that are tandemly arranged in three blocks. The comparison of the Spofr-AST A precursor with the respective precursor genes from two other lepidopteran species, Helicoverpa armigera and Bombyx mori, shows high homology in size, sequence (84 and 57%, respectively), and organisation of the allatostatins. One-step RT-PCR analysis using a Spofr-AST A-6 to A-9 probe shows that the gene is not only expressed as one transcript in the brain and midgut of larvae and adults in a time- and tissue-specific manner, but also in the reproductive tissues of adult S. frugiperda. Data confirm the nature of the allatostatin type-A peptides as brain/gut myoregulatory hormones, whereas their function(s) in ovaries, oviduct, and testes still have to be resolved. The cell-specific localization of the preprohormone expression, as demonstrated by whole mount in situ hybridization, confirms the overall distribution of the Spofr-AST A preprohormone as shown by RT-PCR and supports the pleiotropic functions of the peptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Mohatmed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdel-Latief
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyering-Vos
authors.forename: Klaus H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011679:Pupa / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C076523:allatostatin