A tapeworm molecule manipulates vitellogenin expression in the beetle Tenebrio molitor.
Metacestodes of Hymenolepis diminuta secrete a molecule that decreases vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis in the beetle host, Tenebrio molitor. The 5608 bp T. molitor Vg cDNA represents a single-copy gene encoding a single open reading frame of 1821 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 206 kDa. Northern blot analysis revealed detectable levels of transcripts only in adult females. In vivo, Vg mRNA abundance was significantly higher in fat bodies from infected females compared with control females at all but the earliest time point. In vitro, Vg mRNA abundance was significantly increased in fat bodies incubated with live stage I-II parasites. The apparent conflict between increased Vg mRNA abundance and decreased Vg protein in fat bodies from infected females is discussed.
Warr
E
E
Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.
Meredith
J M
JM
Nimmo
D D
DD
Basu
S
S
Hurd
H
H
Eggleston
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005216:Fat Body / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006926:Hymenolepis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014819:Vitellogenins