Development of a real-time PCR assay for measurement of yellow protein mRNA transcription in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria: a basis for isolation of a peptidergic regulatory factor.
A major unresolved issue in insect endocrinology concerns the question of whether or not insects have sex hormones. Conclusive evidence in favor of the presence of such hormones awaits the establishment of appropriate bioassays in males. The cuticle of sexually mature males of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria turns yellow in gregarious conditions only. Neither females nor isolated males ever turn yellow. The yellowing is due to the deposition in the cuticle of a male-specific Yellow Protein (YP), of which the amino acid sequence is known. In this paper, we describe the partial cloning of the cDNA encoding this Yellow Protein. The tissue distribution and temporal expression of the YP-mRNA is studied in detail using RT-PCR. Furthermore, an RT-PCR based bioassay was developed, which may serve as a reliable tool to help identify the hormones controlling the yellowing process. In addition to juvenile hormone, we have shown that a factor present in the brain-corpora cardiaca is involved in the yellow coloration, as injection of an extract induces the expression of YP-mRNA in isolated gregarious males.
Sas
Filip
F
Laboratory of Developmental Physiology, Genomics and Proteomics, Zoological Institute, K.U.Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Begum
Murshida
M
Vandersmissen
Tim
T
Geens
Marisa
M
Claeys
Ilse
I
Van Soest
Sofie
S
Huybrechts
Jurgen
J
Huybrechts
Roger
R
De Loof
Arnold
A
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C442430:yellow protein, Schistocerca