Putative-farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase (FAMeT) in medfly reproduction.
A gene potentially involved in juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis was previously identified in Ceratitis capitata as the putative-farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase (FAMeT). Since JH is involved in insect reproduction, we silenced the putative-FAMeT expression by RNA interference in Ceratitis capitata to evaluate its implication in egg production. FAMeT gene expression was knocked down in females and males after eclosion and in 1- and 2-day-old females. Treated specimens were left to mate with each other or with untreated partners to evaluate the extent of each sex influencing egg production. Gene silencing was investigated by Real-Time PCR. Results unambiguously showed that FAMeT has a measurable role on the fertility of both medfly sexes.
Vannini
Laura
L
Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. vannini18@unisi.it
Ciolfi
Silvia
S
Dallai
Romano
R
Frati
Francesco
F
Hoffmann
Klaus H
KH
Meyering-Vos
Martina
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D033622:Ceratitis capitata / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D008780:Methyltransferases; C032433:farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase