title: Transcription factor fork head regulates the promoter of diapause hormone gene in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, and the modification of SUMOylation.
abstract: The transcription factor fork head (FoxA) plays important roles in development and metabolism. Here, we cloned a fork head gene in Helicoverpa armigera, and found that the fork head protein is mainly located in the nucleus. This fork head gene belongs to the FoxA subfamily of the Fox transcription factors. The diapause hormone and pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (DH-PBAN), which are two well-documented insect neuropeptides that regulate insect development and pheromone biosynthesis, are encoded by a single mRNA. In the present study, fork head was shown to bind strongly to the promoter of H. armigera DH-PBAN gene, and regulate its promoter activity. Furthermore, the effect of SUMOylation of the FH protein on the regulation of Har-DH-PBAN gene was investigated, and we show that the SUMO can modify Har-FH protein and cause down-regulation of DH-PBAN gene expression. These results suggest that SUMOylated FH plays a key role in insect diapause in H. armigera.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Qi-Li
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015536:Down-Regulation; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D058207:Sumoylation
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C075027:diapause hormone