title: Transcriptomic and phylogenetic analysis of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus for three detoxification gene families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genomes of three major mosquito vectors of human diseases, Anopheles gambiae, Aedes aegypti, and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, have been previously sequenced. C. p. quinquefasciatus has the largest number of predicted protein-coding genes, which partially results from the expansion of three detoxification gene families: cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450), glutathione S-transferases (GST), and carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCE). However, unlike An. gambiae and Ae. aegypti, which have large amounts of gene expression data, C. p. quinquefasciatus has limited transcriptomic resources. Knowledge of complete gene expression information is very important for the exploration of the functions of genes involved in specific biological processes. In the present study, the three detoxification gene families of C. p. quinquefasciatus were analyzed for phylogenetic classification and compared with those of three other dipteran insects. Gene expression during various developmental stages and the differential expression responsible for parathion resistance were profiled using the digital gene expression (DGE) technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 302 detoxification genes were found in C. p. quinquefasciatus, including 71 CCE, 196 P450, and 35 cytosolic GST genes. Compared with three other dipteran species, gene expansion in Culex mainly occurred in the CCE and P450 families, where the genes of α-esterases, juvenile hormone esterases, and CYP325 of the CYP4 subfamily showed the most pronounced expansion on the genome. For the five DGE libraries, 3.5-3.8 million raw tags were generated and mapped to 13314 reference genes. Among 302 detoxification genes, 225 (75%) were detected for expression in at least one DGE library. One fourth of the CCE and P450 genes were detected uniquely in one stage, indicating potential developmentally regulated expression. A total of 1511 genes showed different expression levels between a parathion-resistant and a susceptible strain. Fifteen detoxification genes, including 2 CCEs, 6 GSTs, and 7 P450s, were expressed at higher levels in the resistant strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study provide new insights into the functions and evolution of three detoxification gene families in mosquitoes and comprehensive transcriptomic resources for C. p. quinquefasciatus, which will facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying the different biological characteristics of the three major mosquito vectors.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects & Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Liangzhen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Enbo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chuanling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003465:Culex / Q000235:genetics*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D004950:Esterases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016678:Genome; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D004950:Esterases; D002802:Cholinesterases