title: Molecular cloning, characterization, and mRNA expression of two Cryptochrome genes in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
abstract: Light is a major environmental signal for insect circadian. In this study, we isolated two cryptochrome (cry) genes from Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and RACE-PCR strategies, designated as Ha-cryl (GenBank accession GQ896502) and Ha-cry2 (GenBank accession GQ896503). Ha-CRY1 encoded a fly-like protein of 548 amino acids, while Ha-CRY2 encoded a mammal-like protein of 657 amino acids. Both of these proteins had two conserved domains: a DNA photolyase domain and a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding seven domain, and alignment of the amino acid sequence indicated that there was a high degree of homology between the CRYs of H. armigera and other insects. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that: 1) Ha-cry1 and Ha-cry2 mRNA expressions were neither organ-specific nor developmental-stage-specific. 2) Under the light-dark cycle (16:8 L:D), Ha-cry1 abundance tended to increase during the day, then decrease in the night, whereas the expression pattern of Ha-cry2 was opposite. 3) The cyclings of Ha-cry1 and Ha-cry2 expression were disturbed by constant light and darkness. Our study has significant importance for the further study of the functions of the Ha-cry genes and potential control of the cotton bollworm.
authors: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing, China 100193.
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Yan
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Ni
authors: Huiting
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiaoxia
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Qingwen
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017440:Photoperiod; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056931:Cryptochromes; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger