Alternative splicing contributes to the coordinated regulation of ferritin subunit levels in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).
A constant ratio of ferritin heavy chain homolog (HCH) and light chain homolog (LCH) subunits seems to be required to compose the ferritin heteropolymer protein in insects. However, the mechanism by which insect LCH genes regulate protein levels remains unclear. We report that alternative promoters and alternative splicing contribute to maintaining a constant ratio of the two subunits, BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH (ferritin 1 HCH and ferritin 2 LCH), in Bactrocera dorsalis, a notorious quarantine pest. The genes BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH were identified with a series of potential transcription factor binding sites and were shown to be clustered within the genome in a "head to head" fashion. Thus, we unearthed a potential post-transcriptional mechanism to regulate the levels of LCH subunits, and confirmed that the expressions of BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH were induced by 20-hydroecdysone, iron overload, and immune challenge.
Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China.
Xuan-Zhao
XZ
Jiang
Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China.
Lin
L
Cong
Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China.
Jin-Zhi
JZ
Niu
Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China.
Wei
W
Dou
Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, P. R. China.
Jin-Jun
JJ
Wang
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D023061:Gene Order; D017344:Genes, Insect; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011485:Protein Binding; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D021122:Protein Subunits; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005293:Ferritins