title: Parasitization by Scleroderma guani influences expression of superoxide dismutase genes in Tenebrio molitor.
abstract: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an antioxidant enzyme involved in detoxifying reactive oxygen species. In this study, we identified genes encoding the extracellular and intracellular copper-zinc SODs (ecCuZnSOD and icCuZnSOD) and a manganese SOD (MnSOD) in the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. The cDNAs for ecCuZnSOD, icCuZnSOD, and MnSOD, respectively, encode 24.55, 15.81, and 23.14 kDa polypeptides, which possess structural features typical of other insect SODs. They showed 20-94% identity to other known SOD sequences from Bombyx mori, Musca domestica, Nasonia vitripennis, Pediculus humanus corporis, and Tribolium castaneum. Expression of these genes was analyzed in selected tissues and developmental stages, and following exposure to Escherichia coli and parasitization by Scleroderma guani. We recorded expression of all three SODs in cuticle, fat body, and hemocytes and in the major developmental stages. Relatively higher expressions were detected in late-instar larvae and pupae, compared to other developmental stages. Transcriptional levels were upregulated following bacterial infection. Analysis of pupae parasitized by S. guani revealed that expression of T. molitor SOD genes was significantly induced following parasitization. We infer that these genes act in immune response and in host-parasitoid interactions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Sang-Zi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Ze
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D005216:Fat Body / Q000201:enzymology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013712:Tenebrio / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014863:Wasps / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: immunity; mRNA transcription; parasitoid; superoxide dismutase