title: The expression of three opsin genes from the compound eye of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is regulated by a circadian clock, light conditions and nutritional status.
abstract: Visual genes may become inactive in species that inhabit poor light environments, and the function and regulation of opsin components in nocturnal moths are interesting topics. In this study, we cloned the ultraviolet (UV), blue (BL) and long-wavelength-sensitive (LW) opsin genes from the compound eye of the cotton bollworm and then measured their mRNA levels using quantitative real-time PCR. The mRNA levels fluctuated over a daily cycle, which might be an adaptation of a nocturnal lifestyle, and were dependent on a circadian clock. Cycling of opsin mRNA levels was disturbed by constant light or constant darkness, and the UV opsin gene was up-regulated after light exposure. Furthermore, the opsin genes tended to be down-regulated upon starvation. Thus, this study illustrates that opsin gene expression is determined by multiple endogenous and exogenous factors and is adapted to the need for nocturnal vision, suggesting that color vision may play an important role in the sensory ecology of nocturnal moths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jialin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weilong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xinfang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qingwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D057906:Circadian Clocks; D054910:Compound Eye, Arthropod / Q000378:metabolism*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009752:Nutritional Status; D055355:Opsins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013472:Sunlight
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D055355:Opsins; D012333:RNA, Messenger