title: Expression analysis of GSK-3β in diapause pupal brains in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera.
abstract: Diapause is an adaptive response to adverse environmental conditions, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. Some signaling molecules have been identified in the regulation of diapause. GSK-3β is an important signaling protein involved in several signaling pathways. In this study, GSK-3β from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, was cloned using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of complementary DNA (cDNA) ends techniques. Sequence analysis showed that the full-length cDNA was 1447 bp containing a 292 bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), a 162 bp 3'-UTR and a 993 bp open reading frame (ORF). The deduced Har-GSK-3β protein has high identity to other known GSK-3β, as determined by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis. Developmental expression of total GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β (Ser9) in diapause and non-diapause pupal brains was investigated by Western blotting. Results indicated that the activity of GSK-3β is down-regulated in diapause pupal brains, which is further confirmed by Western blotting after diapause break. These finding suggest that the down-regulation of Har-GSK-3β activity may be important for pupal diapause.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D064666:Diapause, Insect; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D011679:Pupa / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
keywords: GSK-3β; Helicoverpa armigera; RACE; pupal diapauses