title: Cloning and functional analysis of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) gene from Mylabris cichorii.
abstract: Cantharidin, a defensive terpene compound synthesized by the meloid beetle (Coleoptera, Meloidae), is an important anticancer agent. However, there has been little study done on how this compound synthesized by the beetle. In this paper, a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) gene, designated McFPPS, was isolated from Mylabris cichorii by reverse transcription PCR based on conserved domains in other organisms. Multiple alignment analysis showed that the deduced amino acids shared >70% homology with FPPSs from other species and contained typically seven conservative regions. Gene expression profile analysis revealed that McFPPS was expressed throughout the tested growth stages of M. cichorii adults, whereas the transcripts accumulated to the highest level at 20 days in male adults while the highest expression level appeared at 15 days in females. Tissue expression pattern analysis showed that McFPPS was expressed constitutively in all tested tissues and a relatively higher expression level in the alimentary canal of males, but no significant tissue difference in the females. For the first time, a RNA interference strategy was employed to induce a greater suppression of McFPPS mRNA, and thus a sharp decrease in the expression levels of downstream genes and the concentration of product. All these results indicated that McFPPS may be directly involved or play an essential role in the biosynthesis of cantharidin.
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shenfang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zha
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Youping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhongkang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D051228:Geranyltranstransferase; D002193:Cantharidin
keywords: Mylabris cichorii; RNA interference; cantharidin; farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase; gene function