title: Identification of the chitinase genes from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.
abstract: Chitinases have an indispensable function in chitin metabolism and are well characterized in numerous insect species. Although the diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella, which has a high reproductive potential, short generation time, and characteristic adaptation to adverse environments, has become one of the most serious pests of cruciferous plants worldwide, the information on the chitinases of the moth is presently limited. In the present study, using degenerated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends-PCR strategies, four chitinase genes of P. xylostella were cloned, and an exhaustive search was conducted for chitinase-like sequences from the P. xylostella genome and transcriptomic database. Based on the domain analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences and the phylogenetic analysis of the catalytic domain sequences, we identified 15 chitinase genes from P. xylostella. Two of the gut-specific chitinases did not cluster with any of the known phylogenetic groups of chitinases and might be in a new group of the chitinase family. Moreover, in our study, group VIII chitinase was not identified. The structures, classifications and expression patterns of the chitinases of P. xylostella were further delineated, and with this information, further investigations on the functions of chitinase genes in DBM could be facilitated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science,National Central University,Chung-Li,Taoyuan,Taiwan 320,ROC.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry,Taipei Medical University,250 Wu-Hsing Street,Taipei 110,Taiwan.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Applied Zoology Division,Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute,Council of Agriculture,Executive Yua,Wufeng,Taichung 41362,Taiwan.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Applied Zoology Division,Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute,Council of Agriculture,Executive Yua,Wufeng,Taichung 41362,Taiwan.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science,National Central University,Chung-Li,Taoyuan,Taiwan 320,ROC.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology,College of Bioresources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University,Taipei 106,Taiwan.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism; D002688:Chitinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin; D002688:Chitinases
keywords: 
                 Plutella xylostella
              ; chitinase; phylogenesis