title: Overexpression of TAT-PTD-diapause hormone fusion protein in tobacco and its effect on the larval development of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diapause hormone (DH) has been shown either to induce or to terminate diapause, depending on the insect species. In a previous study we demonstrated that the DH from Clostera anastomosis (caDH) has biological activity in Helicoverpa armigera, which prompted us to examine the potential growth-inhibiting or antiherbivory effects of the TAT-caDH fusion protein when expressed in transgenic plants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, we produced transgenic tobacco plants expressing either the TAT-caDH protein or a TAT-caDH-eGFP fusion version that allowed tracking of the fluorescent protein in plant tissues. Our results indicate that H. armigera larvae feeding on transgenic tobacco expressing TAT-caDH exhibited a significantly reduced survival rate and weight gain. However, larvae feeding on transgenic tobacco expressing TAT-caDH-eGFP were unaffected. While fusion of the eGFP gene influenced the bioactivity of caDH in larvae, TAT-caDH-eGFP can still penetrate the insect midgut cell membrane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAT-caDH increases DH stability in oral delivery. Our results may help in targeting DH-dependent physiological processes in insects for improving herbivore tolerance in economically important crops. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: Yongli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Sault Sainte Marie, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doucet
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yongan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Liangjian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060434:Herbivory; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D019476:Insect Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C075027:diapause hormone
keywords: Helicoverpa armigera; diapause hormone; fusion protein; transactivator of transcription (TAT)