title: Expression Patterns of Three Genes Under Short and Long Term Cold Exposure in Thitarodes pui (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), A Host of Ophiocordyceps sinensis.
abstract: BACKGROUND: Thitarodes larvae are the host of the caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Low temperature is the main environmental limitation for larvae growth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To better understand the cold adaption process in T. pui larvae, the expression patterns of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TpTPS), heat shock protein 70 (TpHSP70), and heat shock protein 90 (TpHSP90) were investigated upon short and long-term exposure to 0°C.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 6th instar T. pui larvae were collected in July 2013. TpTPS was firstly sequenced and expression patterns of TpTPS, TpHSP70 and TpHSP90 were investigated using quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Full-length cDNA of TpTPS was 3,012 bp, with an open reading frame of 2,472 bp and an encoding protein of 823 amino acids. TpTPS up-regulation was induced by cold exposure. TpHSP70 expression is altered by cold exposure, but remained low. TpHSP90 expression was obviously up regulated in long-term cold stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All three genes (TpTPS, TpHSP70 and TpHSP90) have likely contributed to cold tolerance in T. pui larvae, TpTPS and TpHSP90 potentially being more important.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China. zouzhiwen@ncu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Z W
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003080:Cold Temperature; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D009036:Moths / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation