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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #150447
Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES EXPRESSED IN THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF THE HESSIAN FLY, MAYETIOLA DESTRUCTOR (SAY)

Author
item LIU, XUMING - KSU - ENTOMOLOGY
item Fellers, John
item WILDE, GERALD - KSU - ENTOMOLOGY
item Chen, Ming-Shun

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: LIU, X., FELLERS, J.P., WILDE, G.E., CHEN, M. CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES EXPRESSED IN THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF THE HESSIAN FLY, MAYETIOLA DESTRUCTOR (SAY). ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA PROCEEDINGS. ABSTRACT.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two genes, named 2A6 and 2A12, and several related cDNAs have been cloned and characterized from the Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)]. Each gene encodes a protein with a secretion signal peptide at the N-terminal. Blot analysis revealed that both of the genes are primarily expressed in salivary glands, suggesting that the proteins encoded by them may be secreted into host plants during feeding. The 2A6 gene contains one small intron (89 bp) and encodes a putative protein with 79 amino acids. The first 18 amino acids constitute a putative secretion signal peptide. Thus, this gene can encode a mature protein of 7.1 KD with an isoelectric point of 9.63. The 2A12 gene contains 3 small introns and encodes a putative protein with 234 amino acids. The first 19 amino acids constitute a putative secretion signal peptide. Therefore, the 2A12 gene can encode a mature protein of 23.4 KD with an isoelectric point of 5.91. Even though both of the genes are mainly expressed in salivary glands, the expression profiles between them are quite different in insects at different developmental stages. The 2A6 gene was expressed in all larvae of different instars while the 2A12 gene is almost exclusively expressed in the first instar larvae, suggesting that the proteins encoded by these two genes may perform very different functions.