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Submitted to: Genbank
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2006 Publication Date: 4/12/2007 Citation: Allen, M.L. 2007. Identification of Three Distinct Polygalacturonase-like Enzyme sequences from a Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Heteroptera: Miridae) male nymph EST library.. Genbank. Interpretive Summary: The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris, is an important pest of many crops including cotton, alfalfa, seed crops, nuts, and vegetable crops. When plant bugs feed they damage plants by injecting enzymes that dissolve important plant compounds. The feeding damage results in death of young fruits, leaves, and flowers. Before now, genes for this type of enzyme have been identified only in beetles and fungi. Sequence analysis from an actively feeding stage of this bug identified three unique genes that may now be targeted for pest control. Technical Abstract: Three sequences were identified from an EST library prepared from male nymph stage Lygus lineolaris polyA RNA that appear to encode polygalacturonase (PG) enzymes. The three sequences are dissimilar in both nucleotide and amino acid sequence, but amino acid sequences are similar to genes cloned from two phytophagous beetles and fungi. PG enzymes have been identified in Lygus saliva, but these are the first genes identified that correspond. These genes, because of their importance in feeding and digestion, may be used as markers for mass reared L. lineolaris to indicate colony health. Also, because PGs are indicated in plant damage, these genes may be useful to evaluate PG inhibitors for crop protection. |
