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Title: Analysis and functional annotation of expressed sequence tags from the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis

Author
item Hunter, Wayne
item Smith, Michael

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2008
Publication Date: 5/13/2009
Citation: Hunter, W.B., Smith, M.T. 2009. Analysis and functional annotation of expressed sequence tags from the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Journal of Insect Science. 9:39.

Interpretive Summary: The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), ‘Anoplophora glabripennis’, is an economically and ecological important non-native, invasive forest pests recently discovered in North America. The beetle is spreading across the Northeastern United States and threatens Canada’s forest industries. Despite the substantial impact of this pest, limited effort has been expended in regards to defining the genetic and molecular make-up of this species. The significant role played by late-stage larvae in host tree decimation led us to undertake a small-scale EST sequencing project using a cDNA library constructed from 5th-instar ALB. The resultant dataset consisted of 599 “high quality” genetic sequences which were assembled into 381 unique transcripts. Each of these transcripts was catalogued as to putative molecular function, biological process, and associated cellular component according to the Gene Ontology classification system. Using this annotated dataset, we further highlighted a subset of assembled sequences putatively associated with ALB development and metamorphosis. These results provide a foundation for ALB genomics that contributes to the understanding of the diverse molecular mechanisms setting the genetic basis of beetle biology. Future development of novel control strategies for this insect pest may be enabled by this genetic knowledge.

Technical Abstract: The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), ‘Anoplophora glabripennis’, is one of the most economically and ecological important non-native, invasive forest pests recently discovered in North America. Despite the substantial impact of this pest, limited effort has been expended in regards to defining the genetic and molecular make-up of this species. Considering the significant role played by late-stadia larvae in host tree decimation, we undertook a small-scale EST sequencing project using a cDNA library constructed from 5th-instar ALB. The resultant dataset consisted of 599 “high quality” ESTs which, upon assembly, yielded 381 potentially unique transcripts. Each of these transcripts was catalogued as to putative molecular function, biological process, and associated cellular component according to the Gene Ontology classification system. Using this annotated dataset, we further highlighted a subset of assembled sequences associated with ‘A. glabripennis’ development and metamorphosis. This work advances the understanding of the diverse genomic, and molecular mechanisms which underlie coleopteran morphogenesis, which could lead to the development of novel control strategies for this important forest insect pest.