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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Corn, Soybean and Wheat Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #241491
Title: Cloning and characterization of mariner-like elements in the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura

Author
item MITTAPALLI, OMPRAKASH - The Ohio State University
item RIVERA-VEGA, LOREN - The Ohio State University
item BHANDARY, B - The Ohio State University
item BAUTISTA, M - The Ohio State University
item MAMIDALA, P - The Ohio State University
item MICHEL, ANDREW - The Ohio State University
item Shukle, Richard
item Mian, Rouf

Submitted to: Bulletin of Entomological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/4/2011
Publication Date: 5/12/2011
Citation: Mittapalli, O., Rivera-Vega, L., Bhandary, B., Bautista, M.A., Mamidala, P., Michel, A.P., Shukle, R.H., Mian, R.M. 2011. Cloning and characterization of mariner-like elements in the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 102(6):697-704.

Interpretive Summary: Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura is the number one insect pest of soybean in the United States and it causes significant economic damage. The adaptation to host plant resistance can lead to the evolution of soybean aphid ‘biotypes’ that can overcome resistance offered by the available soybean cultivars. Very little knowledge exists for the soybean aphid at the molecular level. Transposable elements are thought to potentially mediate resistance in insects through changes in gene amplification and mutations in coding sequences. Mariner-like transposable elements (MLEs) are common within the genomes of arthropods and various other invertebrates. In this study, we report the cloning of MLEs from the soybean aphid genome using degenerate PCR primers designed to amplify conserved regions of mariner transposases. Two of the ten sequenced clones (designated as Agmar1 and Agmar2) contained partial but continuous open reading frames, which shared high level of homology at the protein level with other mariner transposases from insects and other taxa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Agmar1 to group within the irritans subfamily of MLEs while Agmar2 within the mellifera subfamily. Southern blot analysis indicated a low copy number for Agmar1 like elements within the soybean aphid genome. These results suggest the presence of at least two different putative mariner-like transposases encoded by the soybean aphid genome. These findings will have far reaching consequences in molecular research on soybean aphids.

Technical Abstract: Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is currently the most important insect pest of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in the United States and it causes significant economic damage worldwide. The adaptation to host plant resistance can lead to the evolution of soybean aphid ‘biotypes’ that can overcome resistance offered by the available soybean cultivars. Despite its high impact status, very little knowledge exists for the soybean aphid at the molecular level. Transposable elements are thought to potentially mediate resistance in insects through changes in gene amplification and mutations in coding sequences. Mariner-like transposable elements (MLEs) are ubiquitous within the genomes of arthropods and various other invertebrates. In this study, we report the cloning of MLEs from the soybean aphid genome using degenerate PCR primers designed to amplify conserved regions of mariner transposases. Two of the ten sequenced clones (designated as Agmar1 and Agmar2) contained partial but continuous open reading frames, which shared high level of homology at the protein level with other mariner transposases from insects and other taxa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Agmar1 to group within the irritans subfamily of MLEs while Agmar2 within the mellifera subfamily. Southern blot analysis indicated a low copy number for Agmar1 like elements within the soybean aphid genome. These results suggest the presence of at least two different putative mariner-like transposases encoded by the soybean aphid genome.