The ultraspiracle gene of the spruce budworn, Choristoneura fumiferana: cloning of cDNA and developmental expression of mRNA

• Published in: Developmental genetics Vol. 22; no. 2
• Main Authors: Perera, S.C. (Canadian Forest Service, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.), Palli, S.R, Ladd, T.R, Krell, P.J, Retnakaran, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1998
• Subjects: AMINO ACID SEQUENCES; BINDING; BINDING PROTEINS; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA; CLONING; COMPLEMENTARY DNA; DIGESTIVE SYSTEM; DNA; ECDYSONE RESPONSE ELEMENT; ECDYSTERONE; EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT; EMBRYOS; FAT BODY; GENBANK/AF016368; GENE EXPRESSION; HAEMOLYMPH; HORMONE RECEPTORS; INTEGUMENT; INTESTINES; LARVAE; MESSENGER RNA; MIDGUT; MOLECULAR SEQUENCE DATA; MOULTING HORMONES; NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE; PUPAE; REGULATORY SEQUENCES; STEROIDS; TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS
• ISSN: 0192-253X; 1520-6408

Cloning and characterization of a Choristoneura fumiferana ultraspiracle (Cfusp) cDNA are described. First, a PCR fragment and then a cDNA clone (4.4 kb) were isolated from spruce budworm cDNA libraries. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA with the sequences in Genbank showed that this sequence had high homology with the ultraspiracle cDNAs cloned from Drosophila melanogoster (Dmusp), Bombyx mori (Bmusp), Manduca sexta (Msusp), and Aedes aegypti (Aausp). The Cfusp cDNA contained all the regions that are typical for a steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily member. The DNA binding domain or C region was the most conserved sequence among all the usps. The A/B, D, and E regions also showed high amino acid identity with the amino acid sequences of Dmusp, Msusp, Bmusp, and Aausp. The Cfusp 4.5-kb mRNA was present in the embryos, in all larval stages, and in the pupae. The Cfusp mRNA levels in the midgut increased during the sixth-instar larval development and reached peak levels during the ecdysteroid raises for the pupal molt. However, Cfusp mRNA levels remained unchanged in the midgut of fifth-instar larvae, and in the epidermis and fat body of sixth-instar larvae indicating both a tissue- and stage-specific regulation of Cfusp mRNA expression