Cloning and expression of the gene encoding the diapause hormone and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua

Abstract

Diapause hormone (DH) and pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), two important insect neuropeptides, regulate insect development and sex pheromone biosynthesis, respectively. DH-like immunoreactivity has been detected in the suboesophageal ganglion (SG) of pharate adult of Spodoptera exigua (Spe) by using an antiserum against Helicoverpa armigera DH. A full-length of Spe-DH-PBAN cDNA was obtained based on reverse transcription-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends strategies. The open reading frame of this cDNA encodes a 197-amino acid precursor protein that contains DH, PBAN, and three other SG neuropeptides, all of which share a conservative C-terminal pentapeptide motif FXPR/KL (X = G, T or S). Northern blot analysis demonstrates the presence of an 800 bp transcript in the SG. The Spe-DH-PBAN mRNA is detectable at high levels at larval and adult stages, suggesting that Spe-DH-PBAN gene might be correlated with larval development and sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths.

• Diapause hormone
• pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide
• molecular characterization
• development expression
• Spodoptera exigua

Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the National Basic Research Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology, People's Republic of China (2006CB102001).

Notes

^†The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to GenBank and have been assigned the accession number AY 628764.