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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #279937
Title: Expression of heat shock protein genes in insect stress responses

Author
item Zhao, Liming
item Jones, Walker

Submitted to: Invertebrate Survival Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2012
Publication Date: 6/13/2012
Citation: Zhao, L., Jones, W.A. 2012. Expression of heat shock protein genes in insect stress responses. Invertebrate Survival Journal. ISJ 9:93-101,2012.

Interpretive Summary: The heat shock proteins are a class of functionally related proteins involved in the folding and unfolding of other proteins. The heat shock proteins that are richly expressed in insects are important modulators of insect survival. The expression of different heat shock protein genes are induced and regulated in insects in response to environmental stresses including non-biotic stresses such as heat shock, ultraviolet radiation, chemical pesticides, as well as biotic stresses, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and other insects.

Technical Abstract: The heat shock proteins (HSPs) that are abundantly expressed in insects are important modulators of insect survival. Expression of HSP genes in insects is not only developmentally regulated, but also induced by various stressors in order to confer protection against such stressors. The expression of different HSP genes are induced and modulated in insects in response to environmental stresses including abiotic stresses, such as heat shock, ultraviolet radiation, chemical pesticides, as well as biotic stresses, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and other insects. HSPs are named according to their molecular weight, and are expressed at various levels in insects to moderate different levels because their essential roles in protein are different.