ARS | Publication request: Cytochromr b expression and RNAi knockdown in Aedes aegypti.

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 6, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Cytochrome b, coded by mitochondrial DNA, is one of the cytochromes involved in the electron transport in the respiratory chain of mitochondria. Cytochrome b is a critical intermediate in mitoptosis, i.e. a mitochondrial death pathway. To reveal whether cytochrome b of the mosquito Aedes aegypti (AeaCytB) is developmentally regulated, we employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to examine AeaCytB gene expression levels in different developmental stages of Ae. aegypti. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that AeaCytB was expressed in each developmental stage with peaks in first and second instars and was highly expressed in teneral male and female Ae. aegypti adults. Since mitochondrial genes exist as multiple-copies, AeaCytB has much higher expression levels in all developmental stages in Ae. aegypti compared to nuclear genes. We also investigated the effect of abiotic environmental factors (e.g. high temperatures, ultraviolate radiation and pesticide) on AeaCytB gene expression. RNA interference (RNAi) using three double-strand RNA (dsRNA) constructs of AeaCytB genes microinjected into adults Ae. aegypti resulted in high mortality and mitoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that AeaCytB gene was differentially expressed in different stages of development in Ae. aegypti and its response to environmental stress and molecular pesticide challenge.