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Title: SEX-SPECIFIC AND HORMONE CONTROLLED EXPRESSION OF A VITELLOGENIN ENCODING GENE IN THE GYPSY MOTH

Author
item ADAMCZYK, JOHN - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item FESCEMYER, HOWARD - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item HECKEL, DAVID - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item GAHAN, LINDA - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item DAVIS, ROBIN - DEPT ZOOL, UNIV OF MD
item Kelly, Thomas

Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: To reduce effects of chemical pesticides on human health and the environment, we are developing biologically based methods of pest control using the pest's own genes to reduce pest damage. As a first step in this direction, we have isolated and partially sequenced the gene for gypsy moth vitellogenin, the major yolk protein of the egg. Vitellogenin is a sex specific and abundantly synthesized protein that is regulated by juvenile hormone, the hormone that maintains insects in their immature state. As such, the vitellogenin gene promoter is ideal for turning on insecticidal genes that have been inserted into the gypsy moth genome. Propagation of this powerful promoter and the insecticidal gene throughout the gypsy moth population will result in death and reduce damage to hardwood forests and ornamental trees of urban areas while reducing our dependence on chemical pesticides.

Technical Abstract: Microvitellogenin and vitellogenin cDNA from Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm) were tested for use as molecular probes to investigate the expression of genes coding for vitellogenins in Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) and Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth). Cross-hybridization was not observed between the M. sexta cDNAs and S. frugiperda DNA and mRNA. Vitellogenin cDNA from M. sexta did not hybridize to L. dispar DNA or mRNA. However, the 834 bp microvitellogenin cDNA from M. sexta hybridized to a ca. 850 bp transcript in L. dispar mRNA. A ca 2.1 kb cDNA clone, pz64, corresponding to the 3 prime-end of vitellogenin mRNA was isolated from late last instar L. dispar females. This clone has 38% amino acid sequence and 55% nucleic acid sequence similarities with the same region of high molecular weight vitellogenin in Bombyx mori (silkworm). When used as a probe in northern analysis of L. dispar mRNA, this cDNA hybridized to ca 5.3 kb transcript in female last instars, pupae, and adults, but not to male last instars and adults. This cDNA did not hybridize to mRNA from M. sexta and S. frugiperda. Expression of the ca. 5.3 kb vitellogenin transcript hybridizing the 2.1 kb cDNA clone was suppressed in 5-day-old last instar L. dispar females treated on day 2 with doses of the juvenile hormone analog, methoprene, greater than 10 nmol. Apparently, the high in vivo titer of juvenile hormone during the first 2 days of the last instar represses the transcription of vitellogenin mRNA.