ARS | Publication request: Mitochondrial gene cytochrome b developmental and environmental expression in Aedes aegypti.

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 12, 2009
Publication Date: October 30, 2009
Citation: Zhao, L., Pridgeon, J.W., Becnel, J.J., Clark, G.G., Linthicum, K.J. 2009. Mitochondrial gene cytochrome b developmental and environmental expression in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology. 46(6):1361-1369.

Interpretive Summary: Mitochondrial coded DNA---Cytochrome b 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 detect whether cytochrome b of the mosquito Aedes aegypti is developmentally regulated, we employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to examine cytochrome b gene expression levels in different developmental stages of Ae. aegypti. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that cytochrome b 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 have multiple-copies, cytochrome b has much higher expression levels in all developmental stages in Ae. aegypti compared to nuclear genes, such as cytochrome c. We also investigated the effect of some environmental factors (e.g. high temperatures, ultra violet radiation and pesticide) on cytochrome b gene expression. These results suggest that cytochrome b gene was differentially expressed in different stages of development in Ae. aegypti and its response to environmental stress and pesticide challenge.

Technical Abstract: Cytochrome b, coded by mitochondrial DNA, is one of the cytochromes involved in electron transport in the respiratory chain of mitochondria. Cytochrome b is a critical intermediate in a mitochondrial death pathway. To reveal whether cytochrome b of the mosquito Aedes aegypti L. (AeaCytB) is developmentally regulated, we employed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to examine AeaCytB gene expression levels in different developmental stages of Ae. aegypti. The qPCR showed that AeaCytB was expressed in each developmental stage with peaks at 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, ultra- violet radiation and pesticide) on AeaCytB gene expression. Taken together, these results suggest that AeaCytB gene plays an important role in the development of Ae. aegypti and its response to environmental stress.