Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214575

Title: Analysis and functional annotation of expressed sequence tags from the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis

Author
item Hunter, Wayne
item Smith, Michael

Submitted to: National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2007
Publication Date: 6/10/2007
Citation: Hunter, W.B., Smith, M.T. 2007. Analysis and functional annotation of expressed sequence tags from the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). DR108748-DR109303.

Interpretive Summary: We identified 600 genetic sequences of which ~380 were uniquely identified to the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) which is one of the most serious invasive forest insect pests discovered in North America in recent years. Despite the substantial impact of this pest, limited effort has been expended in regards to defining the genetic and molecular make-up of this species. The significant role played by the larvae which live inside of trees thus creating tunnels as they feed are especially difficult to find and manage. Therefore we undertook a small-scale gene sequencing project using a cDNA library constructed from 5th-instar ALB to better understand the genetic basis of its survival and development. The resultant dataset consisted of 600 “high quality” expressed sequence tags, ESTs, which represent pieces of genes being produced in response to the insects physiological needs. After comparative analyses to the publicly available database we found that 381 gene sequences were potentially unique to the ALB. Each of these gene sequences was catalogued as to their putative molecular function, biological process, and associated cellular component according to the Gene Ontology classification system. The EST sequences reported here have been deposited in GenBank’s dbEST under accession numbers DR108748-DR109303. Using this annotated dataset, we further highlighted a subset of assembled sequences putatively associated with ALB development and metamorphosis. This work contributes to the understanding of the diverse molecular mechanisms which underlie beetle develpment and enables the future development of novel management strategies which can target these genetic processes to reduce this economically important forest insect pest.

Technical Abstract: We identified 600 genetic sequences of which ~380 were uniquely identified to the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis, (Coleoptera) which is one of the most serious invasive forest insect pests discovered in North America in recent years. Despite the substantial impact of this pest, limited effort has been expended in regards to defining the genetic and molecular make-up of this species. Considering the significant role played by late-stadia larvae in host tree decimation, we undertook a small-scale EST sequencing project using a cDNA library constructed from 5th-instar ALB. The resultant dataset consisted of 600 “high quality” ESTs (E-value less than or equal to e-10) which, upon assembly, yielded 381 potentially unique transcripts. Each of these transcripts was catalogued as to putative molecular function, biological process, and associated cellular component according to the Gene Ontology classification system. The EST sequences reported in this study have been deposited in GenBank’s dbEST under accession numbers DR108748-DR109303. Using this annotated dataset, we further highlighted a subset of assembled sequences putatively associated with A. glabripennis development and metamorphosis. This work will contribute to understanding of the diverse molecular mechanisms which underlie coleopteran morphogenesis and enable the future development of novel management strategies for the management of this economically important forest insect pest.