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Differential expression of cytochrome c oxidase subunit III gene in castes of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis

Liénard, Marjorie LU orcid ; Lassance, Jean-Marc LU ; Paulmier, I ; Picimbon, Jean-Francois LU and Löfstedt, Christer LU (2006) In Journal of Insect Physiology 52(6). p.551-557
Abstract
Social insects such as termites live in colonies in which cooperation is assumed by all individuals developing into castes to which specific tasks are allocated. Little has been reported about molecular aspects underlying termite caste-specific gene expression. Genetic regulation has recently been hypothesized to govern caste-specific traits and physiology in social insects. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) has been shown to be an interesting candidate for expression study in insects. We used the cytochrome c oxidase subunit III gene (COXIII) that was cloned from mRNA in a lower termite, Reticulitermes santonensis De Feytaud (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae). The full-length cDNA encodes a protein of 262 amino acids that shows high degree of homology... (More)
Social insects such as termites live in colonies in which cooperation is assumed by all individuals developing into castes to which specific tasks are allocated. Little has been reported about molecular aspects underlying termite caste-specific gene expression. Genetic regulation has recently been hypothesized to govern caste-specific traits and physiology in social insects. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) has been shown to be an interesting candidate for expression study in insects. We used the cytochrome c oxidase subunit III gene (COXIII) that was cloned from mRNA in a lower termite, Reticulitermes santonensis De Feytaud (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae). The full-length cDNA encodes a protein of 262 amino acids that shows high degree of homology with other insects COXIIIs. Reverse transcriptase-PCR and real-time PCR were performed to compare gene expression between larvae, workers, nymphs and soldiers. Analyses performed on head cDNAs revealed that COXIII is differentially expressed between castes. The level of COXIII is caste-regulated with an increase in workers (similar to 1.9-fold) and nymphs (similar to 2.8-fold) and a decrease in soldiers (0.8-fold) compared to the expression level in larvae (1.0-fold). These results may emphasize the physiological importance of COX in the termite brain at different developmental stages. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Insect Physiology
volume
52
issue
6
pages
551 - 557
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:16545394
  • wos:000238556200002
  • scopus:33646769636
ISSN
1879-1611
DOI
10.1016/j.jinsphys.2006.02.002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fc478ce2-f41e-4edb-8b72-0b5780a64827 (old id 159708)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:15:01
date last changed
2024-01-11 04:34:33
@article{fc478ce2-f41e-4edb-8b72-0b5780a64827,
  abstract     = {{Social insects such as termites live in colonies in which cooperation is assumed by all individuals developing into castes to which specific tasks are allocated. Little has been reported about molecular aspects underlying termite caste-specific gene expression. Genetic regulation has recently been hypothesized to govern caste-specific traits and physiology in social insects. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) has been shown to be an interesting candidate for expression study in insects. We used the cytochrome c oxidase subunit III gene (COXIII) that was cloned from mRNA in a lower termite, Reticulitermes santonensis De Feytaud (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae). The full-length cDNA encodes a protein of 262 amino acids that shows high degree of homology with other insects COXIIIs. Reverse transcriptase-PCR and real-time PCR were performed to compare gene expression between larvae, workers, nymphs and soldiers. Analyses performed on head cDNAs revealed that COXIII is differentially expressed between castes. The level of COXIII is caste-regulated with an increase in workers (similar to 1.9-fold) and nymphs (similar to 2.8-fold) and a decrease in soldiers (0.8-fold) compared to the expression level in larvae (1.0-fold). These results may emphasize the physiological importance of COX in the termite brain at different developmental stages.}},
  author       = {{Liénard, Marjorie and Lassance, Jean-Marc and Paulmier, I and Picimbon, Jean-Francois and Löfstedt, Christer}},
  issn         = {{1879-1611}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{551--557}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Insect Physiology}},
  title        = {{Differential expression of cytochrome c oxidase subunit III gene in castes of the termite <i>Reticulitermes santonensis</i>}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinsphys.2006.02.002}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jinsphys.2006.02.002}},
  volume       = {{52}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}