| Title: | Gene expression and molecular phylogenetic analyses of beta-glucosidase in the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) |
| Address: | "Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan. Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama 930-8555, Japan. Electronic address: kmaekawa@sci.u-toyama.ac.jp" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.05.006 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1611 (Electronic) 0022-1910 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Beta-glucosidase (BG) is known as a multifunctional enzyme for social maintenance in terms of both cellulose digestion and social communication in termites. However, the expression profiles of each BG gene and their evolutionary history are not well understood. First, we cloned two types of BG homologs (RsBGI and RsBGII) from the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe). Gene expression analyses showed that RsBGI expression levels of primary queens and kings from 30 to 100 days after colony foundation were high, but those of reproductives dropped after day 400. Extremely low gene expression levels of RsBGI were observed in eggs, whereas workers had significantly higher expression levels than those of soldiers and other colony members. Consequently, RsBGI gene expression levels changed among each developmental stage, and RsBGI was shown to be involved in cellulose digestion. On the other hand, the RsBGII gene was consistently expressed in all castes and developmental stages examined, and notable expression changes were not observed among them, including in eggs. It was indicated that RsBGII is a main component involved in social communication, for example, the egg-recognition pheromone shown in this species previously. Finally, we obtained partial gene homologs from other termite and cockroach species, including the woodroach (genus Cryptocercus), which is the sister group to termites, and performed molecular phylogenetic analyses. The results showed that the origin of the BG gene homologs preceded the divergence of termites and cockroaches, suggesting that the acquisition of multifunctionality of the BG gene also occurred in cockroach lineages" |
| Keywords: | Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence Biological Evolution Cellulases Cockroaches/*genetics/*physiology Female Gene Expression/*physiology Insect Proteins/genetics Isoptera/genetics/*physiology Male Molecular Sequence Data Ovum/physiology *Phylogeny b; |
| Notes: | "MedlineShimada, Keisuke Maekawa, Kiyoto eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/05/17 J Insect Physiol. 2014 Jun; 65:63-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.05.006. Epub 2014 May 14" |
