Ceratotoxins: Female-specific X-linked genes from the medfly,Ceratitis capitata

Abstract

In this paper, we report the chromosomal localization of ceratotoxins, a gene family encoding antibacterial female-specific peptides from the mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. The analysis of both polytene and mitotic chromosomes by in situ hybridization shows that ceratotoxins are the first case of female-specific X-linked genes from the medfly C. capitata. Southern blot analysis reveals that the ceratotoxin gene family is not specifically amplified in the female reproductive accessory glands of C. capitata.

An integrated genetic and cytogenetic map for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, based on microsatellite and morphological markers

“…The map of morphological and biochemical variants includes *50 loci comprising five linkage groups, which correspond to the five autosomes (Saul and Roessler 1984;Malacrida et al 1990;Roessler and Rosenthal 1992). Till now, only one X-linked locus, the ceratotoxin gene family, has been reported (Rosetto et al 2000). In medfly, recombination is restricted to the females (Roessler and Rosenthal 1992); however a very low recombination in males has been observed in some strains occurring mainly in pre-meiotic clusters (Franz 2002).…”

Molecular characterization and chromosomal localization of female-specific genes from the Mediterranean fruit flyCeratitis capitata(Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…4B). In the medfly genome, the FST genes are located in a different chromosome with respect to the ceratotoxin genes pertaining to the X chromosome (Rosetto et al 2000).…”

“…The only male-specific gene family characterized so far is the MSSP-family (male-specific serum polypeptides) (Thymianou et al 1995;Christophides et al 2000aChristophides et al , 2000b. On the contrary, a number of female-specific genes have been identified, such as the genes encoding vitellogenins (Rina and Savakis 1991) and the chorion Tolias et al 1990;Vlachou et al 1997) and ceratotoxin genes, which encode a family of antibacterial peptides whose expression is localized exclusively in the accessory glands of sexually mature females (Marchini et al 1993(Marchini et al , 1995Rosetto et al 1996Rosetto et al , 1997Rosetto et al , 2000. Recently, a female-specific cDNA has been identified in the accessory glands of C. capitata.…”

Medfly promoters relevant to the sterile insect technique

“…Ceratotoxin genes are X-linked and organized in a 26 kb cluster Rosetto et al, 2000). Ceratotoxin transcripts are detected only in adult females and show maximum levels 6-7 days after eclosion.…”