Effects of juvenile hormone III on Reticulitermes flavipes: changes in hemolymph protein composition and gene expression

Scharf, Michael E.; Ratliff, Catina R.; Wu-Scharf, Dancia; Zhou, Xuguo; Pittendrigh, Barry R.; Bennett, Gary W.

doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2004.12.001

Cited by 51 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…membrane protein fractions and make up a substantial proportion of total worker protein (32). Previously, we observed that the Hex-2 protein is most readily inducible in JH-treated workers that are undergoing presoldier differentiation (11). This observation led us to originally hypothesize that Hex-2 might participate in presoldier differentiation.…”

Section: Effects Of Rnai On Hexamerin Protein Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Five major hemolymph proteins are expressed in R. flavipes hemolymph (11). Using SDS͞PAGE and N-terminal sequencing, we established the identity of Hex-1 and Hex-2 in the hemolymph (Fig.…”

Section: Effects Of Rnai On Hexamerin Protein Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4A). Hex-2 was formerly known as hemolymph protein band 3, and Hex-1 corresponds to hemolymph protein band 4 (11). Ongoing studies have shown that the hexamerins occur in both soluble and All phenotypes except alates and the three reproductive phenotypes are considered immature in lower termites.…”

Section: Effects Of Rnai On Hexamerin Protein Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several tools and resources have become available in recent years to study the molecular basis of termite caste differentiation (5,6,10,11,18). Using these tools, we previously identified two JH-responsive and morphogenesis-associated hexamerin genes that are referred to as Hex-1 and Hex-2 (6,11).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using these tools, we previously identified two JH-responsive and morphogenesis-associated hexamerin genes that are referred to as Hex-1 and Hex-2 (6,11). Because hexamerins have well defined roles as JH-binding proteins (19,20), because of the well established role of JH in termite caste differentiation (15), and on the basis of our observations that one of the hexamerins (Hex-2) is highly induced in response to rising JH titers during presoldier differentiation (11), we sought to further functionally characterize the Reticulitermes flavipes hexamerins.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Social exploitation of hexamerin: RNAi reveals a major caste-regulatory factor in termites

Zhou

Scharf

2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Lower termites express a unique form of eusocial polyphenism in that totipotent workers can differentiate into either soldier or reproductive caste phenotypes. In this initial effort using RNA interference in termites, we found that two hexamerin genes, Hex-1 and Hex-2, participate in the regulation of caste polyphenism. Our methodology involved a dual gene-silencing approach that used a single short-interfering RNA fragment to silence the two homologous hexamerin genes. We performed validation studies that evaluated effects on nontarget housekeeping genes, silencing of a nonhousekeeping control gene, and effects at the protein level. We found that the two hexamerin proteins, which are inducible by the morphogenetic juvenile hormone and which constitute a significant proportion of total termite protein, suppress juvenile-hormone-dependent worker differentiation to the soldier caste phenotype. This mechanism allows termite colonies to retain high proportions of altruistic worker caste members, thus apparently enhancing colony-inclusive fitness. These findings demonstrate a unique status quo regulatory mechanism for termite worker caste retention and provide an example of previously undescribed preadult developmental͞caste-regulatory genes from any social insect.sociogenomics ͉ RNA interference ͉ short-interfering RNA ͉ juvenile hormone ͉ phenotypic plasticity

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Section: Effects Of Rnai On Hexamerin Protein Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Five major hemolymph proteins are expressed in R. flavipes hemolymph (11). Using SDS͞PAGE and N-terminal sequencing, we established the identity of Hex-1 and Hex-2 in the hemolymph (Fig.…”

Section: Effects Of Rnai On Hexamerin Protein Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Effects Of Rnai On Hexamerin Protein Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social exploitation of hexamerin: RNAi reveals a major caste-regulatory factor in termites

Zhou

Scharf

2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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221

211

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The Evolution and Development of Eusocial Insect Behavior

Doležal

Flores

Traynor

et al. 2013

Advances in Evolutionary Developmental Biology

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Characterization of four esterase genes and esterase activity from the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes

Wheeler

Tarver

Coy

et al. 2009

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

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Four esterase genes and general esterase activity were investigated in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Two genes (RfEst1 and RfEst2) share significant translated identity with a number of insect JH esterases. The two remaining genes (RfEst3 and RfEst4) apparently code for much shorter proteins with similarity to fungal phenolic acid esterases involved in hemicellulose solubilization. All four genes showed consistently high midgut expression. This result was further supported by colorimetric activity assays and Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which showed significant esterase activity and a number of isoforms in the midgut. The greatest esterase activity and isoform composition were detected when alpha-naphthyl propionate was used as a substrate. Moreover, esterase activity and diverse isoforms were present in gut mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic sub-cellular protein fractions, as well as in the hindgut lumen. These findings reveal an agreement between gut esterase gene expression and activity distributions, and support the idea that R. flavipes gut esterase activity is host (not symbiont)-derived. In addition, these findings support the hypotheses that termite gut esterases may play important roles in lignocellulose digestion and caste differentiation. This study provides important baseline data that will assist ongoing functional-genomic efforts to identify novel genes with roles in semiochemical, hormone, and lignocellulose processing in the termite gut.

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Effects of juvenile hormone III on Reticulitermes flavipes: changes in hemolymph protein composition and gene expression

Cited by 51 publications

References 17 publications

Social exploitation of hexamerin: RNAi reveals a major caste-regulatory factor in termites

Social exploitation of hexamerin: RNAi reveals a major caste-regulatory factor in termites

The Evolution and Development of Eusocial Insect Behavior

Characterization of four esterase genes and esterase activity from the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes

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