The boll weevil vitellogenin gene: Nucleotide sequence, structure, and evolutionary relationship to nematode and vertebrate vitellogenin genes

Abstract

Boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) eggs contain two yolk proteins, YP47 and YP160. Using anti-YP160 antiserum as probe, a partial-length complementary DNA (cDNA) was isolated from a lambda gt11 adult female cDNA library. A second partial-length cDNA was isolated from a lambda gt10 adult female cDNA library by differential screening with male vs. female cDNAs. Northern blot analysis showed that each cloned cDNA hybridized to a 6-kb female-specific transcript. These cDNAs were used to probe a genomic library, and two overlapping genomic clones were obtained that span the boll weevil vitellogenin gene. The entire transcription unit was sequenced, and introns were mapped by a combination of primer extension experiments, S1 nuclease protection experiments, and polymerase chain reaction-mediated synthesis of two additional cDNA clones. Based on these data, the vitellogenin mRNA is 5511 nucleotides [plus a poly(A) tail of undetermined length] and specifies a provitellogenin of 1790 amino acids. The deduced protein has a Glu+Gln content of 16.3%, which is a relatively high value that is typical of most vitellogenins. Protein sequence similarities including Cys clusters conserved between boll weevil vitellogenin and Xenopus laevis A2 or Caenorhabditis elegans vit-5 vitellogenins indicated that the boll weevil protein is a member of the ancient nematode-vertebrate vitellogenin family. Moreover, the six introns in the boll weevil vitellogenin gene interrupt the coding region at positions closely or exactly corresponding to a subset of the positions of the 34 vertebrate vitellogenin introns, further supporting the argument for a common evolutionary relationship. This report represents the first complete nucleotide sequence and structural analysis of a nondipteran insect vitellogenin gene.

Molecular diversity and evolution of the large lipid transfer protein superfamily

“…Several analyses based on the conserved N-terminal regions of Vtgs revealed a closer relationship between the Vtgs from nematodes and insects compared with Vtgs from vertebrates (61,68). In contrast, other analyses suggest a closer relationship between the Vtgs from nematodes and vertebrates compared with Vtgs from insects (4,(71)(72)(73). The difference between the two groups of analyses may be explained by the fact that the Vtg trees were unrooted (73), rooted using an insect Vtg rather than a non-Vtg LLTP (72), or interpreted without taking the included apoB outgroup into account (4,73).…”

Current knowledge on genes and genomes of phytophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea, Curculionoidea): a review

“…These probes can be used to screen genomic libraries, with clones that contain big fragments of genomic DNA (i.e., 15-45 kb), to select those with the gene of interest, including control regions, regulatory elements, and introns. This strategy has been followed to fully characterise the diapause protein 1 of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Koopmanschap et al, 1995) or the vitellogenin gene in Anthonomus grandis (Trewitt et al, 1992).…”

“…The gene for vitellogenin has been studied in two weevil species, including A. grandis and the white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi (Trewitt et al, 1992;Leal et al, 1997). The vitellogenin beetle gene shows a high degree of conservation from nematodes to vertebrates and insects, even with regard to the exon-intron structure (Trewitt et al, 1992). The interest in this gene and its regulation, apart from being relevant to understand the molecular mechanisms of oogenesis, also roots in the fact that its expression seems affected by certain host characteristics.…”

“…The first DNA sequence data published for the Phytophaga were for the cotton boll weevil (Curculionoidea), Anthonomus grandis Boheman, precisely belonging to a protamine gene expressed in the beetle testis (Trewitt et al, 1990), and the same species rendered the complete genomic sequence, including introns and regulatory sequences, of the vitellogenin gene (Trewitt et al, 1992). In the case of the Chrysomeloidea the first characterised nuclear gene actually corresponded to a "foreign"-in origin genomic element, a transposable element of the mariner family that was described in the galerucine Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster) (Robertson, 1993), followed shortly after by the characterisation of a diapause protein in Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (de Kort & Koopmanschap, 1994).…”

DNA sequence and prokaryotic expression analysis of vitellogenin from Antheraea pernyi

“…The Vgs have been studied extensively in various animals from vertebrates to invertebrates (Nardelli et al, 1987;Chen et al, 1997;Tufail and Takeda, 2008) and some highly conserved structures related with biological functions of Vgs Trewitt et al, 1992;Chen et al, 1997;Lee et al, 2000), such as polyserine tracts, DGXR motif, subtilisin-like endoproteases site (R/KXXR/K) and GL/ICG motif (Taborsky, 1991;Dhadialla et al, 1992;Mayadas and Wagner, 1992;Giorgi et al, 1999;Tufail et al, 2005) are found. The insect Vgs are synthesized mainly in fat body and have the tissue-, stage-and sex-specific characteristics Sappington et al, 2002).…”