Transcription profiling of guanine nucleotide binding proteins during developmental regulation and pesticide response in Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

Guanine nucleotide binding proteins (GNBP), glycoproteins anchored on the cytoplasmic cell membrane, are mediators for many cellular processes. Complete cDNA of the GNBP gene β-subunit (SiGNBP) was cloned and sequenced from Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) worker ants. To understand whether SiGNBP is developmentally regulated in S. invicta, its expression levels in different developmental stages were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. SiGNBP was expressed in each developmental stage, and was especially highly expressed in the late larval and early pupal stages, as well among the dealate females (queens) ∼10 days post nuptial flight. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction also showed that mRNA transcription levels of SiGNBP in S. invicta workers were regulated during the duration of the study in response to heat shock, ultraviolet light, and boric acid treatment. These results suggest that the SiGNBP gene may play an important role in the development of S. invicta, and this has potential for use as a target in new insecticides for the control of fire ants.