Tarver Matthew R, Florane Christopher B, Mattison Christopher P, Holloway Beth A, Lax Alan
United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA.
United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center Cotton Fiber Bioscience Unit, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, USA.
Insects. 2012 Nov 16;3(4):1190-9. doi: 10.3390/insects3041190.
The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is an important worldwide pest, each year causing millions of dollars in structural damage and control costs. Termite colonies are composed of several phenotypically distinct castes. Termites utilize these multiple castes to efficiently perform unique roles within the colony. During the molting/caste differentiation process, multiple genes are believed to be involved in the massive reorganization of the body plan. The objective of this research was to analyze the muscle gene, myosin, to further understand the role it plays in C. formosanus development. We find that comparing worker vs. solider caste myosin gene expression is up-regulated in the soldier and a myosin antibody-reactive protein suggests changes in splicing. Comparison of body regions of mature soldier and worker castes indicates a greater level of myosin transcript in the heads. The differential expression of this important muscle-related gene is anticipated considering the large amount of body plan reorganization and muscle found in the soldier caste. These results have a direct impact on our understanding of the downstream genes in the caste differentiation process and may lead to new targets for termite control.
台湾乳白蚁（Coptotermes formosanus）是一种在全球范围内具有重要影响的害虫，每年都会造成数百万美元的结构破坏和防治成本。白蚁群体由几种表型不同的品级组成。白蚁利用这些多个品级在群体中高效地执行独特的任务。在蜕皮/品级分化过程中，多个基因被认为参与了身体结构的大规模重组。本研究的目的是分析肌肉基因肌球蛋白，以进一步了解其在台湾乳白蚁发育中所起的作用。我们发现，比较工蚁和兵蚁品级，肌球蛋白基因在兵蚁中的表达上调，并且一种肌球蛋白抗体反应蛋白表明剪接发生了变化。成熟兵蚁和工蚁品级身体部位的比较表明，头部的肌球蛋白转录本水平更高。考虑到兵蚁品级中大量的身体结构重组和肌肉，预计这个重要的肌肉相关基因会有差异表达。这些结果直接影响我们对品级分化过程中下游基因的理解，并可能导致白蚁防治的新靶点。
