Zhang Zhengqing, Guo Ruijian, Li Menglou
Laboratory of Forestry Pests Biological Control, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
Laboratory of Forestry Pests Biological Control, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
Gene. 2017 Mar 30;606:25-34. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Jan 6.
Dastarcus helophoroides, a predatory natural enemy of longhorned beetles, has a relatively longer lifespan compared to other insects. To determine the potential physiological roles of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) in longevity and aging of D. helophoroides, analyses including molecular information, bioinformatics research, phylogenetic relationship and expression patterns were combined for investigation. Four D.hSODs were classified into three groups: one cytoplasmic Cu/Zn-SOD, two extracellular Cu/Zn-SOD and one Mn-SOD, were identified and characterized by multiple alignments. All D.hSODs were highly homologous to SODs of Tribolium castaneum, and closely clustered together with SOD genes from insects in phylogenetic analyses. Comparison of the D.hSODs expression in different tissues, stages and age groups showed that the SOD transcripts could be detected in all examined specimens. The expression of D.hSODs revealed tissue-specificity with relatively high levels in the male reproductive system and head and low levels in female reproductive systems and midgut. Expression analyses of D.hSODs in different development stages demonstrated that D.hSOD1 and D.hSOD2 increased in 2nd and 5th instar larvae, whereas two extracellular Cu/Zn-SOD genes (D.hSOD3-a and D.hSOD3-b) were much more expressed in newly emerged adults. The expression fluctuations of D.hSODs during aging seemed to be less significant than during development, and exhibited relatively stable expression with an initial decline and then increased in older groups. The relatively stable and increased expression of D.hSODs may indicate a strong ability of SODs to eliminate oxidative damage products accumulated during aging and possibly retard aging. The research provides molecular biology and in vivo expression levels for future analysis of the SOD family in D. helophoroides and other insects, and provides a basis for further study about the SOD genes contribution on longevity of D. helophoroides.
花绒寄甲是天牛的捕食性天敌，与其他昆虫相比，其寿命相对较长。为了确定抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）在花绒寄甲寿命和衰老过程中的潜在生理作用，综合分子信息、生物信息学研究、系统发育关系和表达模式等分析方法进行研究。4种花绒寄甲SOD被分为3组：1种细胞质Cu/Zn-SOD、2种细胞外Cu/Zn-SOD和1种Mn-SOD，通过多序列比对进行了鉴定和表征。所有花绒寄甲SOD与赤拟谷盗的SOD高度同源，在系统发育分析中与昆虫的SOD基因紧密聚类在一起。对花绒寄甲不同组织、发育阶段和年龄组的SOD表达进行比较，结果表明在所有检测样本中均可检测到SOD转录本。花绒寄甲SOD的表达具有组织特异性，在雄性生殖系统和头部相对较高，而在雌性生殖系统和中肠中较低。对花绒寄甲不同发育阶段的SOD表达分析表明，D.hSOD1和D.hSOD2在2龄和5龄幼虫中增加，而2种细胞外Cu/Zn-SOD基因（D.hSOD3-a和D.hSOD3-b）在新羽化的成虫中表达量更高。花绒寄甲SOD在衰老过程中的表达波动似乎不如发育过程中显著，在老龄组中表现出相对稳定的表达，先下降后上升。花绒寄甲SOD相对稳定且上升的表达可能表明其具有较强的清除衰老过程中积累的氧化损伤产物的能力，并可能延缓衰老。该研究为未来分析花绒寄甲及其他昆虫的SOD家族提供了分子生物学和体内表达水平数据，为进一步研究SOD基因对花绒寄甲寿命的贡献奠定了基础。
