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Organization, evolution and transcriptional profile of hexamerin genes of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

  1. A. S. Cristino1,
  2. F. M. F. Nunes2,
  3. A. R. Barchuk3,
  4. V. M. Aguiar-Coelho4,
  5. Z. L. P. Simões2,
  6. M. M. G. Bitondi2,*

Article first published online: 15 JAN 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00970.x

Issue

Insect Molecular Biology

Insect Molecular Biology

Special Issue: The Nasonia Genome

Volume 19, Issue Supplement s1, pages 137–146, February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cristino, A. S., Nunes, F. M. F., Barchuk, A. R., Aguiar-Coelho, V. M., Simões, Z. L. P. and Bitondi, M. M. G. (2010), Organization, evolution and transcriptional profile of hexamerin genes of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Insect Molecular Biology, 19: 137–146. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00970.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;

  2. 2

    Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil;

  3. 3

    Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and

  4. 4

    Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

*Márcia M. G. Bitondi, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciêcias e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida dos Bandeirantes 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Tel. +55 163602 4332; fax: +55 16 3633 6482; e-mail: mmgbit@usp.br and Alexandre S. Cristino, The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, QBI Building 79, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia. Tel: +61 7 3346 3341; fax: +61 7 3346 6301; e-mail: a.cristino@uq.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 JAN 2010
  2. Article first published online: 15 JAN 2010

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Keywords:

  • Nasonia vitripennis;
  • parasitoid wasp;
  • hexamerin;
  • prophenoloxidase;
  • storage proteins;
  • gene expression;
  • gene evolution;
  • Apis mellifera;
  • honeybee

Abstract

Hexamerins and prophenoloxidases (PPOs) proteins are members of the arthropod-haemocyanin superfamily. In contrast to haemocyanin and PPO, hexamerins do not bind oxygen, but mainly play a role as storage proteins that supply amino acids for insect metamorphosis. We identified seven genes encoding hexamerins, three encoding PPOs, and one hexamerin pseudogene in the genome of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis. A phylogenetic analysis of hexamerins and PPOs from this wasp and related proteins from other insect orders suggests an essentially order-specific radiation of hexamerins. Temporal and spatial transcriptional profiles of N. vitripennis hexamerins suggest that they have physiological functions other than metamorphosis, which are arguably coupled with its lifestyle.

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