Comparative proteomics and expression analysis of five genes in Epicauta chinensis larvae from the first to fifth instar

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 21;9(2):e89607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089607. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Blister beetle is an important insect model for both medicinal and pure research. Previous research has mainly focused on its biology and biochemistry, but very little data is yet available in the molecular biology. This study uses differential proteomics technology to analyze the soluble proteins extracted from each of the 5 instars larvae of Epicauta chinensis. 42 of the differentially-expressed proteins were identified successfully by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Some of these proteins' function and their expression profiles are analyzed. Our analysis revealed dynamics regulation of the following proteins: Axin-like protein pry-1 (APR-1), dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD), vitellogenin (Vg) and lysozyme C (Lmz-S). APR-1 negatively regulates the Wnt signaling pathway. Its overexpression could result in embryo, leg, eye and ovary ectopica or malformation. DLD catalyzes the pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, the latter is the starting material of juvenile hormone (JH) and ipsdienol biosynthesis through the MVA pathway in insects. While Vg synthesis can be regulated by JH and stimulated by food factors. So DLD may affect the synthesis of JH, ipsdienol and Vg indirectly. The activity of lysozyme is an indicator of the immunity. Nutrition/food should be taken into account for its potential role during the development of larva in the future. Among the five genes and their corresponding proteins' expression, only hsc70 gene showed a good correspondence with the protein level. This reflects the fluctuating relationship between mRNA and protein levels.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coleoptera / genetics*
  • Coleoptera / growth & development
  • Coleoptera / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Larva / genetics
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / metabolism
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • Proteome / genetics*
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Proteomics
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Proteome

Grants and funding

This work is supported by the Special Fund for the Public Interest (Agriculture) (grant number 200903052) and the “13115” Sci-Tech Innovation Project of Shaanxi Province (number 2009ZDKG-06). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.