Alternative splicing contributes to the coordinated regulation of ferritin subunit levels in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

Sci Rep. 2014 Apr 25:4:4806. doi: 10.1038/srep04806.

Abstract

A constant ratio of ferritin heavy chain homolog (HCH) and light chain homolog (LCH) subunits seems to be required to compose the ferritin heteropolymer protein in insects. However, the mechanism by which insect LCH genes regulate protein levels remains unclear. We report that alternative promoters and alternative splicing contribute to maintaining a constant ratio of the two subunits, BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH (ferritin 1 HCH and ferritin 2 LCH), in Bactrocera dorsalis, a notorious quarantine pest. The genes BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH were identified with a series of potential transcription factor binding sites and were shown to be clustered within the genome in a "head to head" fashion. Thus, we unearthed a potential post-transcriptional mechanism to regulate the levels of LCH subunits, and confirmed that the expressions of BdFer1HCH and BdFer2LCH were induced by 20-hydroecdysone, iron overload, and immune challenge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Female
  • Ferritins / chemistry
  • Ferritins / genetics*
  • Ferritins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Order
  • Genes, Insect
  • Iron Overload / genetics
  • Iron Overload / metabolism
  • Male
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Subunits / genetics*
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism*
  • Tephritidae / genetics*
  • Tephritidae / metabolism*
  • Tephritidae / microbiology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Protein Subunits
  • Transcription Factors
  • Ferritins