Three amino acid substitutions contributing to thermostability of phosphoglucose isomerase in the Glanville fritillary butterfly.

Temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that affect organisms, especially ectotherms, due to its effects on protein stability. Understanding the general rules that govern thermostability changes in proteins to adapt high-temperature environments is crucial. Here, we report the amino acid substitutions of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) related to thermostability in the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia, Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

RNA sequencing reveals differential thermal regulation mechanisms between sexes of Glanville fritillary butterfly in the Tianshan Mountains, China.

The Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia; Nymphalidae) has been extensively studied as a model species in metapopulation ecology. We investigated in the earlier studies that female butterflies exhibit higher thermal tolerance than males in the Tianshan Mountains of China. We aim to understand the molecular mechanism of differences of thermal responses between sexes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata, Mammalia, Carnivora).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata, Mammalia, Carnivora) is a circular molecule of 16 710 bp in length, containing 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. The features of the mitochondrial genome of the masked palm civet are similar to the other mammals. The phylogenetic analysis shows that all species from the family Viverridae cluster together, in which P.

Complete mitochondrial genome of a satyrid butterfly, Lethe albolineata (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Lethe albolineata is a circular molecule of 15,248 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (LrRNA and SrRNA), and a non-coding AT-rich region. All PCGs use the standard ATN start codon, except for COI, which begins with CGA. Eight PCGs employ complete stop codon (TAA), whereas the others use a single T or TA acting as an incomplete stop codon.

Heat shock protein 70 gene family in the Glanville fritillary butterfly and their response to thermal stress.

Temperature variation in the environment is a great challenge to organisms. Induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a common genetic mechanism to cope with thermal stress. The Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) is a model species in population and evolutionary biology, and its behavior and life history are greatly influenced by ambient temperature.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Gonepteryx mahaguru (Lepidoptera: Pieridae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Gonepteryx mahaguru (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is 15,221 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (LrRNA and SrRNA) and 1 non-coding A + T-rich region. The nucleotide composition is significantly biased toward A + T (80.9%).

Phenotypic plasticity in thermal tolerance in the Glanville fritillary butterfly.

Ambient temperature is an ubiquitous environmental factor affecting all organisms. Global climate change increases temperature variation and the frequency of extreme temperatures, which may pose challenges to ectotherms. Here, we examine phenotypic plasticity to temperature and genotypic effects on thermal tolerance in the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Celastrina hersilia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Celastrina hersilia (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is determined in this work. The mitochondrial genome is 15,304 bp in length, which contains typical 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 1 non-coding A + T-rich region. All PCGs are initiated by ATA or ATT codons, except for COI, which uses CGA as a start codon.

Complete mitochondrial genome of a satyrid butterfly, Ninguta schrenkii (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of N. schrenkii is 15,261 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (LrRNA and SrRNA) and 1 non-coding A + T-rich region. The nucleotide composition is significantly biased toward A + T (80.

Molecular cloning and expression in vitro of a carboxylesterase gene from the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia).

Carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.

Suppression of Rap1 impairs cardiac myofibrils and conduction system in zebrafish.

Numerous studies have revealed that Rap1 (Ras-proximate-1 or Ras-related protein 1), a small GTPase protein, plays a crucial role in mediating cAMP signaling in isolated cardiac tissues and cell lines. However, the involvement of Rap1 in the cardiac development in vivo is largely unknown. By injecting anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotides to knock down Rap1a and Rap1b in zebrafish embryos, and in combination with time-lapsed imaging, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscope techniques, we seek to understand the role of Rap1 in cardiac development and functions.

The oral toxicity of the transgenic Bt+CpTI cotton pollen to honeybees (Apis mellifera).

Transgenic insect-resistant cotton has been planted in China in a large scale and may have adverse impacts on honeybees. Pollens from the transgenic Cry1Ac+CpTI cotton Zhong-41 and the parental cotton Zhong-23 were collected from the field and their impacts on adult worker bees were assessed. Experimental results showed that Zhong-41 pollen had no acute oral toxic effect on worker bees.

Leaf surface factors of transgenic Bt cotton associated with the feeding behaviors of cotton aphids: a case study on non-target effects.

The present paper reports case study results of the risk assessment of transgenic Bt cotton on a non-target pest, cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii. Several types of techniques, i.e.

Glacial effects on sequence divergence of mitochondrial COII of Polyura eudamippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in China.

Sequence divergence of mitochondrial COII was analyzed in 50 specimens belonging to five subspecies of Polyura eudamippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) collected from southern China. There were nine haplotypes in the 405 bp of partial COII sequence. Distribution of the five subspecies was primarily consistent with the spatial distribution of haplotypes.

Distribution and variations of three 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones in maize induced by the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée).

Contents of three 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones in tissue samples from different parts (young leaf, second leaf, old leaf, stem and root) of young maize plants of 4-leaves stage, fed by the third instar larvae of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS). Samples were taken immediately (set A) or 48 h (set B) after larvae had fed on the second leaf for 48 h. The three 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones investigated in our experiments were 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4(2H)-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), 2,4-dihydroxy-1,4(2H)-benzoxazin-3-one (DIBOA) and 2-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4(2H)-benzoxazin-3-one (HMBOA).

Identification of potential nuclear reprogramming and differentiation factors by a novel selection method for cloning chromatin-binding proteins.

Nuclear reprogramming is critical for animal cloning and stem cell creation through nuclear transfer, which requires extensive remodeling of chromosomal architecture involving dramatic changes in chromatin-binding proteins. To understand the mechanism of nuclear reprogramming, it is critical to identify chromatin-binding factors specify the reprogramming process. In this report, we have developed a high-throughput selection method, based on T7 phage display and chromatin immunoprecipitation, to isolate chromatin-binding factors expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells using primary mouse embryonic fibroblast chromatin.