Search for genes gained by horizontal gene transfer in an entomopoxvirus, with special reference to the analysis of the transfer of an ABC transporter gene.

Although it is generally believed that large DNA viruses capture genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the detailed manner of such transfer has not been fully elucidated. Here, we searched for genes in the coleopteran entomopoxvirus (EV) Anomala cuprea entomopoxvirus (ACEV) that might have been gained by ACEV by HGT. We classified the potential source organisms for HGT into three categories: the host A.

A new continuous cell line from the pest insect, Anomala cuprea (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae): emergence of contractile cells.

Insect contractile cells frequently appear at an early phase of cell culture, but in most cases, they disappear before a continuous cell line is established, so the cell line ceases to contract. Continuous contractile insect cell lines are currently available from only one species each of Hymenoptera and Diptera. Here, we obtained a new cell line that contracted long after being established as a continuous cell line.

Functional kaurene-synthase-like diterpene synthases lacking a gamma domain are widely present in Oryza and related species.

Various diterpene synthases have been functionally identified in cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). These are the homologs of ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CDP) synthase and ent-kaurene synthase (KS) that are responsible for the biosynthesis of gibberellins, diterpenoid phytohormones. We isolated a cDNA encoding full-length OsKSL12, a previously uncharacterized KS like (KSL) enzyme that consists of a β-domain and an α-domain with an active center, but lacks an N-terminal γ-domain.

The peritrophic membrane as a target of proteins that play important roles in plant defense and microbial attack.

The peritrophic membrane (or peritrophic matrix: PM) is a thin membranous structure that lies along the midgut epithelium in the midgut lumen and consists of chitin and proteins. PM exists between ingested food material and midgut epithelium cells and it is on the frontline of insect-plant and insect-microbe interactions. Therefore, proteins that play major roles in plant defense against herbivorous insects and in microbial attack on insects should penetrate, destroy or modify the PM to accomplish their roles.

Spatial distribution of orally administered viral fusolin protein in the insect midgut and possible synergism between fusolin and digestive proteases to disrupt the midgut peritrophic matrix.

Oral inoculation of entomopoxvirus spindles, microstructures composed of fusolin protein, causes disruption of the peritrophic matrix (PM), a physical barrier against microbe infection, in the insect midgut. Although the atomic structure of fusolin has been determined, little has been directly elucidated of the mechanism of disruption of the PM. In the present study, we first performed an immunohistochemical examination to determine whether fusolin acts on the PM directly or indirectly in the midgut of Bombyx mori larvae that were inoculated with spindles of Anomala cuprea entomopoxvirus.