You are here:
A NOVEL CADHERIN-LIKE GENE FROM WESTERN CORN ROOTWORM, DIABROTICA VIRGIFERA VIRGIFERA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE), LARVAL MIDGUT TISSUE
Citation:
SAYED, M., E. R. NEKL, H. A. SIQUEIRA, H. MORIYAMA, R. H. FFRENCH-CONSTANT, M. BAGLEY, AND B. D. SIEGFRIED. A NOVEL CADHERIN-LIKE GENE FROM WESTERN CORN ROOTWORM, DIABROTICA VIRGIFERA VIRGIFERA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE), LARVAL MIDGUT TISSUE. Insect Molecular Biology. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, 16(5):591-600, (2007).
Impact/Purpose:
The objective of this task is to develop genetic methodologies for evaluating and decreasing ecological risks posed by genetically modified crops (GPRA goal 4.5.2). This research has the following primary aims:
measurement of population genetic parameters for target pest populations in order to inform pest resistance management models genetic analysis of resistance/tolerance to Bt-toxin in laboratory pest strains to investigate the genetic basis of Bt resistance development of molecular genetic indicators of exposure of nontarget organisms to Bt toxins development and evaluation of a genetic monitoring program for establishing population trends and probable impacts for non-target populations near GM-crop fields.
Description:
A cadherin-like gene and its mRNA were cloned from western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera: Coleoptera), an economically important agricultural pest in North America and Europe. The full length cDNA (5371 bp in length) encodes an open reading frame for a 1688 amino acid polypeptide. The putative protein has similar architecture to cadherin-like proteins isolated from lepidopteran midguts that have been implicated in resistance to Bt toxins. The Diabrotica cadherin-like gene is expressed primarily in the midgut and regulated during development, with high levels of expression observed in all larval instars and adults but low expression levels observed in the pupae. The corresponding genomic sequence spans more than 75 kb and is interspersed with 30 large introns. The genomic organization of the cadherin-like gene for this coleopteran species bears strong resemblance to lepidopterna cadherins suggesting a common molecular basis for resistance to Bt toxins.