De novo characterization of the alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) transcriptome illuminates gene expression under potassium deprivation

Abstract Insects are ecotothermic organisms. Their development, survival, reproduction as well as distribution and abundance are affected by temperature. Heat shock protein (HSP) gene expression is closely associated with temperature variation and influences the adaptation of organisms to adverse environments. The beetle Agasicles hygrophila has successfully been used for biological control of the invasive plant alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides). As A. hygrophila populations are substantially inhibited by high temperatures in the summer, increasing global temperatures may limit the efficacy of this control agent. We previously established that A. hygrophila eggs have low tolerance to heat and this factored into the decreased numbers of A. hygrophila beetles at temperatures of 37.5°C and above. Here, we identified 26 HSP genes in A. hygrophila and examined the relationship between the transcript levels of these genes and heat tolerance. The temperature at which the expression of these 21 HSP genes peaked (Tpeak) was 37.5°C, which is in line with the limit of the high temperatures that A. hygrophila eggs tolerate. Therefore, we speculate that the Tpeak of HSP gene expression in eggs indicates the upper limit of temperatures that A. hygrophila eggs tolerate. This study identifies HSP genes as potential robust biomarkers and emphasizes that determining species’ heat tolerance in their natural habitats remains an important consideration for biocontrol. HSP gene expression data provide information about a species’ heat tolerance and may be used to predict its geographical distribution.

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De novo characterization of the antler tip of Chinese Sika deer transcriptome and analysis of gene expression related to rapid growth

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry ◽

10.1007/s11010-011-1209-3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 364 (1-2) ◽

pp. 93-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Baojin Yao ◽

Yu Zhao ◽

Qun Wang ◽

Mei Zhang ◽

Meichen Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Rapid Growth ◽

Sika Deer ◽

De Novo ◽

Chinese Sika Deer ◽

Antler Tip

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Transcriptional signatures of somatic neoblasts and germline cells in Macrostomum lignano

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.20607 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Magda Grudniewska ◽

Stijn Mouton ◽

Daniil Simanov ◽

Frank Beltman ◽

Margriet Grelling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Stem Cells ◽

De Novo ◽

Transcriptome Assembly ◽

Model Organism ◽

Proliferating Cells ◽

Macrostomum Lignano ◽

Germline Cells

The regeneration-capable flatworm Macrostomum lignano is a powerful model organism to study the biology of stem cells in vivo. As a flatworm amenable to transgenesis, it complements the historically used planarian flatworm models, such as Schmidtea mediterranea. However, information on the transcriptome and markers of stem cells in M. lignano is limited. We generated a de novo transcriptome assembly and performed the first comprehensive characterization of gene expression in the proliferating cells of M. lignano, represented by somatic stem cells, called neoblasts, and germline cells. Knockdown of a selected set of neoblast genes, including Mlig-ddx39, Mlig-rrm1, Mlig-rpa3, Mlig-cdk1, and Mlig-h2a, confirmed their crucial role for the functionality of somatic neoblasts during homeostasis and regeneration. The generated M. lignano transcriptome assembly and gene expression signatures of somatic neoblasts and germline cells will be a valuable resource for future molecular studies in M. lignano.

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