scholarly journals Analysis of the circadian clock gene period in the sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina

2000 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. WARMAN ◽  
R. D. NEWCOMB ◽  
R. D. LEWIS ◽  
C. W. EVANS
Keyword(s):  
Clock Gene ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Length Variation ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cytoplasmic Localization ◽  
Repeat Region ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Circadian Clock Gene ◽  
Australian Sheep

We have isolated a homologue of the period (per) gene from the Australian sheep blow fly, Lucilia cuprina, as part of a comparative approach to the analysis of dipteran circadian systems. Sequence analysis of the 4 kb per cDNA revealed the conservation of three functional domains, namely the PAS dimerization motif, and the nuclear and cytoplasmic localization domains. A fourth domain, the threonine–glycine (TG) repeat region, is also conserved in L. cuprina per but has been severely truncated. No length variation was found in the TG repeat of L. cuprina or L. sericata collected from several different latitudinal zones. Expression analysis indicated a diel oscillation in per mRNA in LD 12[ratio ]12 with a period of 24 h and a peak at Zt 12. PER-immunoreactive protein oscillations were also demonstrated, with peak immunoreactivity lagging approximately 3 h behind peak mRNA levels. These results show the existence of a Drosophila-like circadian system in a calliphorid fly. They also provide evidence for the conservation of per function across the Diptera, and confirm the relevance of the Drosophila system as a model for fly circadian rhythms.

scholarly journals Volatiles from Merino fleece evoke antennal and behavioural responses in the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-497
Author(s):  
G. Yan ◽  
S. Liu ◽  
A. C. Schlink ◽  
G. R. Flematti ◽  
B. S. Brodie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Australian Sheep

Improved transgenic sexing strains for genetic control of the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina using embryo-specific gene promoters

2019 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yan ◽  
Megan E. Williamson ◽  
Rebecca J. Davis ◽  
Anne A. Andere ◽  
Christine J. Picard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Australian Sheep

scholarly journals Author Correction: A transgenic embryonic sexing system for the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yan ◽  
Maxwell J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Australian Sheep

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

scholarly journals Physical and Inflammatory Stressors Elevate Circadian Clock Gene mPer1 mRNA Levels in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Mouse

Endocrinology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 142 (11) ◽  
pp. 4910-4917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Takahashi ◽  
Shin-ichi Yokota ◽  
Reiko Hara ◽  
Tomoko Kobayashi ◽  
Masashi Akiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Circadian Clock Gene

Transgenic sexing system for genetic control of the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 80-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Li ◽  
Holly A. Wantuch ◽  
Rebecca J. Linger ◽  
Esther J. Belikoff ◽  
Maxwell J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Control ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Australian Sheep

scholarly journals Using Moderate Transgene Expression to Improve the Genetic Sexing System of the Australian Sheep Blow Fly Lucilia cuprina

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 797
Author(s):  
Ying Yan ◽  
Megan E. Williamson ◽  
Maxwell J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Female Offspring ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Embryonic Stage ◽  
Female Sterility ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Genetic Sexing ◽  
Tetracycline Transactivator ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Apoptotic Activity

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a promising strategy to control the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina, a major pest of sheep. We have previously developed a transgenic embryonic sexing system (TESS) for this pest to facilitate the potential SIT application. TESS carry two transgenes, a tetracycline transactivator (tTA) driver and a tTA-activated pro-apoptotic effector. TESS females die at the embryonic stage unless tetracycline is supplied in the diet. However, undesired female sterility was observed in some TESS strains without tetracycline due to expression of tTA in ovaries. Here we investigate if TESS that combine transgenes with relatively low/moderate expression/activity improves the fertility of TESS females. tTA driver lines were evaluated for tTA expression by quantitative real time PCR and/or by crossing with a tTA-activated RFPex effector line. Fertility and lethality tests showed that a TESS strain containing a driver line with moderate tTA expression and an effector line showing moderate pro-apoptotic activity could recover the fertility of parental females and eliminated all female offspring at the embryonic stage. Consequently, such a strain could be further evaluated for an SIT program for L. cuprina, and such a “moderate strategy” could be considered for the TESS development in other pest species.

scholarly journals A transgenic embryonic sexing system for the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yan ◽  
Maxwell J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Lucilia Cuprina ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Tetracycline Transactivator ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Major Pest

Abstract Genetic approaches, including the sterile insect technique (SIT), have previously been considered for control of the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina, a major pest of sheep. In an SIT program, females consume 50% of the diet but are ineffective as control agents and compete with females in the field for mating with sterile males, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the program. Consequently, transgenic sexing strains of L. cuprina were developed that produce 100% males when raised on diet that lacks tetracycline. However, as females die mostly at the pupal stage, rearing costs would not be significantly reduced. Here we report the development of transgenic embryonic sexing strains of L. cuprina. In these strains, the Lsbnk cellularization gene promoter drives high levels of expression of the tetracycline transactivator (tTA) in the early embryo. In the absence of tetracycline, tTA activates expression of the Lshid proapoptotic gene, leading to death of the embryo. Sex-specific RNA splicing of Lshid transcripts ensures that only female embryos die. Embryonic sexing strains were also made by combining the Lsbnk-tTA and tetO-Lshid components into a single gene construct, which will facilitate transfer of the technology to other major calliphorid livestock pests.

scholarly journals Conditional knockdown of transformer in sheep blow fly suggests a role in repression of dosage compensation and potential for population suppression

PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. e1009792
Author(s):  
Megan E. Williamson ◽  
Ying Yan ◽  
Maxwell J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
X Chromosome ◽  
Dosage Compensation ◽  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Blow Fly ◽  
Female Development ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
Xx Males

The transformer (tra) gene is essential for female development in many insect species, including the Australian sheep blow fly, Lucilia cuprina. Sex-specific tra RNA splicing is controlled by Sex lethal (Sxl) in Drosophila melanogaster but is auto-regulated in L. cuprina. Sxl also represses X chromosome dosage compensation in female D. melanogaster. We have developed conditional Lctra RNAi knockdown strains using the tet-off system. Four strains did not produce females on diet without tetracycline and could potentially be used for genetic control of L. cuprina. In one strain, which showed both maternal and zygotic tTA expression, most XX transformed males died at the pupal stage. RNAseq and qRT-PCR analyses of mid-stage pupae showed increased expression of X-linked genes in XX individuals. These results suggest that Lctra promotes somatic sexual differentiation and inhibits X chromosome dosage compensation in female L. cuprina. However, XX flies homozygous for a loss-of-function Lctra knockin mutation were fully transformed and showed high pupal eclosion. Two of five X-linked genes examined showed a significant increase in mRNA levels in XX males. The stronger phenotype in the RNAi knockdown strain could indicate that maternal Lctra expression may be essential for initiation of dosage compensation suppression in female embryos.

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