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Molecular characterization and functional analysis of a calponin gene from the pinewood nematode
Author(s) -
Cardoso J. M. S.,
Fonseca L.,
Gomes P.,
Egas C.,
Abrantes I.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
forest pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1439-0329
pISSN - 1437-4781
DOI - 10.1111/efp.12196
Subject(s) - biology , rna , gene , complementary dna , microbiology and biotechnology , open reading frame , gene expression , caenorhabditis elegans , genetics , peptide sequence
Summary In this study, a cDNA sequence corresponding to the Bursaphelenchus xylophilus unc‐87 homolog gene ( Bx‐unc‐87 ) was identified in B. xylophilus transcriptome and characterized. This cDNA has an 1152‐bp‐long open‐reading frame that is putatively translated into a 383 amino acids peptide. The deduced protein (Bx‐ UNC ‐87) contains highly conserved regions of the calponin‐like proteins and has high sequence identity to the calponin proteins of other nematodes. In Caenorhabditis elegans , the calponin protein encoded by gene unc‐87 is required to maintain the structure of myofilaments in muscle cells of the body wall. The silencing of Bx‐unc‐87 gene was performed by RNA i, soaking the nematodes in a solution containing ds RNA of this gene. In addition to a no ds RNA control, a non‐homologous ds RNA control was also included. The Bx‐unc‐87 transcription was downregulated in nematodes treated with Bx‐unc‐87 ds RNA in comparison with the non‐ds RNA ‐treated nematodes. ds RNA ‐treated nematodes revealed some paralysis and uncoordinated movement in contrast to the regular and sinusoidal movement of the non‐treated nematodes. Furthermore, reproduction was reduced in ds RNA ‐treated nematodes. These results suggest that this protein has a function similar to that of the C. elegans homolog.