Dataset Information

Identification of anhydrobiosis-related genes from an expressed sequence tag database in the cryptobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki (Diptera; Chironomidae).

ABSTRACT: Some organisms are able to survive the loss of almost all their body water content, entering a latent state known as anhydrobiosis. The sleeping chironomid (Polypedilum vanderplanki) lives in the semi-arid regions of Africa, and its larvae can survive desiccation in an anhydrobiotic form during the dry season. To unveil the molecular mechanisms of this resistance to desiccation, an anhydrobiosis-related Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) database was obtained from the sequences of three cDNA libraries constructed from P. vanderplanki larvae after 0, 12, and 36 h of desiccation. The database contained 15,056 ESTs distributed into 4,807 UniGene clusters. ESTs were classified according to gene ontology categories, and putative expression patterns were deduced for all clusters on the basis of the number of clones in each library; expression patterns were confirmed by real-time PCR for selected genes. Among up-regulated genes, antioxidants, late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, and heat shock proteins (Hsps) were identified as important groups for anhydrobiosis. Genes related to trehalose metabolism and various transporters were also strongly induced by desiccation. Those results suggest that the oxidative stress response plays a central role in successful anhydrobiosis. Similarly, protein denaturation and aggregation may be prevented by marked up-regulation of Hsps and the anhydrobiosis-specific LEA proteins. A third major feature is the predicted increase in trehalose synthesis and in the expression of various transporter proteins allowing the distribution of trehalose and other solutes to all tissues.

SUBMITTER: Cornette R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2975212 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Identification of anhydrobiosis-related genes from an expressed sequence tag database in the cryptobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki (Diptera; Chironomidae).

Cornette Richard R Kanamori Yasushi Y Watanabe Masahiko M Nakahara Yuichi Y Gusev Oleg O Mitsumasu Kanako K Kadono-Okuda Keiko K Shimomura Michihiko M Mita Kazuei K Kikawada Takahiro T Okuda Takashi T

The Journal of biological chemistry 20100910 46

Some organisms are able to survive the loss of almost all their body water content, entering a latent state known as anhydrobiosis. The sleeping chironomid (Polypedilum vanderplanki) lives in the semi-arid regions of Africa, and its larvae can survive desiccation in an anhydrobiotic form during the dry season. To unveil the molecular mechanisms of this resistance to desiccation, an anhydrobiosis-related Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) database was obtained from the sequences of three cDNA libraries ...[more]

PMID: 20833722

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Project description:South America, particularly within its tropical belt, is renowned for its unparalleled high levels of species richness, surpassing other major biomes. Certain neotropical areas harbor fragmented knowledge of insect diversity and face imminent threats from biodiversity loss and climate change. Hence, there is an urgent need for rapid estimation methods to complement slower traditional taxonomic approaches. A variety of algorithms for delimiting species through single-locus DNA barcodes have been developed and applied for rapid species diversity estimates across diverse taxa. However, tree-based and distance-based methods may yield different group assignments, leading to potential overestimation or underestimation of putative species. Here, we investigate the performance of different DNA-based species delimitation approaches to rapidly estimate the diversity of Polypedilum (Chironomidae, Diptera) in South America. Additionally, we test the hypothesis that significant differences exist in the community structure of Polypedilum fauna between South America and its neighboring regions, particularly the Nearctic. Our analysis encompasses a dataset of 1492 specimens from 598 locations worldwide, with a specific focus on South America. Within this region, we analyzed a subset of 247 specimens reported from 37 locations. Using various methods including the Barcode Index Number (BIN), Bayesian Poisson tree processes (bPTP), multi-rate Poisson tree processes (mPTP), single-rate Poisson tree processes (sPTP), and generalized mixed Yule coalescent (sGMYC), we identify molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) ranging from 267 to 520. Our results indicate that the sGMYC method is the most suitable for estimating putative species in our dataset, resulting in the identification of 75 species in the Neotropical region, particularly in South America. Notably, this region exhibited higher species richness in comparison to the Palearctic and Oriental realms. Additionally, our findings suggest potential differences in species composition of Polypedilum fauna between the Neotropical and the adjacent Nearctic realms, highlighting high levels of endemism and species richness in the first. These results support our hypothesis that there are substantial differences exist in species composition between the Polypedilum fauna in South America and the neighboring regions.

Dataset Information

Identification of anhydrobiosis-related genes from an expressed sequence tag database in the cryptobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki (Diptera; Chironomidae).

Publications

Identification of anhydrobiosis-related genes from an expressed sequence tag database in the cryptobiotic midge Polypedilum vanderplanki (Diptera; Chironomidae).

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