Transcriptional comparison between pheromone gland-ovipositor and tarsi in the corn earworm moth Helicoverpa zea

In this study, we compared the transcriptome between female pheromone glands (including the ovipositor) and female and male tarsi to identify differences between these tissues, particularly the genes involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis and chemosensation. We found transcripts encoding 11 fatty acyl-CoA desaturases, 20 fatty acyl-CoA reductases, 8 alcohol oxidases, some G protein-coupled receptors and many transcripts involved in signal transduction and pheromone transportation. Also we found gustatory and olfactory receptors associated with the tarsi and ovipositor. Differential expression analysis showed that there were many genes differentially expressed between tissues, including the candidate desaturases, fatty acyl-CoA reductases, and alcohol oxidases. We discuss how some of these genes produce proteins that could be involved in the biosynthesis of hexadecanal in tarsi and (Z)-11-hexadecenal in the pheromone gland and the possible role of proteins in chemosensation of the tarsi and ovipositor.Graphical abstract
Source: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and Proteomics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research