Developmental expression patterns of cuticular protein genes with the R&R Consensus from Anopheles gambiae

• Published in: Insect biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 508 - 519
• Main Authors: Togawa, Toru, Dunn, W. Augustine, Emmons, Aaron C., Nagao, John, Willis, Judith H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Anopheles - genetics; Anopheles - growth & development; Anopheles - metabolism; Anopheles gambiae; Arthropoda; Consensus Sequence; CPR; Cuticle; Cuticular protein; developmental stages; females; Gene cluster; gene dosage; Gene dosage compensation; Gene Expression; gene expression regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; genome; insect cuticle; insect development; insect proteins; Insect Proteins - chemistry; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insect Proteins - metabolism; linkage (genetics); males; molecular sequence data; molting; Multigene Family; nucleotide sequences; protein synthesis; R&R Consensus; Real-time qRT-PCR; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sex Characteristics; sex linkage; temporal variation; Gene cluster; CPR; Cuticular protein; Cuticle; R&R Consensus; Real-time qRT-PCR; Gene dosage compensation
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.12.008
• ISSN: 0965-1748

CPR proteins are the largest cuticular protein family in arthropods. The whole genome sequence of Anopheles gambiae revealed 156 genes that code for proteins with the R&R Consensus and named CPRs. This protein family can be divided into RR-1 and RR-2 subgroups, postulated to contribute to different regions of the cuticle. We determined the temporal expression patterns of these genes throughout post-embryonic development by means of real-time qRT-PCR. Based on expression profiles, these genes were grouped into 21 clusters. Most of the genes were expressed with sharp peaks at single or multiple periods associated with molting. Genes coding for RR-1 and RR-2 proteins were found together in several co-expression clusters. Twenty-five genes were expressed exclusively at one metamorphic stage. Five out of six X-linked genes showed equal expression in males and females, supporting the presence of a gene dosage compensation system in A. gambiae. Many RR-2 genes are organized into sequence clusters whose members are extremely similar to each other and generally closely associated on a chromosome. Most genes in each sequence cluster are expressed with the same temporal expression pattern and at the same level, suggesting a shared mechanism to regulate their expression.