Pwk. Ma et al., EXPRESSION OF A GENE THAT ENCODES PHEROMONE BIOSYNTHESIS ACTIVATING NEUROPEPTIDE IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM OF CORN-EARWORM, HELICOVERPA-ZEA, Insect biochemistry and molecular biology, 28(5-6), 1998, pp. 373-385
Expression of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (Hez-
PBAN) gene in the central nervous system of larval, pupal and adult He
licoverpa zea was studied using Northern hybridization analyses, rever
se-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridiza
tion histochemistry, and whole-mount immunocytochemistry. Northern hyb
ridization experiments demonstrated the presence of a 0.8-Kb Hez-PBAN
transcript in the subesophageal ganglion in adults, pupae and day 0-1
final instar larvae. In the subesophageal ganglion, Hez-PBAN mRNA was
localized by in situ hybridization histochemistry to the mandibular, m
axillary and labial cell clusters. Whole-mount immunocytochemical stud
ies showed that these three cell clusters also possess PBAN-like immun
oreactivity. Low levels of Hez-PBAN mRNA were revealed in other parts
of the central nervous system, including the brain, thoracic ganglia a
nd abdominal ganglia by RT-PCR. In day 0-1 final instar larvae, these
low levels of Hez-PBAN mRNA were localized by in situ hybridization hi
stochemistry to a pair of ventral midline neurons in each thoracic gan
glion and some abdominal ganglia. PBAN-like immunoreactivity was also
detected in these neurons. This study shows that in H. zea, the Hez-PB
AN gene is expressed predominantly in the subesophageal ganglion, and
at relatively low levels in other parts of the central nervous system.
(C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.