cDNA Cloning and Partial Characterization of the DJ-1 Gene from Tribolium castaneum

Antioxidants

Michael R. Kanost¹  Hiroko Tabunoki²  Shunya Sasaki²  Takuma Sakamoto²  Maaya Nishiko³ 

[1] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, 141 Chalmers Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;Department of Science of Biological Production, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu 183-8504, Tokyo, Japan;United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu 183-8504, Tokyo, Japan;

关键词: DJ-1;    superoxide dismutase;    oxidative stress;    Tribolium castaneum;    paraquat;   

DOI  :  10.3390/antiox10121970

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The DJ-1 gene is highly conserved across a wide variety of organisms and it plays a role in anti-oxidative stress mechanisms in cells. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is widely used as a model insect species because it is easy to evaluate gene function in this species using RNA interference (RNAi). The T. castaneum DJ-1 (TcDJ-1) sequence is annotated in the T. castaneum genome database; however, the function and characteristics of the TcDJ-1 gene have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the cDNA sequence of TcDJ-1 and partially characterized its function. First, we examined the TcDJ-1 amino acid sequence and found that it was highly conserved with sequences from other species. TcDJ-1 mRNA expression was higher in the early pupal and adult developmental stages. We evaluated oxidant tolerance in TcDJ-1 knockdown adults using paraquat and found that adults with TcDJ-1 knockdown exhibited increased sensitivity to paraquat. Our findings show that TcDJ-1 has an antioxidant function, as observed for DJ-1 from other insects. Therefore, these results suggest that TcDJ-1 protects against oxidative stress during metamorphosis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown