Identification of germline transcriptional regulatory elements in Aedes aegypti

Sci Rep. 2014 Feb 4:4:3954. doi: 10.1038/srep03954.

Abstract

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the principal vector for the yellow fever and dengue viruses, and is also responsible for recent outbreaks of the alphavirus chikungunya. Vector control strategies utilizing engineered gene drive systems are being developed as a means of replacing wild, pathogen transmitting mosquitoes with individuals refractory to disease transmission, or bringing about population suppression. Several of these systems, including Medea, UD(MEL), and site-specific nucleases, which can be used to drive genes into populations or bring about population suppression, utilize transcriptional regulatory elements that drive germline-specific expression. Here we report the identification of multiple regulatory elements able to drive gene expression specifically in the female germline, or in the male and female germline, in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. These elements can also be used as tools with which to probe the roles of specific genes in germline function and in the early embryo, through overexpression or RNA interference.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / genetics*
  • Aedes / virology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Chikungunya Fever / transmission
  • Chikungunya Fever / virology
  • Dengue / transmission
  • Dengue / virology
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Insect / genetics*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Insect Vectors / genetics*
  • Insect Vectors / virology
  • Male
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / genetics*
  • Smad4 Protein / genetics
  • Yellow Fever / transmission
  • Yellow Fever / virology

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Med protein, Drosophila
  • Smad4 Protein
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins