Cloning and Functional Characterization of Two BTB Genes in the Predatory Mite Metaseiulus occidentalis

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 7;10(12):e0144291. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144291. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Proteins containing the BTB (Bric-à-brac, tramtrack, and Broad Complex) domain typically share low sequence similarities and are involved in a wide range of cellular functions. We previously identified two putative and closely related BTB genes, BTB1 and BTB2, in the genome of the predatory mite Metaseiulus occidentalis. In the current study, full-length BTB1 and BTB2 cDNAs were cloned and sequenced. BTB1 and BTB2 encode proteins of 380 and 401 amino acids, respectively. BTB1 and BTB2 proteins each contain an N-terminal BTB domain and no other identifiable domains. Thus, they belong to a large category of BTB-domain proteins that are widely distributed in eukaryotes, yet with largely unknown function(s). BTB1 and BTB2 gene knockdowns in M. occidentalis females using RNAi reduced their fecundity by approximately 40% and 73%, respectively, whereas knockdown had no impact on their survival or the development of their offspring. These findings suggest these two proteins may be involved in processes related to egg production in this predatory mite, expanding the list of functions attributed to these diverse proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Proteins / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Fertility / genetics
  • Mites / genetics*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Arthropod Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering

Grants and funding

This research was supported in part by the Davies, Fischer and Eckes Endowment in Biological Control to MAH. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.