Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Spodoptera”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources

The presence of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:alpha-3-D-mannoside beta 1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I activity in Spodoptera frugiperda cells (IPLB-SF-21AE) and its enhancement as a result of baculovirus infection.

A Golgi preparation from Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF-21AE) cells was incubated in the presence of the mannosidase II inhibitor, swainsonine, with the oligosaccharide, M(alpha 1,3)[[M(alpha 1,3)[M(alpha 1,6)]M(alpha 1,6)]] M(beta 1,4)Gn(beta 1,4)Gn (M5Gn2), the preferred substrate for the enzyme, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:alpha-3-D-mannoside beta 1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (Gn-TI). This resulted in formation of the product, Gn(beta 1,2)M(alpha 1,3)[[M(alpha 1,3)[M(alpha 1,6)]M(alpha 1,6)]]- M(beta 1,4) Gn(beta 1,4)Gn (Gn(I)M5Gn2). A significantly increased (> 4-fold) rate of conversion of M5Gn2 to Gn(I)M5Gn2 occurred with insect cell-derived Golgi preparations that had been infected with a recombinant baculovirus for 66 h, a time at which significant amounts of complex-type oligosaccharides were assembled on a heterologous protein, human plasminogen, expressed in this system. Coupled with previous results (Davidson, D.J., Bretthauer, R.K., and Castellino, F.J. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 9811-9815) that demonstrated the occurrence of virally induced activation of a specific M6-mannosidase in IPLB-SF-21AE cells, it is clear that viral infection of lepidopteran insect cells makes available enzymes that provide and utilize the substrate, M5Gn2-protein. This is a key feature in the explanation of the previous original observations made by this laboratory, that lepidopteran insect cells are capable of assembly of complex-type oligosaccharides on glycoproteins.

Animals↗

Microtubule-associated protein function: lessons from expression in Spodoptera frugiperda cells.

The phenotypes induced by the expression of neuronal microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in Sf9 cells have provided data on the in situ function of these proteins. Both MAP2 and tau can induce long processes in Sf9 cells, and the processes contain bundles of microtubules. In both cases the microtubules are aligned with their plus ends distal. Tau expression usually induces a single process that is unbranched and of uniform caliber. Processes can form even when the cells are grown in suspension. Microtubules do not extend all the way to the tip; instead the terminal region contains an actin-rich meshwork. Taxol treatment of Sf9 cells also induces the assembly of microtubules into bundles but does not induce process formation in Sf9 cells. Therefore the in vitro properties of tau as a molecule capable of assembling, stabilizing, and bundling microtubules do not fully account for the in vivo ability of tau alone to transduce microtubule assembly into a change in cell shape. The morphological features of the processes induced by MAP2 differ in highly informative ways.

Animals↗

Constitutive secretion of an endogenous insulin-like peptide binding protein with high affinity for insulin in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cell cultures.

Serum-free medium from batch cultures of Sf9 insect cells was examined for the occurrence of proteins related to the insulin-like growth factor family. We found that the Sf9 cell line constitutively produced and secreted a soluble protein with a MW of 27 kDa that exerted specific binding to human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and -II. Moreover, the secreted protein bound human insulin and human proinsulin with higher affinity than IGF-I and -II. The order of affinity to the insulin peptides, determined by competitive inhibition of ligand binding, was: insulin > proinsulin > IGF-I >> IGF-II. The dissociation constant (k(d)) for IGF-II was 28.5 +/- 1.7 nM and for insulin 7.2 +/- 1.3 nM, as determined by Scatchard plot analysis. The results suggest that the Sf9 cells produce an insulin binding protein similar to the human insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1).

Animals↗

Apoptosis of Spodoptera frugiperda cells induced by okadaic acid is abrogated by baculovirus infection.

Okadaic at low concentrations specifically inhibits protein phosphatase 2A. Treatment of cells with this inhibitor leads to growth arrest and cell injury within 1 to 2 days. After testing several different types of cells we found that mouse 3T6 cells and insect Sf9 cells responded to okadaic acid by apoptosis, as defined by changes in morphology and degradation of chromatin to fragments of nucleosome size. Infection of insect cells by baculovirus prevented the okadaic acid-induced apoptosis. Analysis of phosphoprotein synthesis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that okadaic acid treatment resulted in hyperphosphorylation of some cellular proteins, including histone H1. Concomitant baculovirus infection of the cells did not change the overall phosphorylation pattern, but appeared to mitigate the okadaic acid-induced hyperphosphorylation of histone H1.

Animals↗

Activation pathways and signal-mediated upregulation of the insect Spodoptera frugiperda caspase-1.

Sf-caspase-1 is the most studied effector caspase of Lepidoptera. Its activation is believed to follow a two-step mechanism: The first step requires cleavage by an initiator caspase at D195 (between the large and small subunits) releasing the C-terminal small subunit. This is blocked by the baculovirus caspase inhibitor P49. The second step removes the N-terminal prodomain by cleavage at D28 to generate the large subunit that is blocked by the baculovirus caspase inhibitor P35. In this study, we identified an alternative mechanism of Sf-caspase-1 activation. This additional two-step mechanism involves first cleavage of pro-Sf-caspase-1 at D28 to remove the N-terminal prodomain and subsequently cleavage at D195 to generate the large and small subunits. Both mechanisms are triggered by apoptotic stimuli following a distinct pattern. We also showed that expression of Sf-caspase-1 was upregulated upon reception of apoptotic stimuli. Different from all published data, this upregulation occurred as a post-transcriptional event. Moreover, we proved that the stronger the stimuli, the higher the upregulation. And we demonstrated that P49 and P35 inhibited the cleavage at D28 and D195 respectively, independently of wether the first cleavage was at D195 or at D28.

Animals↗

Membrane lipid metabolism and phospholipase activity in insect Spodoptera frugiperda 9 ovarian cells.

Although there is increasing use of insect ovarian Sf9 cells for the production of recombinant proteins, namely, via the baculovirus vector expression system, little is known about the lipids in the cell membrane and whether endogenous phospholipases are present for regulation of the cell membrane lipids. In this study, analysis of membrane lipids of Sf9 cells indicated the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) (diacyl type) and phosphatidylcholine as major phospholipids, followed by phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol (PI), and only trace amounts of ethanolamine plasmalogen. These phospholipids contain high proportions of monoenoic fatty acids, e.g., 16:1 and 18:1, which comprise more than 70% of the total fatty acids although small amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as 18:2 and 20:4 are also present. When Sf9 cells were incubated in a culture medium containing [14C]oleic acid and [14C]arachidonic acid, a large portion of the labels were incorporated into membrane phospholipids. Using [14C]arachidonoyl-phospholipids as substrates for incubation with cell homogenate and subcellular fractions, results indicate the presence of a ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A (PLA2) in the Sf9 cell cytosol fraction. This PLA2 shows a high preference for hydrolysis of PE and is active at a pH range of 7-9. Unlike the brain cells which contain active phospholipase C (PLC) specific for phosphatidylinositol, only limited amount of diacylglycerol (DAG) was released from [14C]arachidonoyl-PE in the Sf9 cells. Taken together, this study demonstrates active metabolism of membrane phospholipids in Sf9 cells, most likely mediated by acyltransferases and PLA2. Furthermore, despite the absence of PLC for PI, limited amount of DAG could be generated through hydrolysis of PE.

Animals↗

Backbone cyclic pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) antagonists: inhibition of melanization in the moth Spodoptera littoralis (Insecta, Lepidoptera).

Antagonistic and agonistic activities of backbone cyclic (BBC) pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) analogues were evaluated in an attempt to identify potent melanotropic antagonists, to gain an insight into their structure-activity relationship (SAR), and to discover molecules with selective and non-selective melanotropic and pheromonotropic properties. Eight potent melanotropic BBC antagonists and seven agonists were disclosed. SAR studies revealed that the structural requirements of the melanotropic and pheromonotropic agonists and antagonists are different. The cyclic structure of the BBC peptides was unimportant for antagonistic activity, and linearization retained their melanotropic and pheromonotropic antagonistic properties. Comparison of the antagonistic activities of the BBC and precyclic peptides with respect to both functions revealed eight selective antagonists (six that were selective melanotropic antagonists and two selective pheromonotropic antagonists) and four non-selective (melanotropic and pheromonotropic) antagonists. The selective melanotropic antagonists exhibited both, pure or mixed agonistic/antagonistic activities. The selective pheromonotropic compounds were pure antagonists. All non-selective compounds were pure antagonists. Comparison of the agonistic activities of the BBC peptides with respect to both functions revealed six selective melanotropic agonists and one non-selective agonistic compound. All compounds (whether selective or non-selective) exhibited pure agonistic activity. Discovery of the selective compounds hints at the possibility that the receptors that mediate the respective activities may have different properties.

Animals↗

Fate of polydnavirus DNA of the egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus inanitus in the host Spodoptera littoralis.

In situ hybridizations show that 5 min after parasitization, polydnavirus DNA is in close vicinity of the parasitoid egg, but 5 h later also in the yolk and partially in the host embryo. Fifteen hours after parasitization, the viral DNA is seen all over the host embryo and hardly in the yolk. The tissue distribution of the viral DNA was analysed and quantified by dot blots in the fifth instar parasitized larvae. On a per host basis, haemocytes and fat body contained the highest amount of viral DNA, while nervous tissue, intestinal tract and carcass contained less. Of the three viral segments tested, all were found in all tissues. Relative to the quantity of host DNA, viral DNA was most abundant in haemocytes, about five times less abundant in fat body and nervous tissue and about 25 times less abundant in intestinal tract. The total quantity of viral DNA per host was 444+/-145 pg which is similar to the quantity injected by the wasp; thus, the viral DNA persists throughout parasitization. The parasitoid larva contains 820+/-80 pg viral DNA integrated in the genome. This illustrates that the dose of viral DNA injected in virions represents approximately one third of the total viral genomic information present in a host at a late stage of parasitism.

Animals↗

Expression of winged bean basic agglutinin in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cell expression system.

In this paper we report the successful expression of the winged bean basic agglutinin (WBA I) in insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus carrying the WBA I gene and its characterization in terms of its carbohydrate binding properties. The expressed protein appears to have a lower molecular weight than the native counterpart which is consistent with the lack of glycosylation of the former. Moreover, the expressed protein maintains its dimeric nature. Hence, a role for glycosylation in modulation of dimerization of WBA I is ruled out unlike Erythrina corallodendron (EcorL). Despite this the protein is active, with its sugar specificity unaltered.

Animals↗

A novel medium for expression of proteins selectively labeled with 15N-amino acids in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells.

Whereas bacterial expression systems are widely used for production of uniformly or selectively (15)N-labeled proteins the usage of the baculovirus expression system for labeling is limited to very few examples in the literature. Here we present the complete formulations of the two insect media, IML406 and 455, for the high-yield production of selectively (15)N-labeled proteins in insect cells. The quantities of (15)N-amino acids utilized in the production of labeled GST were similar in the case of bacterial and viral expression. For the most studied amino acids essential for insect cells the (15)N-HSQC spectra, recorded with GST labeled in insect cells, showed no cross labeling and provided therefore spectra of better quality compared to NMR spectra of GST expressed in E. coli. Also in the case of amino acids not essential for Sf9 cells we were able to label a defined number of amino acid species. Therefore the selective labeling using the baculovirus expression vector system represents a complement or even an alternative to the bacterial expression system. Based on these findings we can provide a first simple overview of the network of the amino acid metabolism in E. coli and insect cells focused on nitrogen. For some amino acids the expression of labeled proteins in insect cells can replace the cell-free protein expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of virulent isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (F) Samson for the management of Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura (identification of virulent isolates of N. rileyi).

Eleven geographical isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)/Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) origin were studied for efficacy against the two host insects. Laboratory bioassays at a concentration of 2 x 10(8) conidia ml(-1) indicated that N. rileyi isolates of S. litura origin were better in terms of time taken for mycosis and mortality in both the test larvae: S. litura (77-80% mortality in 7 days) and H. armigera (79-85% in 8 days). Among the isolates of S. litura origin, geographical isolates from Hyderabad and Karimnagar were superior in terms of high percent kill as well as 100% germination of conidia within 48 h. Fastest germination was observed with Karimnagar isolate followed by Hyderabad isolate. Conidial yield was highest on barley-carrot extract-yeast extract medium. However in terms of material cost, barley-yeast extract medium was the lowest. The Karimnagar isolate of S. litura origin gave the highest conidial yield on barley-yeast extract medium. Chitinolytic enzyme profiles of different isolates revealed polymorphism in all the isolates from S. litura origin. Overall among the parameters studied the best traits were found in the Karimnagar isolate of S. litura origin.

Animals↗

Regulation of ecdysteroid signalling: molecular cloning, characterization and expression of 3-dehydroecdysone 3 alpha-reductase, a novel eukaryotic member of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases superfamily from the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis.

One route of inactivation of ecdysteroids in insects involves ecdysone oxidase-catalysed conversion into 3-dehydroecdysone (3DE), followed by irreversible reduction by 3DE 3 alpha-reductase to 3-epiecdysone. The 3DE 3 alpha-reductase has been purified and subjected to limited amino acid sequencing. It occurs as two distinct forms, including a probable trimer of subunit molecular mass of approx. 26 kDa. A reverse-transcriptase PCR-based approach has been used to clone the cDNA (1.2 kb) encoding the 26 kDa protein. Northern blotting showed that the mRNA transcript was expressed in Malpighian tubules during the early stage of the last larval instar. Conceptual translation of the 3DE 3 alpha-reductase cDNA and database searching revealed that the enzyme belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases superfamily. Furthermore, the enzyme is a novel eukaryotic 3-dehydrosteroid 3 alpha-reductase member of that family, whereas vertebrate 3-dehydrosteroid 3 alpha-reductases belong to the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamily. Enzymically active recombinant 3DE 3 alpha-reductase has been produced using a baculovirus expression system. Surprisingly, we observed no similarity between this 3DE 3 alpha-reductase and a previously reported 3DE 3 beta-reductase, which acts on the same substrate and belongs to the AKR family.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗