Identification and functional analysis of promoters of heat-shock genes from the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Xien Chen,Anjiang Tan,Subba Reddy Palli

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-59197-8

Xien Chen, Anjiang Tan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59197-8

Copy DOI

Abstract

The functional information on heat-shock proteins (Hsp) and heat-shock promoters from an important agricultural insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda, is still lacking. We conducted a genome-wide identification of Hsp genes and identified a total of 21 genes belonging to four major insect Hsp families (small heat-shock proteins, Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90) in S. frugiperda. Expression of most of S. frugiperda (SfHsp) genes could be detected in Sf9 cells, embryos and larval tissues of S. frugiperda. The heat-inducible activity of heat-shock promoters from several SfHsp genes was tested in Sf9 cells and embryos. The promoter of SfHsp70D showed the high constitutive activity in cell line and embryos, while the activity of SfHsp20.15 and SfHsp20.71 promoters was most dramatically induced in Sf9 cells and embryos. In embryos, the heat-induced activity of SfHsp20.71 and SfHsp70D promoters outperformed commercially used ie1 and ie2 promoters. The heat-induced activity of SfHsp70D and SfHsp19.07 promoters were more robust than ie2 promoter in Sf9 cells. These SfHsp promoters with high basal activity or with heat-induced activity from low basal activity, could be used in S. frugiperda or other lepidopteran insects for many applications including transgenesis and genome editing.

Highlights

The functional information on heat-shock proteins (Hsp) and heat-shock promoters from an important agricultural insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda, is still lacking
Phylogenetic analysis showed that heat-shock proteins are conserved among lepidopteran insects
Since the increase in synthesis of heat-shock proteins (Hsp) after heat-shock were reported in D. melanogaster[45], a large number of Hsp genes have been identified in many insect species as important modulators of survival under environmental stresses[1], as well as crucial regulators of normal development and diapause[2]

Summary

Introduction

The functional information on heat-shock proteins (Hsp) and heat-shock promoters from an important agricultural insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda, is still lacking. The heat-inducible activity of heat-shock promoters from several SfHsp genes was tested in Sf9 cells and embryos. The heat-induced activity of SfHsp20.71 and SfHsp70D promoters outperformed commercially used ie[1] and ie[2] promoters. Heat-shock proteins (Hsp) are abundant and ubiquitously expressed in insects playing important roles in enhancing abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, as well as regulating normal development[1,2]. Based on their molecular mass and function, insect Hsp can be divided into four major families, small heat-shock proteins, Hsp[60], Hsp[70], and

Results

Discussion

Conclusion