Molecular characterization and expression profiles of IscA1 gene in a long-distance migrant, Agrotis segetum

Abstract

Abstract Cryptochrome (CRYs) proteins have been elucidated as the molecular basis for magnetoreception in Drosophila, and a putative magnetic receptor (named IscA1) protein may aslo be involved in sensing magnetic fields in Drosophila. However, whether IscA1 has a conserved role in diverse animals and functions in orientation during animal migration is unknown. Here we report on the cloning and sequencing of the IscA1 gene from Agrotis segetum, which encodes a predicted protein IscA1 that has 131 amino acids and two conserved iron-sulphur cluster binding domains. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis were used to show that IscA1 had a relatively high homology from species of Noctuoidea. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that IscA1 was ubiquitously expressed in adult organs and, among all developmental stages, expression was higher in adults. When Agrotis segetum was exposed to 14 h light/10 h dark, IscA1 expression also showed daily oscillations, and constant light or dark disturbed these oscillations. IscA1 expression levels in a migratory population were higher than in a reared population and higher in a southward migratory population than in a northward. These findings suggest that the IscA1 gene in A. segetum might be associated with migration and provide a molecular basis for further study on the functions of IscA1 gene in magnetoreception and potential control of the turnip moth.