Intron Positions Research Articles

Phylogenetic Distribution of Intron Positions in Alpha-Amylase Genes of Bilateria Suggests Numerous Gains and Losses

Most eukaryotes have at least some genes interrupted by introns. While it is well accepted that introns were already present at moderate density in the last eukaryote common ancestor, the conspicuous diversity of intron density among genomes suggests a complex evolutionary history, with marked differences between phyla. The question of the rates of intron gains and loss in the course of evolution and factors influencing them remains controversial. We have investigated a single gene family, alpha-amylase, in 55 species covering a variety of animal phyla. Comparison of intron positions across phyla suggests a complex history, with a likely ancestral intronless gene undergoing frequent intron loss and gain, leading to extant intron/exon structures that are highly variable, even among species from the same phylum. Because introns are known to play no regulatory role in this gene and there is no alternative splicing, the structural differences may be interpreted more easily: intron positions, sizes, losses or gains may be more likely related to factors linked to splicing mechanisms and requirements, and to recognition of introns and exons, or to more extrinsic factors, such as life cycle and population size. We have shown that intron losses outnumbered gains in recent periods, but that “resets” of intron positions occurred at the origin of several phyla, including vertebrates. Rates of gain and loss appear to be positively correlated. No phase preference was found. We also found evidence for parallel gains and for intron sliding. Presence of introns at given positions was correlated to a strong protosplice consensus sequence AG/G, which was much weaker in the absence of intron. In contrast, recent intron insertions were not associated with a specific sequence. In animal Amy genes, population size and generation time seem to have played only minor roles in shaping gene structures.

Molecular and comparative analyses of type IV antifreeze proteins (AFPIVs) from two Antarctic fishes, Pleuragramma antarcticum and Notothenia coriiceps

Antifreeze protein type IV (AFPIV) cDNAs and genomic DNAs from the Antarctic fishes Pleuragramma antarcticum (Pa) and Notothenia coriiceps (Nc) were cloned and sequenced, respectively. Each cDNA encoded 128 amino acids, with 94% similarity between the two and 83% similarity with AFPIV of the longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus. The genome structures of both genes consisted of four exons and three introns, and were highly conserved in terms of sequences and positions. In contrast, the third intron of PaAFPIV had additional nucleotides with inverted repeats at each end, which appeared to be a MITE-like transposable element. Comparative analysis revealed that fish AFPIVs were widely distributed across teleost fishes, well conserved in their intron positions, but more variable in intron sequences and sizes. However, the intron sequences of two Antarctic fishes were highly conserved, indicating recent radiation of notothenioids in the evolutionary lineage. The recombinant PaAFPIV and NcAFPIV were expressed in E. coli, and examined antifreeze activity. PaAFPIV and NcAFPIV gave ice crystals with star-shaped morphology, and thermal hysteresis (TH) values were 0.08°C at the concentration of 0.5mg/ml.

Cryptic splice sites and split genes

We describe a new program called cryptic splice finder (CSF) that can reliably identify cryptic splice sites (css), so providing a useful tool to help investigate splicing mutations in genetic disease. We report that many css are not entirely dormant and are often already active at low levels in normal genes prior to their enhancement in genetic disease. We also report a fascinating correlation between the positions of css and introns, whereby css within the exons of one species frequently match the exact position of introns in equivalent genes from another species. These results strongly indicate that many introns were inserted into css during evolution and they also imply that the splicing information that lies outside some introns can be independently recognized by the splicing machinery and was in place prior to intron insertion. This indicates that non-intronic splicing information had a key role in shaping the split structure of eukaryote genes.

Characterizing the RNA targets and position-dependent splicing regulation by TDP-43

TDP-43 is a predominantly nuclear RNA-binding protein that forms inclusion bodies in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The mRNA targets of TDP-43 in the human brain and its role in RNA processing are largely unknown. Using individual-nucleotide resolution UV-crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP), we demonstrated that TDP-43 preferentially binds long clusters of UG-rich sequences in vivo. Analysis of TDP-43 RNA binding in FTLD-TDP brains revealed the greatest increases in binding to MALAT1 and NEAT1 non-coding RNAs. We also showed that TDP-43 binding on pre-mRNAs influences alternative splicing in a similar position-dependent manner to Nova proteins. In addition, we identified unusually long clusters of TDP-43 binding at deep intronic positions downstream of silenced exons. A significant proportion of alternative mRNA isoforms regulated by TDP-43 encode proteins that regulate neuronal development or are implicated in neurological diseases, highlighting the importance of TDP-43 for splicing regulation in the brain.

Blind sterile 2 (bs2), a hypomorphic mutation in Agps, results in cataracts and male sterility in mice

Blind sterile 2 ( bs2) is a spontaneous autosomal recessive mouse mutation exhibiting cataracts and male sterility. Detailed clinical and histological evaluation revealed that bs2 mice have cataracts resulting from severely disrupted lens fiber cells. Analysis of bs2 testes revealed the absence of mature sperm and the presence of large multinucleate cells within the lumens of seminiferous tubules. Linkage analysis mapped the bs2 locus to mouse chromosome 2, approximately 45 cM distal from the centromere. Fine mapping established a 3.1 Mb bs2 critical region containing 19 candidate genes. Sequence analysis of alkylglycerone-phosphate synthase ( Agps), a gene within the bs2 critical region, revealed a G to A substitution at the + 5 position of intron 14. This mutation results in two abundantly expressed aberrantly spliced Agps transcripts: Agps ∆exon14 lacking exon 14 or Agps exon∆13–14 lacking both exons 13 and 14 as well as full-length Agps transcript. Agps is a peroxisomal enzyme which catalyzes the formation of the ether bond during the synthesis of ether lipids. Both aberrantly spliced Agps ∆exon14 and Agps exon∆13–14 transcripts led to a frame shift, premature stop and putative proteins lacking the enzymatic FAD domain. We present evidence that bs2 mice have significantly decreased levels of ether lipids. Human mutations in Agps result in rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 3 (RCDP3), a disease for which bs2 is the only genetic model. Thus, bs2 is a hypomorphic mutation in Agps, and represents a useful model for investigation of the tissue specificity of ether lipid requirements which will be particularly valuable for elucidating the mechanism of disease phenotypes resulting from ether lipid depletion.

Characterization of a type 3 metallothionein isolated from Porteresia coarctata

Metallothioneins are involved in detoxification of heavy metals. A cDNA encoding type 3 metallothionein (PcMT3) was isolated from the salt stressed leaf cDNA library of Porteresia coarctata (Roxb.) Tateoka (wild rice) that grows well in the heavy metal laden estuarine soils. The PcMT3 cDNA (581 bp) encodes a protein of 64 amino acids. PcMT3 is highly homologous (82 %) to OsMT-I-3a of rice, but is unique from other type 3 plant MTs due to the presence of an additional glycine residue in the C-terminal domain. Analysis of the 5′ upstream region of PcMT3 showed the presence of cis-acting elements like the CG box and STRE previously reported to be involved in gene expression under heavy metal stress. Southern analysis suggested the presence of more than one copy of PcMT3-like sequences in the P. coarctata genome. Analysis of genomic clone of PcMT3 revealed the presence of two introns. A comparison of the genomic sequence of PcMT3 with closely similar type 3 MTs from rice and mangrove species revealed conservation in the number and position of introns. Transcript profiling for PcMT3 in P. coarctata leaves in the presence of Cd, Cu and Zn showed an increase in transcript accumulation.

Phylogenetic Relationships of 3/3 and 2/2 Hemoglobins in Archaeplastida Genomes to Bacterial and Other Eukaryote Hemoglobins

Land plants and algae form a supergroup, the Archaeplastida, believed to be monophyletic. We report the results of an analysis of the phylogeny of putative globins in the currently available genomes to bacterial and other eukaryote hemoglobins (Hbs). Archaeplastida genomes have 3/3 and 2/2 Hbs, with the land plant genomes having group 2 2/2 Hbs, except for the unexpected occurrence of two group 1 2/2 Hbs in Ricinus communis. Bayesian analysis shows that plant 3/3 Hbs are related to vertebrate neuroglobins and bacterial flavohemoglobins (FHbs). We sought to define the bacterial groups, whose ancestors shared the precursors of Archaeplastida Hbs, via Bayesian and neighbor-joining analyses based on COBALT alignment of representative sets of bacterial 3/3 FHb-like globins and group 1 and 2 2/2 Hbs with the corresponding Archaeplastida Hbs. The results suggest that the Archaeplastida 3/3 and group 1 2/2 Hbs could have originated from the horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) that accompanied the two generally accepted endosymbioses of a proteobacterium and a cyanobacterium with a eukaryote ancestor. In contrast, the origin of the group 2 2/2 Hbs unexpectedly appears to involve HGT from a bacterium ancestral to Chloroflexi, Deinococcales, Bacilli, and Actinomycetes. Furthermore, although intron positions and phases are mostly conserved among the land plant 3/3 and 2/2 globin genes, introns are absent in the algal 3/3 genes and intron positions and phases are highly variable in their 2/2 genes. Thus, introns are irrelevant to globin evolution in Archaeplastida.

Crypton transposons: identification of new diverse families and ancient domestication events

Background"Domestication" of transposable elements (TEs) led to evolutionary breakthroughs such as the origin of telomerase and the vertebrate adaptive immune system. These breakthroughs were accomplished by the adaptation of molecular functions essential for TEs, such as reverse transcription, DNA cutting and ligation or DNA binding. Cryptons represent a unique class of DNA transposons using tyrosine recombinase (YR) to cut and rejoin the recombining DNA molecules. Cryptons were originally identified in fungi and later in the sea anemone, sea urchin and insects.ResultsHerein we report new Cryptons from animals, fungi, oomycetes and diatom, as well as widely conserved genes derived from ancient Crypton domestication events. Phylogenetic analysis based on the YR sequences supports four deep divisions of Crypton elements. We found that the domain of unknown function 3504 (DUF3504) in eukaryotes is derived from Crypton YR. DUF3504 is similar to YR but lacks most of the residues of the catalytic tetrad (R-H-R-Y). Genes containing the DUF3504 domain are potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 1 (KCTD1), KIAA1958, zinc finger MYM type 2 (ZMYM2), ZMYM3, ZMYM4, glutamine-rich protein 1 (QRICH1) and "without children" (WOC). The DUF3504 genes are highly conserved and are found in almost all jawed vertebrates. The sequence, domain structure, intron positions and synteny blocks support the view that ZMYM2, ZMYM3, ZMYM4, and possibly QRICH1, were derived from WOC through two rounds of genome duplication in early vertebrate evolution. WOC is observed widely among bilaterians. There could be four independent events of Crypton domestication, and one of them, generating WOC/ZMYM, predated the birth of bilaterian animals. This is the third-oldest domestication event known to date, following the domestication generating telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and Prp8. Many Crypton-derived genes are transcriptional regulators with additional DNA-binding domains, and the acquisition of the DUF3504 domain could have added new regulatory pathways via protein-DNA or protein-protein interactions.ConclusionsCryptons have contributed to animal evolution through domestication of their YR sequences. The DUF3504 domains are domesticated YRs of animal Crypton elements.

Internal Regularity of D-Glyceraldehide-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Genes and Proteins

Internal Regularity ofD-Glyceraldehide-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Genes and ProteinsData of analysis of some GAPDH family gene exon and intron length (nt) and intron position coordinates as a sum of preceeding exon dimensions) and their internal regularity were analyzed based on a working hypothesis that primieval gene precursors were regular and periodic polynucleotides formed from oligonucleotides identical in size. The number of nucleotides in a gene repeat unit was denoted by a specific term - gene quantum and symbolQ. The following genes were analyzed: the chicken GAPDH (12 exons/11 introns) gene, theChlamidomonas reinhardtii gapA(6 exons, 5 introns) andgapC(7 exons, 6 introns) genes. The determined value ofQfor all these genes was identical and constituted 9 nucleotides. The sum total of all above-mentioned gene intron dimensions, independently of intron number in a gene, could be precisely quantized - expressed as a product of a gene quantum and a whole number, e.g., for the chicken GAPDH 1628 nt = 9 nt x 292,0. The garden peaPissum sativumfragment (amino acids 167-219) was partially regular (the repeat unit size 9 aa) and showed translational symmetry. The obtained data supported the model that the precursors of the modern genes were originated by nucleotide multiplication reactions.

Contrasting 5' and 3' Evolutionary Histories and Frequent Evolutionary Convergence in Meis/hth Gene Structures

Organisms show striking differences in genome structure; however, the functional implications and fundamental forces that govern these differences remain obscure. The intron–exon organization of nuclear genes is involved in a particularly large variety of structures and functional roles. We performed a 22-species study of Meis/hth genes, intron-rich homeodomain-containing transcription factors involved in a wide range of developmental processes. Our study revealed three surprising results that suggest important and very different functions for Meis intron–exon structures. First, we find unexpected conservation across species of intron positions and lengths along most of the Meis locus. This contrasts with the high degree of structural divergence found in genome-wide studies and may attest to conserved regulatory elements residing within these conserved introns. Second, we find very different evolutionary histories for the 5′ and 3′ regions of the gene. The 5′-most 10 exons, which encode the highly conserved Meis domain and homeodomain, show striking conservation. By contrast, the 3′ of the gene, which encodes several domains implicated in transcriptional activation and response to cell signaling, shows a remarkably active evolutionary history, with diverse isoforms and frequent creation and loss of new exons and splice sites. This region-specific diversity suggests evolutionary “tinkering,” with alternative splicing allowing for more subtle regulation of protein function. Third, we find a large number of cases of convergent evolution in the 3′ region, including 1) parallel losses of ancestral coding sequence, 2) parallel gains of external and internal splice sites, and 3) recurrent truncation of C-terminal coding regions. These results attest to the importance of locus-specific splicing functions in differences in structural evolution across genes, as well as to commonalities of forces shaping the evolution of individual genes along different lineages.

Nasu-Hakola disease with a splicing mutation of TREM2 in a Japanese family

Nasu-Hakola disease (NHD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by a combination of progressive presenile dementia and formation of multifocal bone cysts, caused by genetic mutations of DAP12 and TREM2, which constitute a receptor/adapter signaling complex expressed on osteoclasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, and microglia. No Japanese patients with TREM2 mutations have been reported previously. We reported three siblings affected with NHD in a Japanese family. Amongst them, two died of NHD during the fourth decade of life. The analysis of genomic DNA, cDNA cloning, and western blot of lymphocyte proteins was performed on samples of the living patient. The transcriptome was studied in the autopsied brain of one patient. We identified a homozygous conversion of a single nucleotide T to C at the second position of intron 3 in the splice-donor consensus site (c.482+2T>C) of the TREM2 gene, resulting in exon 3 skipping and aberrant expression of truncated proteins. We identified 136 upregulated genes involved in inflammatory response and immune cell trafficking and 188 downregulated genes including a battery of GABA receptor subunits and synaptic proteins in the patient's brain. This is the first report of a Japanese NHD family caused by a splicing mutation of TREM2 that induces both neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Intron loss mediated structural dynamics and functional differentiation of the polygalacturonase gene family in land plants

The polygalacturonase (PG) gene family is one of the largest gene families in plants. PGs are involved in various plant development steps. The evolutionary processes accounting for the functional divergence and the specialized functions of PGs in land plants are unclear. Whole sets of PG genes were retrieved from the genome web sites of model organisms in algae and land plants. The number of PG genes was expanded by lineage-specific manner with the biological complexity of the organism. Differentiation of PGs was related with phylogenetic hierarchy such as presence of rhamno-PGs from algae to plants, endo- and exo-PGs in land plants, exo-PGs in flowering plants. Gene structure analysis revealed that land plant PG genes resulted from differential intron gain and loss, with the latter event predominating. Differential intron losses partitioned the PGs into separate clades to be expressed differentially during plant development. Intron position and phase were not conserved between PGs of algae and land plants but conserved among PG genes of land plants from moss to vascular plants, indicating that the current introns in the PGs in land plants appeared after the split between unicellular algae and multicelluar land plants. The results demonstrate that the functional divergence and differentiation of PGs in land plants is attributable to intron losses.

The globin gene family of the cephalochordate amphioxus: implications for chordate globin evolution

BackgroundThe lancelet amphioxus (Cephalochordata) is a close relative of vertebrates and thus may enhance our understanding of vertebrate gene and genome evolution. In this context, the globins are one of the best studied models for gene family evolution. Previous biochemical studies have demonstrated the presence of an intracellular globin in notochord tissue and myotome of amphioxus, but the corresponding gene has not yet been identified. Genomic resources of Branchiostoma floridae now facilitate the identification, experimental confirmation and molecular evolutionary analysis of its globin gene repertoire.ResultsWe show that B. floridae harbors at least fifteen paralogous globin genes, all of which reveal evidence of gene expression. The protein sequences of twelve globins display the conserved characteristics of a functional globin fold. In phylogenetic analyses, the amphioxus globin BflGb4 forms a common clade with vertebrate neuroglobins, indicating the presence of this nerve globin in cephalochordates. Orthology is corroborated by conserved syntenic linkage of BflGb4 and flanking genes. The kinetics of ligand binding of recombinantly expressed BflGb4 reveals that this globin is hexacoordinated with a high oxygen association rate, thus strongly resembling vertebrate neuroglobin. In addition, possible amphioxus orthologs of the vertebrate globin X lineage and of the myoglobin/cytoglobin/hemoglobin lineage can be identified, including one gene as a candidate for being expressed in notochord tissue. Genomic analyses identify conserved synteny between amphioxus globin-containing regions and the vertebrate β-globin locus, possibly arguing against a late transpositional origin of the β-globin cluster in vertebrates. Some amphioxus globin gene structures exhibit minisatellite-like tandem duplications of intron-exon boundaries ("mirages"), which may serve to explain the creation of novel intron positions within the globin genes.ConclusionsThe identification of putative orthologs of vertebrate globin variants in the B. floridae genome underlines the importance of cephalochordates for elucidating vertebrate genome evolution. The present study facilitates detailed functional studies of the amphioxus globins in order to trace conserved properties and specific adaptations of respiratory proteins at the base of chordate evolution.

DNA double-strand break repair and the evolution of intron density

The density of introns is both an important feature of genome architecture and a highly variable trait across eukaryotes. This heterogeneity has posed an evolutionary puzzle for the last 30 years. Recent evidence is consistent with novel introns being the outcome of the error-prone repair of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Here we suggest that deletion of pre-existing introns could occur via the same pathway. We propose a novel framework in which species-specific differences in the activity of NHEJ and homologous recombination (HR) during the repair of DSBs underlie changes in intron density.

An SF1 affinity model to identify branch point sequences in human introns

Splicing factor 1 (SF1) binds to the branch point sequence (BPS) of mammalian introns and is believed to be important for the splicing of some, but not all, introns. To help identify BPSs, particularly those that depend on SF1, we generated a BPS profile model in which SF1 binding affinity data, validated by branch point mapping, were iteratively incorporated into computational models. We searched a data set of 117 499 human introns for best matches to the SF1 Affinity Model above a threshold, and counted the number of matches at each intronic position. After subtracting a background value, we found that 87.9% of remaining high-scoring matches identified were located in a region upstream of 3′-splice sites where BPSs are typically found. Since U2AF65 recognizes the polypyrimidine tract (PPT) and forms a cooperative RNA complex with SF1, we combined the SF1 model with a PPT model computed from high affinity binding sequences for U2AF65. The combined model, together with binding site location constraints, accurately identified introns bound by SF1 that are candidates for SF1-dependent splicing.

Evolutionary dynamics of spliceosomal intron revealed by in silico analyses of the P-Type ATPase superfamily genes

It has been long debated whether spliceosomal introns originated in the common ancestor of eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In this study, we tested the possibility that extant introns were inherited from the common ancestor of eukaryotes and prokaryotes using in silico simulation. We first identified 21 intron positions that are shared among different families of the P-Type ATPase superfamily, some of which are known to have diverged before the separation of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Theoretical estimates of the expected number of intron positions shared by different genes suggest that the introns at those 21 positions were inserted independently. There seems to be no intron that arose from before the diversification of the P-Type ATPase superfamily. Namely, the present introns were inserted after the separation of eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

Size polymorphism in alleles of the myoglobin gene from biomphalaria mollusks.

Introns are common among all eukaryotes, while only a limited number of introns are found in prokaryotes. Globin, globin-like proteins are widely distributed in nature, being found even in prokaryotes, a wide range of patterns of intron-exon have been reported in several eukaryotic globin genes. Globin genes in invertebrates show considerable variation in the positions of introns; globins can be found without introns, with only one intron or with three introns in different positions. In this work we analyzed the introns in the myoglobin gene from Biomphalaria glabrata, B. straminea, B. tenagophila. In the Biomphalaria genus, the myoglobin gene has three introns; these were amplified by PCR, analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Results showed that the size (number or nucleotides), the nucleotide sequence of the coding gene of the myoglobin are variable in the three species. We observed the presence of size polymorphisms in intron 2, 3; this characterizes a homozygous/heterozygous profile, it indicates the existence of two alleles which are different in size in each species of Biomphalaria. This polymorphism could be explored for specific identification of Biomphalaria individuals.

Correct mRNA Processing at a Mutant TT Splice Donor in FANCC Ameliorates the Clinical Phenotype in Patients and Is Enhanced by Delivery of Suppressor U1 snRNAs

The U1 small nuclear RNA (U1 snRNA) as a component of the major U2-dependent spliceosome recognizes 5' splice sites (5'ss) containing GT as the canonical dinucleotide in the intronic positions +1 and +2. The c.165+1G>T germline mutation in the 5'ss of exon 2 of the Fanconi anemia C (FANCC) gene commonly predicted to prevent correct splicing was identified in nine FA patients from three pedigrees. RT-PCR analysis of the endogenous FANCC mRNA splicing pattern of patient-derived fibroblasts revealed aberrant mRNA processing, but surprisingly also correct splicing at the TT dinucleotide, albeit with lower efficiency. This consequently resulted in low levels of correctly spliced transcript and minute levels of normal posttranslationally processed FANCD2 protein, indicating that this naturally occurring TT splicing might contribute to the milder clinical manifestations of the disease in these patients. Functional analysis of this FANCC 5'ss within splicing reporters revealed that both the noncanonical TT dinucleotide and the genomic context of FANCC were required for the residual correct splicing at this mutant 5'ss. Finally, use of lentiviral vectors as a delivery system to introduce expression cassettes for TT-adapted U1 snRNAs into primary FANCC patient fibroblasts allowed the correction of the DNA-damage-induced G2 cell-cycle arrest in these cells, thus representing an alternative transcript-targeting approach for genetic therapy of inherited splice-site mutations.

Analysis of the sarcomere protein gene mutation on cardiomyopathy – Mutations in the cardiac troponin I gene

Developments in the molecular genetic studies of cardiomyopathy (CM) have led to discovery of a large number of mutations in the genes encoding the sarcomeric proteins. In this study, comprehensive screening of TNNI3 was performed in 36 consented autopsy cases diagnosed as CM, in order to evaluate the prevalence of gene mutations in sudden death caused by CM. In DCM cases, a new missense mutation Pro16Thr was detected. A single nucleotide polymorphism at −8 position of intron 3 (IVS 3 −8 T>A) was identified, which had a significant difference in allele frequency between DCM and control cases. From these results, it was indicated that this study contribute to genetic based diagnosis, risk stratification and prevention of sudden death caused by CM.

Molecular characterization, immunohistochemical localization and expression of a ribosomal protein L17 gene from Apis cerana cerana

Ribosomal protein L17 (RPL17) is a core protein of the large (60S) ribosomal subunit and plays an important role in protein synthesis. In this report, a RPL17 gene was isolated from Apis cerana cerana, designated as AccRPL17. Alignment analysis showed that AccRPL17 exhibits high homology to other known RPL17s. Moreover, genomic sequence analysis revealed that five exons are splitted by four introns, and the position of the first intron is comparatively conservative, being localized in the 5' untranslated region. Partial putative cis-acting elements related to development were also examined. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that the highest mRNA level was detected in larvae on the fifth day. Simultaneously, immunohistochemical localization showed that AccRPL17 is primarily concentrated in muscular tissues, stigma, body wall, and the surrounding of the eye in the fifth-instar larvae. Further studies suggested that AccRPL17 might be involved in responses to abiotic stresses. This is a report attempting to analyze the expression and distribution of RPL17 in A. cerana cerana. These results indicated that AccRPL17 might play an important role in insect development, and the importance of AccRPL17 in participating in abiotic stresses is discussed.