Isolation and expression profiling of fruitless gene in Anopheles stephensi / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To isolate, identify and analyze the sex-determining gene fruitless(Anstfru)of malaria-transmitting mosquito Anopheles stephensi.@*Methods@#The full length cDNA of the gene Anstfru was obtained by using bioinformatic and molecular biological method . RT-PCRmethod was used to validate the sex variable splicing pattern and expression time characteristics. The structural features and molecular evolutional features of FRU protein of Anopheles stephensi were analyzed via comparison with FRU protein of known species.@*Results@#The full length of Anstfru gene was isolated and identified, and sex-specific mRNA of the gene could form in female and male mosquitos through variable splicing. The Anstfru began to be expressed from early 1st-2nd stage larvae embryo, the quantity of expression increased subsequently and displayed the highest expression level in adult stage. The FRU protein had the sequence-conservative BTB and zinc finger functional domains.@*Conclusions@#Anstfru gene showed conservative functional domains and sex-determining gene fru expression features in mosquito and further in-depth studies on which will facilitate the application of techniques separating female mosquitos from male mosquitoes, and sterile insect technique (SIT)/technology in prevention and treatment of mosquito-borne infectious diseases.