[First open reading frame protein (ORF1p) of the Blattella germanica R1 retroposon and phylogenetically close GAG-like proteins of insects and fungi contain RRM domains].

The rDNA locus of insects and other arthropods contains non-LTR retrotransposons (retroposons) that are specifically inserted into 28S rRNA genes. The most frequent retroposons are R1 and R2, but the mechanism of insertion and the functions of these mobile elements have not been studied in detail. A clone containing a full-length R1 retroposon copy was islated from the cosmid library of Blattella germanica genes and sequenced. The amino acid sequences encoded by ORF1 of the R1 retroposon were subjected to bioinformatic analysis. It was found that ORF1 of this mobile element encodes a protein (ORF1p) belonging to the superfamily of zinc finger (CCHC) retroviral nucleocapsid proteins and contains two conserved RRM domains (RNA-recognizing motifs) identified on the basis of analysis of the secondary structure of this protein. The discovery of RRM domains in ORF1p of R1 retroposons can contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of their retrotransposition. We revealed a coiled-coil motif in the N-terminal region of R1 ORF1p, which is similar to the coiled-coil domain involved in homo- or heteromultimerization of proteins and in protein-protein interactions. The domain organization of homologous Gag-like proteins of retroposons in some insects and fungi was found to be similar to the structure established by us for R1 ORF1p of B. germanica.

[Domain organization of the ORF2 C-terminal region of the German cockroach retroposon R1].

Using cosmid vector, a gene library of German cockroach Blattella germanica was constructed. From this library, clones containing full-length copies of two subfamilies of R1 retroposons were selected. Retroposons R1 of German cockroach belonging to different subfamilies were shown to be different in domain organization of the ORF2 C-terminal region. For the first time, retroposons transmembrane domains were identified in the sequences of R1. It was demonstrated that two retroposon R1 subfamilies of German cockroach arose as a result of intragenomic divergence rather than via horizontal transfer of alien mobile element into cockroach genome. The differences in domain organization appeared not as a result of saltatory recombination processes, but as a consequence of gradual mutation accumulation, which led to either degeneration, or to domain formation.

[Analysis of the inheritance patterns of 5'-truncated copies of the German cockroach R2 retroposons in individual crosses].

The inheritance patterns of the 5'-truncated copies of R2 retroposons were analyzed in individual crosses of the German cockroach. The recombination level within the cluster of ribosomal RNA genes was determined. It was demonstrated that only the frequencies of individual variants of 5'-truncated retroposon copies are appropriate for population analysis rather than the patterns characterizing individual X chromosomes. The methodical approach used in the work is convenient for studying the genetic variation in ribosomal DNA multigene families.

[R1 and R2 retrotransposons of German cockroach Blattella germanica: comparative analysis of 5' truncated copies integrated into genome].

This is the first report providing results on identification, cloning, and sequencing of extended fragments (5'-truncated copies) of R1 and R2 retrotransposons integrated into Blattella germanica genome. Comparative structural analysis of the received clones revealed two distinct subfamilies of R1 elements. However, all B. germanica R1 clones have two common features: poly(T) tails and similar target site duplications. Nucleotide structure and organization of five sequenced R2 fragments was similar. Analysis of R2 nucleotide sequences revealed typical deletions at the 3'end of target sites and lack of homopolynucleotides tails.

Intraspecific variation and population structure of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, revealed with RFLP analysis of the non-transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA.

Little information is available on genetic variation within and between populations of pest cockroaches. In this study, intraspecific HindIII polymorphism was investigated in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Linnaeus) (Dictyoptera, Blattaria: Blattellidae), using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Individual male insects were collected from infestations at three different pig farms. Each population was characterized by HindIII restriction fragment frequencies and haplotype (a particular X-chromosome pattern) frequencies. The inheritance of the X-chromosome HindIII rDNA patterns over 12 generations (3 years) follows Mendelian patterns, and the stability of this polymorphic marker indicates infrequent genetic recombination of variable sites. Although pairwise genetic distance measures were uncorrelated with geographical distance, the pattern of genetic differentiation of the three cockroach populations suggests that human-mediated transport of cockroaches is an important force in shaping the population genetic structure of cockroach infestations, at least at the regional scale of 10-100 km. Sequence variation in the ribosomal NTS is a useful marker, and RFLP of rDNA is a simple, robust and reproducible technique for differentiating recently diverged cockroach populations.

[Length polymorphism of integrated copies of R1 and R2 retrotransposons in the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) as a potential marker for population and phylogenetic studies].

Using polymerase chain reaction technique with primers flanking target sites of retrotransposons R1 and R2, integrated copies of these transposable elements were amplified in various cockroach species (Blattodea). It was shown that each species has a unique pattern of "5'-undertranscripts" with the definite set of amplified fragments of different lengths. Intraspecies polymorphism was revealed in analysis of German cockroach specimens obtained upon individual mating. This is the first report providing results of identifying, cloning, and sequencing extended fragments (5'-truncated copies) of Blatella germanica R1 and R2 retrotransposons. It may be assumed that patterns of 5'-truncated copies of R1 and R2 elements can be used as markers in population and phylogenetic studies. Moreover, cloned and sequenced fragments will be employed in our further studies for screening of the German cockroach genomic library in order to detect full-length copies in this class transposable elements.