摘要
Bursicon is a neuropeptide that regulates cuticle sclerotization （hardening and tanning） in insect via a G-protein coupled receptor. However, the signal transduction pathway downstream of the G-protein coupled receptor is currently not well known. In our recent microarray analysis, we identified a panel of genes regulated by bursicon in Drosophila. One of the genes, Suppressor of Hairless, or Su（H）, has drawn our attention because its product acts down-stream of the bursicon receptor. In the present study, we cloned the Drosophila homolog, mdSu（H）, from the house fly Musca domestica using 3＇ and 5＇ rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the level ofmdSu（H） transcript is up-regulated by ~3-fold 1 h after recombinant bursicon injection, which correlates well with the cuticle sclerotization process observed in the recombinant bursicon-injected flies. We infer that Su（H） is an essential gene involved in the insect cuticle sclerotization process.
Bursicon is a neuropeptide that regulates cuticle sclerotization （hardening and tanning） in insect via a G-protein coupled receptor. However, the signal transduction pathway downstream of the G-protein coupled receptor is currently not well known. In our recent microarray analysis, we identified a panel of genes regulated by bursicon in Drosophila. One of the genes, Suppressor of Hairless, or Su（H）, has drawn our attention because its product acts down-stream of the bursicon receptor. In the present study, we cloned the Drosophila homolog, mdSu（H）, from the house fly Musca domestica using 3＇ and 5＇ rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the level ofmdSu（H） transcript is up-regulated by ~3-fold 1 h after recombinant bursicon injection, which correlates well with the cuticle sclerotization process observed in the recombinant bursicon-injected flies. We infer that Su（H） is an essential gene involved in the insect cuticle sclerotization process.
