拟黑多刺蚁mAchR基因发育表达的荧光实时定量RT-PCR检测

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR detection for developmental expression of a muscarinic cholinergic receptor gene in the ant Polyrhachis vicina

【目的】研究毒蕈碱型乙酰胆碱受体(Muscarinic cholinergic receptor,mAchR)在拟黑多刺蚁个体发育中的表达情况,探讨其是否参与拟黑多刺蚁的个体发育行为。【方法】采用SYBRGreenⅠ实时定量RT-PCR方法,检测拟黑多刺蚁卵、幼虫、蛹和成虫个体发育阶段mAchR基因mRNA的相对表达量。【结果】mAchR基因在拟黑多刺蚁整个发育过程及各个品级成虫中均有表达。在卵期mAchR mRNA的表达量较幼虫期和蛹期高,而成虫期的表达量最高,可达卵期的3倍以上。3个成虫品级之间,工蚁的表达量最高,雄蚁和雌蚁的表达量在统计学上差异不显著。【结论】mAchR基因参与了拟黑多刺蚁的发育行为,而其主要功能可能是在调节成虫更为复杂的行为中起作用。

[Objective] To determine whether insect mAchR was involved in its development,the expression levels of mAchR mRNA during developmental stages of the ant Polyrhachis vicina were studied.[Method] The relative expression of mAchR mRNA during the development of P.vicina was investigated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method.[Result] The results revealed that mAchR mRNA was expressed in all samples tested at different levels.The expression of mAchR was higher in eggs than in larval and pupal stages,and the highest level was found in the adults of three castes.Among the adults,the mAchR expressed highest in workers,and there was no significant difference between the male and female ants.[Conclusion] Our study indicated that mAchR is also involved in ant development,but the main physiological functions of mAchR are involved in regulating the behaviors or other physiological activities in adults.