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Updated: Mar 7, 2026
Mass-Rearing and Molecular Studies in Tortricidae Pest Insects
Published on: March 25, 2022
Characterization and function analysis of a novel gene, Hc-maoc-1, in the parasitic nematode Haemonochus contortus
Haojie Ding1, Hengzhi Shi1, Yu Shi1
1College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Background:
Enoyl-CoA hydratase (MAOC) is required for the biosynthesis of the fatty acid-derive side chains of the ascaroside via peroxisome β-oxidation in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The derivative of dideoxy-sugar, ascarylose is used as dauer pheromones or daumones to induce development of the stress-resistant dauer larvae stage.
Methods:
Hc-maoc-1 gene was obtained by searching the Wellcome Trusts Sanger Institute's H. contortus genomic database. qRT-PCR was performed to analyse the transcriptional levels of Hc-maoc-1 with different developmental stages as templates. IFA was carried out to determine the expression pattern in L3 larvae and micro-injection was used to verify the promoter activity of 5'-flanking region of Hc-maoc-1. Overexpression and RNAi experiments were applied in N2 strain to ascertain the gene function of Hc-maoc-1.
Results:
The full-length cDNA of Hc-maoc-1 was 900 bp in length, which contained eight exons separated by seven introns and possessed the Hotdog domain and the MaoC-like domain, together with several other residues and a hydratase 2 motif. It was transcribed throughout the lifecycle and peaked in the fourth-stage larvae (L4) of H. contortus; however, its transcription level decreased in diapausing L4. The protein expression and location of Hc-MAOC-1 were mainly in the intestine of L3 larvae. Overexpression of Ce-maoc-1 and Hc-maoc-1 in C. elegans showed extended lifespan and increased body size. The protein Ce-MAOC-1 and Hc-MAOC-1 were localized in the intestine with a punctate pattern. In C. elegans, knockdown of Ce-maoc-1 conferred shortened lifespan and body lengths, decreased brood size and increased lipid storage.
Conclusion:
Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model organism to ascertain the function of Hc-maoc-1 in H. contortus. Our results showed the similar characteristics and functions with Ce-maoc-1 and provided evidences of the potential functions of Hc-maoc-1 in biosynthesis of daumones in H. contortus.
