Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 8, 2025
10:38
Fluorescence in situ Hybridizations FISH for the Localization of Viruses and Endosymbiotic Bacteria in Plant and Insect Tissues
Published on: February 24, 2014
24.2K
Whitefly genomes contain ribotoxin coding genes acquired from plants
Walter J Lapadula1, María L Mascotti2, Maximiliano Juri Ayub3
1Facultad de Química Bioquímica y Farmacia, IMIBIO-SL CONICET, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, D5700HHW, San Luis, Argentina. wlapadula@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|September 24, 2020
Summary
Two new ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) genes were found in whiteflies, acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from plants. These findings suggest RIPs provide a fitness advantage in insects.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are enzymes with RNA N-glycosidase activity.
- RIPs depurinate a specific adenine residue in the sarcin/ricin loop of 28S rRNA.
- RIP genes are common in plants and bacteria, and have been identified in mosquitoes via horizontal gene transfer (HGT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and origin of RIP genes in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.
- To determine if whitefly RIP genes are functional and their evolutionary history.
Main Methods:
- Genome database analysis of Bemisia tabaci.
- Phylogenetic analysis.
- Transcriptomic analysis to confirm gene expression and splicing.
Main Results:
- Two RIP encoding genes were identified in the Bemisia tabaci genome, distinct from mosquito RIPs.
- Whitefly RIP genes contain introns and are transcribed and spliced, indicating functionality.
- Phylogenetic and taxonomic data suggest an independent HGT event from a plant donor into whiteflies.
Conclusions:
- Bemisia tabaci possesses functional RIP genes acquired through a separate HGT event from plants.
- The presence of functional RIP genes in insects like whiteflies and mosquitoes suggests they confer a fitness advantage.
- This study expands the known distribution of RIP genes in insects and highlights the role of HGT in insect evolution.
Related Concept Videos
02:32Exon Recombination
3.9K
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
3.9K
01:56Riboswitches
9.3K
Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
9.3K
02:13Overview of Transposition and Recombination
18.3K
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
18.3K
02:50Transgenic Plants
8.2K
Recombinant DNA technology called transgenesis is often used to add a foreign gene or remove a detrimental gene from an organism. Such genetically modified organisms are called transgenic organisms.
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
8.2K
02:57DNA-only Transposons
16.4K
DNA-only transposons are called autonomous transposons since they code for the enzyme transposase that is required for the transposition mechanism. Insertion of transposons can alter gene functions in multiple ways. They can mutate the gene, alter gene expression by introducing a novel promoter or insulator sequence, introduce new splice sites, and change the mRNA transcripts produced, or remodel chromatin structure.
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
The donor site from where the transposon is excised is either degraded or...
16.4K
01:59Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
21.0K
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady supply of food.
21.0K