Biological invasions generally start from low initial population sizes, leading to reduced genetic variation in nuclear and especially mitochondrial DNA. Consequently, genetic approaches for the study of invasion history and population structure are difficult. An extreme example is the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Medfly), for which successive invasions during this century have resulted in a loss of 60% of ancestral genetic variation in isozymes and 75% of variation in mitochondrial DNA. Using Medflies as an example, we present a new approach to invasion genetics that measures DNA sequence variation within introns from multiple nuclear loci. These loci are so variable that even relatively recently founded Medfly populations within California and Hawaii retain ample genetic diversity. Invading populations have only lost 35% of the ancestral genetic variation. Intron variation will allow high-resolution genetic characterization of invading populations in both natural and managed systems, although non-equilibrium methods of analysis may be necessary if the genetic diversity represents sorting ancestral polymorphism.

/pdf/invasion-genetics-of-the-mediterranean-fruit-fly-variation-b2n9u706qz.pdf

Invasion genetics of the Mediterranean fruit fly: variation in multiple nuclear introns.

Actin is found in all eukaryotes and plays a fundamental role in many diverse and dynamic cellular processes. Despite being so ubiquitous, actin isoforms exhibit an unusually high degree of amino acid sequence similarity. This poses the question of how actin can fulfil such diverse functions in different organisms, yet retain such a high degree of sequence conservation? In this Review we examine the impact molecular genetics has made on

/pdf/molecular-genetics-of-actin-function-1m1i23yav4.pdf

Molecular genetics of actin function.

Four genes encoding the major egg yolk polypeptides of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata, vitellogenins 1 and 2 (VG1 and VG2), were cloned, characterized and partially sequenced. The genes are located on the same region of chromosome 5 and are organized in pairs, each encoding the two polypeptides on opposite DNA strands. Restriction and nucleotide sequence analysis indicate that the gene pairs have arisen from an ancestral pair by a relatively recent duplication event. The transcribed part is very similar to that of the Drosophila melanogaster yolk protein genes Yp1, Yp2 and Yp3. The Vg1 genes have two introns at the same positions as those in D. melanogaster Yp3; the Vg2 genes have only one of the introns, as do D. melanogaster Yp1 and Yp2. Comparison of the five polypeptide sequences shows extensive homology, with 27% of the residues being invariable. The sequence similarity of the processed proteins extends in two regions separated by a nonconserved region of varying size. Secondary structure predictions suggest a highly conserved secondary structure pattern in the two regions, which probably correspond to structural and functional domains. The carboxy-end domain of the C. capitata proteins shows the same sequence similarities with triacyglycerol lipases that have been reported previously for the D. melanogaster yolk proteins. Analysis of codon usage shows significant differences between D. melanogaster and C. capitata vitellogenins with the latter exhibiting a less biased representation of synonymous codons.

https://www.genetics.org/content/genetics/127/4/769.full.pdf

A cluster of vitellogenin genes in the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata: sequence and structural conservation in dipteran yolk proteins and their genes.

We hybridized cloned DNA segments to salivary gland polytene chromosomes of the medfly,Ceratitis capitata, and thus established molecular markers for 24 sites on 6 out of 10 autosomal arms. An additional marker identified a medfly repetitive element that hybridizes to approximately 100 autosomal sites as well as a granular network that is thought to represent theX chromosome. Some of the markers correspond to 9 characterized transcription units, while 17 remain anonymous; at least 3 of the latter are restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. The characterized transcription units document that chromosomal arm 5L ofC. capitata is homologous to theDrosophila melanogaster X chromosome, in agreement with previous inferences based on the extensive conservation of linkage groups in Diptera.

The genome of the Mediterranean fruitfly ceratitis capitata : Localization of molecular markers by in situ hybridization to salivary gland polytene chromosomes

Five actin genes have been identified in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae, and a constitutively expressed actin gene has been chosen for detailed analysis. We have physically mapped and sequenced this gene and six associated cDNAs, including translated coding regions, as well as the 5' and 3' flanking sequences. Analysis of stage-specific RNA shows this gene to be present in all stages of mosquito development and in an established A. gambiae cell line, thus indicating a cytoskeletal actin. In the sequence of the translated coding region and in pattern of expression, this gene is very similar to the cytoskeletal actin genes of Drosophila melanogaster, and in sequence, equally similar to the Artemia cytoskeletal actin gene 403 (99.2% identity among the three amino acid sequences). Sequencing of this A. gambiae actin gene (designated act1D for its location in chromosome division 1D) and selected cDNAs shows that it possesses three alternative leader sequences; thus the gene appears to have three alternative promoters. These promoters should ultimately prove useful in the production of transgenic constructs for constitutive expression.

A cytoskeletal actin gene in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

We have undertaken the study of actin gene organization and expression in the genome of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata. Actin genes have been extensively characterized previously in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms, and they have valuable properties for comparative studies. These genes are typically highly conserved in coding regions, represented in multiple copies per genome and regulated in expression during development. We have isolated a gene in the medfly using the cloned Drosophila melanogaster 5C actin gene as a probe. This medfly gene detects abundant messages present during late larval and late pupal development as well as in thoracic and leg tissue preparations from newly emerged adults. This pattern of expression is consistent with what has been seen for actin genes in other organisms. Using either the D. melanogaster 5C actin gene or the medfly gene as a probe identifies five common cross reacting EcoRI fragments in genomic DNA, but only under less than fully stringent hybridization conditions.

https://www.genetics.org/content/genetics/125/1/155.full.pdf

Actin genes in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata.

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Actin genes in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata.