• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.429-441
• /
• 2009

We have determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the yellow-spotted long horned beetle, Psacothea hilaris (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an endangered insect species in Korea. The 15,856-bp long P. hilaris mitogenome harbors gene content typical of the animal mitogenome and a gene arrangement identical to the most common type found in insect mitogenomes. As with all other sequenced coleopteran species, the 5-bp long TAGTA motif was also detected in the intergenic space sequence located between $tRNA^{Ser}$(UCN) and ND1 of P. hilaris. The 1,190-bp long non-coding A+T-rich region harbors an unusual series of seven identical repeat sequences of 57-bp in length and several stretches of sequences with the potential to form stem-and-loop structures. Furthermore, it contains one $tRNA^{Arg}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Lys}$-like sequence. Phylogenetic analysis among available coleopteran mitogenomes using the concatenated amino acid sequences of PCGs appear to support the sister group relationship of the suborder Polyphaga to all remaining suborders, including Adephaga, Myxophaga, and Archostemata. Among the two available infraorders in Polyphaga, a monophyletic Cucujiformia was confirmed, with the placement of Cleroidea as the basal lineage for Cucujiformia. On the other hand, the infraorder Elateriformia was not identified as monophyletic, thereby indicating that Scirtoidea and Buprestoidea are the basal lineages for Cucujiformia and the remaining Elateriformia.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 2002

We describe here the cDNA sequence and mRNA expression of a novel serine pretense from the firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa. The 771 bp cDNA encodes for 257 amino acid residues. The deduced protein of P. rufa serine pretense gene contains the catalytic triad and six-conserved cysteine residues. Alignment of the deduced protein of P. rufa serine pretense gene showed 47.4% protein sequence identity to known coleopteran insect Rhyzopertha dominica midgut trpsin-like enzyme. Northern blot analysis revealed that the P. rufa serine pretense is specifically expressed in the midgut of P. rufa larvae.