Phylogenetic tree of sNPF precursors and alignment analysis of sNPF sequences in parasitoid wasps and other insect species.

<p>Chrysidoidea sequences in phylogeny trees are indicated with blue circles; Ichneumonoidea sequences are indicated with light green squares; Chalcidoidea sequences are indicated with red triangles; Cynipoidea sequences are indicated with light blue rhombuses; Orussoidea with empty squares; Platygastroidea with empty rhombuses. Numbers above branches indicate phylogenies from amino acid sequences and only values above 50% are shown. The numbers of the paracopies carrying the motif are shown by the repeat numbers. Identities in alignments are highlighted in dark (100%) and in grey (80%~100%).</p

Phylogenetic tree of AST-CC precursors and alignment analysis of AST-CC sequences in parasitoid wasps and other insect species.

<p>Chrysidoidea sequences in phylogeny trees are indicated with blue circles; Ichneumonoidea sequences are indicated with light green squares; Chalcidoidea sequences are indicated with red triangles; Cynipoidea sequences are indicated with light blue rhombuses; Orussoidea with empty squares. Numbers above branches indicate phylogenies from amino acid sequences and only values above 50% are shown. Identities in alignments are highlighted in dark (100%) and in grey (80%~100%).</p

Schematic diagrams for CAPA/PK genes in parasitoid wasps and other insect species.

<p>Putative bioactive mature peptides are shown as color coded boxes for each peptide family (PVKs, PKs and trypto-PKs).</p

The putative mature peptides in <i>Nasonia vitripennis</i>, <i>Fopius arisanus</i> and <i>Argochrysis armilla</i>.

<p>The putative mature peptides in <i>Nasonia vitripennis</i>, <i>Fopius arisanus</i> and <i>Argochrysis armilla</i>.</p

Phylogenetic tree of AST-C/AST-CCC precursors and alignment analysis of AST-C/AST-CCC sequences in parasitoid wasps and other insect species.

<p>Chrysidoidea sequences in phylogeny trees are indicated with blue circles; Ichneumonoidea sequences are indicated with light green squares; Chalcidoidea sequences are indicated with red triangles; Cynipoidea sequences are indicated with light blue rhombuses; Orussoidea with empty squares; Platygastroidea with empty rhombuses. Numbers above branches indicate phylogenies from amino acid sequences and only values above 50% are shown. Identities in alignments are highlighted in dark (100%) and in grey (80%~100%).</p

<i>In silico</i> prediction of neuropeptides in Hymenoptera parasitoid wasps

<div><p>Parasitoid wasps of the order Hymenoptera, the most diverse groups of animals, are important natural enemies of arthropod hosts in natural ecosystems and can be used in biological control. To date, only one neuropeptidome of a parasitoid wasp, <i>Nasonia vitripennis</i>, has been identified. This study aimed to identify more neuropeptides of parasitoid wasps, by using a well-established workflow that was previously adopted for predicting insect neuropeptide sequences. Based on publicly accessible databases, totally 517 neuropeptide precursors from 24 parasitoid wasp species were identified; these included five neuropeptides (CNMamide, FMRFamide-like, ITG-like, ion transport peptide-like and orcokinin B) that were identified for the first time in parasitoid wasps, to our knowledge. Next, these neuropeptides from parasitoid wasps were compared with those from other insect species. Phylogenetic analysis suggested the divergence of AST-CCC within Hymenoptera. Further, the encoding patterns of CAPA/PK family genes were found to be different between Hymenoptera species and other insect species. Some neuropeptides that were not found in some parasitoid superfamilies (<i>e</i>.<i>g</i>., sulfakinin), or considerably divergent between different parasitoid superfamilies (<i>e</i>.<i>g</i>., sNPF) might be related to distinct physiological processes in the parasitoid life. Information of neuropeptide sequences in parasitoid wasps can be useful for better understanding the phylogenetic relationships of Hymenoptera and further elucidating the physiological functions of neuropeptide signaling systems in parasitoid wasps.</p></div

Overview of the presence of neuropeptide precursors of Hymenoptera parasitoid wasps and other insects.

<p>Blue, identified neuropeptide precursors; White, not found. AKH: adipokinetic hormone; ACP: AKH/corazonin-relate peptide; AST: allatostatin; AVLP: arginine-vasopressin-like peptide; CAPA: cardioacceleratory peptide 2b; CCAP: crustacean cardioactive peptide; DH: diuretic hormone; EH: eclosion hormone; ETH: ecdysis triggering hormone; FMRFa: FMRFamide-like peptide; ILP: insulin-like peptide; ITP: ion transport peptide; ITPL: ITP-like peptide; NPF: neuropeptide F; NPLP1: neuropeptide-like precursor 1; PDF: pigment dispersing factor; PTTH: prothoracicotropic hormone; sNPF: short neuropeptide F. The data of other insects are mainly referred from <i>D</i>. <i>melanogaster</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref005" target="_blank">5</a>], <i>An</i>. <i>gambiae</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref006" target="_blank">6</a>], <i>A</i>. <i>mellifera</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref007" target="_blank">7</a>], <i>B</i>. <i>mori</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref008" target="_blank">8</a>], <i>T</i>. <i>castaneum</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref009" target="_blank">9</a>], <i>Ac</i>. <i>pisum</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref010" target="_blank">10</a>], <i>R</i>. <i>prolixus</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref011" target="_blank">11</a>], <i>Z</i>. <i>nevadensis</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref012" target="_blank">12</a>], <i>L</i>. <i>migratoria</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref012" target="_blank">12</a>], <i>N</i>. <i>lugens</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref013" target="_blank">13</a>], <i>C</i>. <i>suppressalis</i> [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0193561#pone.0193561.ref015" target="_blank">15</a>].</p

All Zinc-Blende GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As Core–Shell Nanowires with Ferromagnetic Ordering

Combining self-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid growth of GaAs nanowires and low-temperature molecular-beam epitaxy of (Ga,Mn)­As, we successfully synthesized all zinc-blende (ZB) GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As core–shell nanowires on Si(111) substrates. The ZB GaAs nanowire cores are first fabricated at high temperature by utilizing the Ga droplets as the catalyst and controlling the triple phase line nucleation, then the (Ga,Mn)As shells are epitaxially grown on the side facets of the GaAs core at low temperature. The growth window for the pure phase GaAs/(Ga,Mn)­As core–shell nanowires is found to be very narrow. Both high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations confirm that all-ZB GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As core–shell nanowires with smooth side surface are obtained when the Mn concentration is not more than 2% and the growth temperature is 245 °C or below. Magnetic measurements with different applied field directions provide strong evidence for ferromagnetic ordering in the all-ZB GaAs/(Ga,Mn)­As nanowires. The hybrid nanowires offer an attractive platform to explore spin transport and device concepts in fully epitaxial all-semiconductor nanospintronic structures

All Zinc-Blende GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As Core–Shell Nanowires with Ferromagnetic Ordering

Combining self-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid growth of GaAs nanowires and low-temperature molecular-beam epitaxy of (Ga,Mn)­As, we successfully synthesized all zinc-blende (ZB) GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As core–shell nanowires on Si(111) substrates. The ZB GaAs nanowire cores are first fabricated at high temperature by utilizing the Ga droplets as the catalyst and controlling the triple phase line nucleation, then the (Ga,Mn)As shells are epitaxially grown on the side facets of the GaAs core at low temperature. The growth window for the pure phase GaAs/(Ga,Mn)­As core–shell nanowires is found to be very narrow. Both high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy observations confirm that all-ZB GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As core–shell nanowires with smooth side surface are obtained when the Mn concentration is not more than 2% and the growth temperature is 245 °C or below. Magnetic measurements with different applied field directions provide strong evidence for ferromagnetic ordering in the all-ZB GaAs/(Ga,Mn)­As nanowires. The hybrid nanowires offer an attractive platform to explore spin transport and device concepts in fully epitaxial all-semiconductor nanospintronic structures

Anisotropic Pauli Spin-Blockade Effect and Spin–Orbit Interaction Field in an InAs Nanowire Double Quantum Dot

We report on experimental detection of the spin–orbit interaction field in an InAs nanowire double quantum dot device. In the spin blockade regime, leakage current through the double quantum dot is measured and is used to extract the effects of spin–orbit interaction and hyperfine interaction on spin state mixing. At finite magnetic fields, the leakage current arising from the hyperfine interaction can be suppressed, and the spin–orbit interaction dominates spin state mixing. We observe dependence of the leakage current on the applied magnetic field direction and determine the direction of the spin–orbit interaction field. We show that the spin–orbit field lies in a direction perpendicular to the nanowire axis but with a pronounced off-substrate-plane angle. The results are expected to have an important implication in employing InAs nanowires to construct spin–orbit qubits and topological quantum devices