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

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2001

A cDNA encoding the defensin homologue of a novel family member was isolated from the cDNA library of the firefly,Pyrocoelia rufa. Sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding the defensin homologue of P. rufa resulted that the 165 bp cDHA has an open reading frame of 55 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences of the defensin homologue gene from P. rufa showed identity to known mammalian defensins. Also 6 cystein residues in the P. rufa defensin homologue gene were conserved in the same position as those of known mammalian defensins. The result suggested that P. rufa defensin homologue is a novel member of the insect defensin family. Southern blot analysis suggests that there may be a single copy number of the P.rufa defensin homologue gene and their fat body-specific expression pattern at the transcriptional level was confirmed by Northern blot analysis.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2002

We describe here the cDNA sequence and mRNA expression of a novel family of the antioxidant protein, peroxiredoxin, from the firefly, Pyracoetia ruin. The 555 bp cDNA sequence codes for a 185 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of approximately 21 kDa. The deduced protein of P. rufa peroxiredoxin gene contains two conserved cysteine residues. Alignment of the deduced protein of P. rufa peroxiredoxin gene showed 71.1% protein sequenceidentity to known insect Drosophila melanogaster peroxiredoxin. Northern blot analysis revealed that the P. rufa peroxiredoxin is specifically expressed in the fat body of P. rufa larvae.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2003

We describe here the complete nucleotide sequence and the exon-intron structure of the luciferase gene of the firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa. The luciferase gene of the P. rufa firefly consisted of six introns and seven exons coding for 548 amino acid residues. From the translational start site to the end of last exon, however, the genomic DNA length of the P. rufa luciferase gene from the Korean and Chinese samples spans 1,968 bp and 1983 bp, respectively, and 3 amino acid residues were different to each other. Additionally, we also analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I(COI) gene of the Chinese P. rufa fireflies. Analysis of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial COI protein-coding gene revealed 4 mitochondrial DNA sequence-based haplotypes with a maximum divergence of 0.7％. With the 20 P. rufa haplotypes found in Korea, phylogenetic analyses using PAUP and PHYLIP subdivided the P. rufa into three clades, termed clades A and B for the Korean sample, and clade C for the Chinese sample.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.165-169
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• 2000

We have constructed cDNA library from the larvae whole body of the firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa. Single direct partial sequencing of anonymous cDNA clones was performed to obtain genetic information on the firefly, P. rufa, of which genetic information is currently not available. This expressed sequence tags (EST) analysis of the 54 clones (54%) showed significant homology to the known genes registered in GenBank. Of these clones, twenty-four were related to the known insect genes, but these clones were not matched to previously identified firefly genes. Putative functional categories of these clones showed that the next abundant genes were associated with energy metabolism.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.69-72
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• 2003

Development and life history of the Korean native firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa, were investigated throughout the indoor rearing. Average size of egg with an oval shape was 1.7 m and the hatchability of egg of P. rufa was approximately 88.5%. The larvae were pupated at the ${5^th}$ instar and the body length of the matured larvae was 27.1 mm. The total periods of larval stage to the end of the 5$^{th}$ instar were approximately 104.7 days. Average pupal period was 10.3 days and average number of eggs oviposited by a female was 87.3 eggs. The body size of female in the pupa and adult was larger than that of male. The wings of female adult were deteriorated.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2001

The vitellin of firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa, is composed of three polypeptides, designated Vn1 (175 kDa), Vn2 (160 kDa) and Vn3 (45 kDa) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three subunits of vitellin were presented in the female adult hemolymph, ovary and egg extracts, but not observed in the male. This vitellin was purified from the eggs of P. rufa by the FPLC techniques, anion exchange chromatography and gel permeation chromatography. In nature, vitellin of P. rufa has molecular weight of 400 kDa. Western blot analysis using polyclonal antiserum against purified vitellin showed that the antiserum was reacted with the three polypeptides, Vnl, Vn2 and Vn3 from the female adult hemolymph, ovary and egg extracts. Amino acid residues at N-terminus of three subunits were sequenced. The N-terminal sequences of large subunits, Vnl and Vn2, were similar to each other, But, the N-terminal sequences of small subunits Vn3, did not have any signnificant homology with large subunits.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2003

The Korean native firefly, P. rufa, is widely distributed in Korea and only at Tsushima in the case of Japan. P. rufa is known to occur in various habitats such as stream area, wet fields and mountain area. Development and life history of the Korean native firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa, were investigated throughout the indoor rearing. (omitted)

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2000

We have sequenced a portion of mitochondrial CO! gene (403 bp) of the firefly, Pyrocoelia rufa, to investigate genetic diversity within population, geographic variation, and phylogenetic relationships among haplotypes. A total of seven mtDNA haplotypes ranging in sequence divergence from 0.2% to 1.2% were obtained from 26 fireflies collected at four localities in Korea: Namhae, Pusan, Muju, and Yongin. The samples collected at the urban area, Pusan, were all fixed with one haplotype, differently those collected at the forest and/or agricultural areas. This appears to suggest that habitat fragmentation and population bottleneck caused by urbanization might have been severe in Pusan. On the other hand, from Muju known as the largest habitat and sanctuary for the firefly, four haplotypes with the maximum sequence divergence of 1.0% were obtained, and this estimate was the highest among the areas studied. The fireflies collected at the isolated islet, Namhae, revealed relatively low haplotype diversity(H=0.25), but one haplotype (PR7) was phylogenetically differentiated from others. This phenomenon was explained in terms of biogeographic history of the island and gene flow in the recent past. Grouping of Muju- Y ongin and Pusan-Namhae, respectively, in the hierarchical genetic analysis suggests the presence of historically occurred, biogeographic barrier against gene flow between them.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.211-226
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• 2000

Genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships among the major Korean fireflies (Hotaria papariensis, Luciola lateralis, and Pyrocoelia rufa) were studied. A portion of mitochondrial COI (403 bp) and 165 rRNA (490~504 bp) genes were sequenced, and the GenBank-registered, homologous 165 rRNA sequences of Japanese fireflies were compared (27 species of Lampyridae, one of Lycidae, and one of Rhgophthalmidae). Greatest DNA and/or amino acid sequence divergence was found when P rufa, belonging to Lampyrinae was compared with H. papariensis and L. lateralis, both belong-ing to Luciolinae, confirming the current taxonomic status of the species. In the PAUP and PHYLIP analyses with 165 rRNA data, grouping of the two geographic samples of H. papariensis with H. tsushimana validate the use of generic name, Hotaria. Nevertheless, lack of sister-group relationship of the two geographic samples of H. papariensis renders further investigation on this group . Although the Korean and Japanese L. lateralis formed a strong monophyletic group, a substantial genetic differentiation was detected between them (2.9% of 165 rRNA gene sequence divergence). Finally, the geographic samples of Korean p. rufa strongly formed a group with Japanese p. rufa, warranting the use of generic name, Pyrocoelia, but the genetic distance observed between the Cheju-Island individual and all others requires further investigation on this subject. Summarized, this study supports the current taxonomic status of the Korean fireflies in that each respectively formed a strong monophyletic group with its own species or genus.