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Zhang XQ, Jin L, Guo WC, Fu KY, Li GQ. RNA Interference-Mediated Suppression of Ecdysone Signaling Inhibits Choriogenesis in Two Coleoptera Species. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4555. [PMID: 38674140 PMCID: PMC11050585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During choriogenesis in insects, chorion (eggshell) is formed by surrounding follicular epithelial cells in ovarioles. However, the regulatory endocrine factor(s) activating choriogenesis and the effect of chemical components on eggshell deserve further exploration. In two representative coleopterans, a coccinellid Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and a chrysomelid Leptinotarsa decemlineata, genes encoding the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor heterodimer, ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and two chitin biosynthesis enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) and chitin synthase (ChS1), were highly expressed in ovaries of the young females. RNA interference (RNAi)-aided knockdown of either HvEcR or Hvusp in H. vigintioctopunctata inhibited oviposition, suppressed the expression of HvChS1, and lessened the positive signal of Calcofluor staining on the chorions, which suggests the reduction of a chitin-like substance (CLS) deposited on eggshells. Similarly, RNAi of LdEcR or Ldusp in L. decemlineata constrained oviposition, decreased the expression of LdUAP1 and LdChS1, and reduced CLS contents in the resultant ovaries. Knockdown of LdUAP1 or LdChS1 caused similar defective phenotypes, i.e., reduced oviposition and CLS contents in the L. decemlineata ovaries. These results, for the first time, indicate that 20E signaling activates choriogenesis in two coleopteran species. Moreover, our findings suggest the deposition of a CLS on the chorions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Zhang
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.-Q.Z.); (L.J.)
| | - Lin Jin
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.-Q.Z.); (L.J.)
| | - Wen-Chao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Intergraded Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Urumqi 830091, China; (W.-C.G.); (K.-Y.F.)
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety, Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
| | - Kai-Yun Fu
- Key Laboratory of Intergraded Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Oasis, Ministry of Agriculture, Urumqi 830091, China; (W.-C.G.); (K.-Y.F.)
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety, Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
| | - Guo-Qing Li
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.-Q.Z.); (L.J.)
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Rios T, Bomfim L, Pereira J, Miranda K, Majerowicz D, Pane A, Ramos I. Knockdown of Sec16 causes early lethality and defective deposition of the protein Rp30 in the eggshell of the vector Rhodnius prolixus. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1332894. [PMID: 38711619 PMCID: PMC11070790 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1332894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In nearly every species of insect, embryonic development takes place outside of the mother's body and is entirely dependent on the elements that the mother had previously stored within the eggs. It is well known that the follicle cells (FCs) synthesize the eggshell (chorion) components during the process of choriogenesis, the final step of oogenesis before fertilization. These cells have developed a specialization in the massive production of chorion proteins, which are essential for the protection and survival of the embryo. Here, we investigate the function of Sec16, a protein crucial for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi traffic, in the oocyte development in the insect Rhodnius prolixus. We discovered that Sec16 is strongly expressed in vitellogenic females' ovaries, particularly in the choriogenic oocyte and it is mainly associated with the FCs. Silencing of Sec16 by RNAi caused a sharp decline in oviposition rates, F1 viability, and longevity in adult females. In the FCs, genes involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR), the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), and autophagy were massively upregulated, whereas the mRNAs of Rp30 and Rp45-which code for the two major chorion proteins - were downregulated as a result of Sec16 silencing, indicating general proteostasis disturbance. As a result, the outer surface ultrastructure of Sec16-silenced chorions was altered, with decreased thickness, dityrosine crosslinking, sulfur signals, and lower amounts of the chorion protein Rp30. These findings collectively demonstrate the critical role Sec16 plays in the proper functioning of the FCs, which impacts the synthesis and deposition of particular components of the chorion as well as the overall reproduction of this vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thamara Rios
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Larissa Bomfim
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Pereira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kildare Miranda
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - David Majerowicz
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Attilio Pane
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ramos
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Zhao ST, Ran XT, Huang YY, Sang W, Derrick BE, Qiu BL. Transcriptomic response of citrus psyllid salivary glands to the infection of citrus Huanglongbing pathogen. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38444234 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485324000038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is the key vector insect transmitting the Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) bacterium that causes the devastating citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing, HLB) worldwide. The D. citri salivary glands (SG) exhibit an important barrier against the transmission of HLB pathogen. However, knowledge on the molecular mechanism of SG defence against CLas infection is still limited. In the present study, we compared the SG transcriptomic response of CLas-free and CLas-infected D. citri using an illumine paired-end RNA sequencing. In total of 861 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the SG upon CLas infection, including 202 upregulated DEGs and 659 downregulated DEGs were identified. Functional annotation analysis showed that most of the DEGs were associated with cellular processes, metabolic processes, and the immune response. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed that these DEGs were enriched in pathways involving carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the immune system, the digestive system, the lysosome, and endocytosis. A total of 16 DEGs were randomly selected to further validate the accuracy of RNA-Seq dataset by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. This study provides substantial transcriptomic information regarding the SG of D. citri in response to CLas infection, which may shed light on the molecular interaction between D. citri and CLas, and provides new ideas for the prevention and control of citrus psyllid.
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Affiliation(s)
- San-Tao Zhao
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Xiao-Tong Ran
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Yu-Yang Huang
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wen Sang
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | | | - Bao-Li Qiu
- Engineering Research Centre of Biological Control, Ministry of Education, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China
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Belavilas-Trovas A, Gregoriou ME, Tastsoglou S, Soukia O, Giakountis A, Mathiopoulos K. A species-specific lncRNA modulates the reproductive ability of the asian tiger mosquito. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:885767. [PMID: 36091452 PMCID: PMC9448860 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.885767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) research has emerged as an independent scientific field in recent years. Despite their association with critical cellular and metabolic processes in plenty of organisms, lncRNAs are still a largely unexplored area in mosquito research. We propose that they could serve as exceptional tools for pest management due to unique features they possess. These include low inter-species sequence conservation and high tissue specificity. In the present study, we investigated the role of ovary-specific lncRNAs in the reproductive ability of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Through the analysis of transcriptomic data, we identified several lncRNAs that were differentially expressed upon blood feeding; we called these genes Norma (NOn-coding RNA in Mosquito ovAries). We observed that silencing some of these Normas resulted in significant impact on mosquito fecundity and fertility. We further focused on Norma3 whose silencing resulted in 43% oviposition reduction, in smaller ovaries and 53% hatching reduction of the laid eggs, compared to anti-GFP controls. Moreover, a significant downregulation of 2 mucins withing a neighboring (∼100 Kb) mucin cluster was observed in smaller anti-Norma3 ovaries, indicating a potential mechanism of in-cis regulation between Norma3 and the mucins. Our work constitutes the first experimental proof-of-evidence connecting lncRNAs with mosquito reproduction and opens a novel path for pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Belavilas-Trovas
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Maria-Eleni Gregoriou
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Spyros Tastsoglou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece
- Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Olga Soukia
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Antonis Giakountis
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Kostas Mathiopoulos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
- *Correspondence: Kostas Mathiopoulos,
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Zhang Z, Song X, Hu H, Wang D, Chen J, Ma Y, Ma X, Ren X, Ma Y. Knockdown of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase and chitin synthase A increases the insecticidal efficiency of Lufenuron to Spodoptera exigua. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 186:105178. [PMID: 35973767 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2022.105178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) has been responsible for causing considerable and widespread agricultural losses worldwide. Owing to strong selective pressure, S. exigua showed increased resistance to Lufenuron (LUF). Consequently, RNA interference (RNAi)-based insecticides had more benefits than chemical insecticides. Therefore, to enhance the insecticidal activity of LUF to S. exigua, in the present study, we aimed to elucidate the impact of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) on S. exigua larval susceptibility to LUF. First, the transcriptome of S. exigua was sequenced following the treatment with LUF. By comparing the upregulated and downregulated GO enrichment, chitin binding and chitin metabolic processes were the significantly enriched pathways. According to transcriptome sequencing, 8 genes associated with chitin biosynthesis, 8 chitin degradation genes, and 17 cuticle protein genes were obtained. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) and Chitin synthase A (CHSA) showed significantly downregulated expression after treatment with different sublethal doses of LUF. Downregulation of UAP increased mortality from 31.97% to 47.91% when the larvae were exposed to LUF. A significant increase in the mortality of S. exigua from 30.63% to 50.19% was observed following LUF administration after dsCHSA. In addition, the expression analysis of genes associated with chitin biosynthesis was significantly changed after LUF treatment, dsRNAs-RNAi, and their combination (LUF-dsRNAs). Significant differences were observed in the chitin content between the control group at 72 h after treatments. Results of the present study can help further elucidate the understanding of the combined effects of RNAi and LUF on S. exigua. Additionally, this research provides a suitable foundation for future studies with the aim to develop an efficient method of delivery for large-scale pest control in the fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixian Zhang
- Zhengzhou Reseach Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Xianpeng Song
- Zhengzhou Reseach Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Hongyan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Dan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Jixiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Yajie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Zhengzhou Reseach Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China.
| | - Xiangliang Ren
- Zhengzhou Reseach Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China.
| | - Yan Ma
- Zhengzhou Reseach Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, Henan, China.
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Choi DY, Kim Y. Transcriptome analysis of female western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, exhibiting neo-panoistic ovarian development. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272399. [PMID: 35913957 PMCID: PMC9342723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is one of the most devastating insect pests with explosive reproductive potential. However, its reproductive physiological processes are not well understood. This study reports the ovarian development and associated transcriptomes of F. occidentalis. Each ovary consisted of four ovarioles, each of which contained a maximum of nine follicles in the vitellarium. The germarium consisted of several dividing cells forming a germ cell cluster, presumably consisting of oocytes and nurse cells. The nurse cells were restricted to the germarium while the subsequent follicles did not possess nurse cells or a nutritive cord, supporting the neo-panoistic ovariole usually found in thysanopteran insects. Oocyte development was completed 72 h after adult emergence (AAE). Transcriptome analysis was performed at mid (36 h AAE) and late (60 h AAE) ovarian developmental stages using RNA sequencing (RNASeq) technology. More than 120 million reads per replication were matched to ≈ 15,000 F. occidentalis genes. Almost 500 genes were differentially expressed at each of the mid and late ovarian developmental stages. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with metabolic pathways along with protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis. In both ovarian developmental stages, vitellogenin, mucin, and chorion genes were highly (> 8-fold) expressed. Endocrine signals associated with ovarian development were further investigated from the DEGs. Insulin and juvenile hormone signals were upregulated only at 36 h AAE, whereas the ecdysteroid signal was highly maintained at 60 h AAE. This study reports the transcriptome associated with the ovarian development of F. occidentalis, which possesses a neo-panoistic ovariole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Du-Yeol Choi
- Department of Plant Medicals, College of Life Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
| | - Yonggyun Kim
- Department of Plant Medicals, College of Life Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
- * E-mail:
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Roy MC, Nam K, Kim J, Stanley D, Kim Y. Thromboxane Mobilizes Insect Blood Cells to Infection Foci. Front Immunol 2022; 12:791319. [PMID: 34987515 PMCID: PMC8720849 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.791319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Innate immune responses are effective for insect survival to defend against entomopathogens including a fungal pathogen, Metarhizium rileyi, that infects a lepidopteran Spodoptera exigua. In particular, the fungal virulence was attenuated by cellular immune responses, in which the conidia were phagocytosed by hemocytes (insect blood cells) and hyphal growth was inhibited by hemocyte encapsulation. However, the chemokine signal to drive hemocytes to the infection foci was little understood. The hemocyte behaviors appeared to be guided by a Ca2+ signal stimulating cell aggregation to the infection foci. The induction of the Ca2+ signal was significantly inhibited by the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor. Under the inhibitory condition, the addition of thromboxane A2 or B2 (TXA2 or TXB2) among COX products was the most effective to recover the Ca2+ signal and hemocyte aggregation. TXB2 alone induced a microaggregation behavior of hemocytes under in vitro conditions. Indeed, TXB2 titer was significantly increased in the plasma of the infected larvae. The elevated TXB2 level was further supported by the induction of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in the hemocytes and subsequent up-regulation of COX-like peroxinectins (SePOX-F and SePOX-H) in response to the fungal infection. Finally, the expression of a thromboxane synthase (Se-TXAS) gene was highly expressed in the hemocytes. RNA interference (RNAi) of Se-TXAS expression inhibited the Ca2+ signal and hemocyte aggregation around fungal hyphae, which were rescued by the addition of TXB2. Without any ortholog to mammalian thromboxane receptors, a prostaglandin receptor was essential to mediate TXB2 signal to elevate the Ca2+ signal and mediate hemocyte aggregation behavior. Specific inhibitor assays suggest that the downstream signal after binding TXB2 to the receptor follows the Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release pathway from the endoplasmic reticulum of the hemocytes. These results suggest that hemocyte aggregation induced by the fungal infection is triggered by TXB2via a Ca2+ signal through a PG receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miltan Chandra Roy
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, South Korea
| | - Kiwoong Nam
- DGIMI, Univ Montpellier, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Jaesu Kim
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - David Stanley
- Biological Control of Insect Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Station (USDA/ARS), Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Yonggyun Kim
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, South Korea
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Ahmed S, Roy MC, Al Baki MA, Jung JK, Lee D, Kim Y. CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis against sex pheromone biosynthesis leads to loss of female attractiveness in Spodoptera exigua, an insect pestt. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259322. [PMID: 34788305 PMCID: PMC8598075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Virgin female moths are known to release sex pheromones to attract conspecific males. Accurate sex pheromones are required for their chemical communication. Sex pheromones of Spodoptera exigua, a lepidopteran insect, contain unsaturated fatty acid derivatives having a double bond at the 12th carbon position. A desaturase of S. exigua (SexiDES5) was proposed to have dual functions by forming double bonds at the 11th and 12th carbons to synthesize Z9,E12-tetradecedienoic acid, which could be acetylated to be a main sex pheromone component Z9,E12-tetradecenoic acetate (Z9E12-14:Ac). A deletion of SexiDES5 using CRISPR/Cas9 was generated and inbred to obtain homozygotes. Mutant females could not produce Z9E12-14:Ac along with Z9-14:Ac and Z11-14:Ac. Subsequently, pheromone extract of mutant females did not induce a sensory signal in male antennae. They failed to induce male mating behavior including hair pencil erection and orientation. In the field, these mutant females did not attract any males while control females attracted males. These results indicate that SexiDES5 can catalyze the desaturation at the 11th and 12th positions to produce sex pheromone components in S. exigua. This study also suggests an application of the genome editing technology to insect pest control by generating non-attractive female moths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabbir Ahmed
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
| | | | | | - Jin Kyo Jung
- Division of Crop Cultivation and Environment Research, Department of Central Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Korea
| | - Daeweon Lee
- Metabolomics Research Center for Functional Materials, Kyungsung University, Busan, Korea
| | - Yonggyun Kim
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Korea
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