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Hossain Mollah J, Hatimuria A, Kumar Chauhan V. Transcriptomic analysis of Bombyx mori in its early larval stage (2 nd instar) of development upon Nosema bombycis transovarial infection. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 206:108157. [PMID: 38908473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
The infection caused by Nosema bombycis often known as pebrine, is a devastating sericulture disease. The infection can be transmitted to the next generation through eggs laid by infected female Bombyx mori moths (transovarial) as well as with N. bombycis contaminated food (horizontal). Most diagnoses were carried out in the advanced stages of infection until the time that infection might spread to other healthy insects. Hence, early diagnosis of pebrine is of utmost importance to quarantine infected larvae from uninfected silkworm batches and stop further spread of the infection. The findings of our study provide an insight into how the silkworm larval host defence system was activated against early N. bombycis transovarial infection. The results obtained from transcriptome analysis of infected 2nd instar larvae revealed significant (adjusted P-value < 0.05) expression of 1888 genes of which 801 genes were found to be upregulated and 1087 genes were downregulated when compared with the control. Pathway analysis indicated activation of the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, which shows a potential immune defence response against pebrine infection as well as suppression of the melanin synthesis pathway due to lower expression of prophenoloxidase activating enzyme (PPAE). Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of haemolymph from infected larvae shows the secretion of serpin binding protein of N. bombycis which might be involved in the suppression of the melanization pathway. Moreover, among the differentially expressed genes, we found that LPMC-61, yellow-y, gasp and osiris 9 can be utilised as potential markers for early diagnosis of transovarial pebrine infection in B. mori. Physiological as well as biochemical roles and functions of many of the essential genes are yet to be established, and enlightened research will be required to characterize the products of these genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahid Hossain Mollah
- Department of Zoology, Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Science), Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal-731235, India
| | - Arindam Hatimuria
- Department of Zoology, Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Science), Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal-731235, India
| | - Vinod Kumar Chauhan
- Department of Zoology, Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Science), Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal-731235, India.
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2
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Dong Y, Xu X, Qian L, Kou Z, Andongma AA, Zhou L, Huang Y, Wang Y. Genome-wide identification of yellow gene family in Hermetia illucens and functional analysis of yellow-y by CRISPR/Cas9. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38685755 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The yellow gene family plays a crucial role in insect pigmentation. It has potential for use as a visible marker gene in genetic manipulation and transgenic engineering in several model and non-model insects. Sadly, yellow genes have rarely been identified in Stratiomyidae species and the functions of yellow genes are relatively unknown. In the present study, we first manually annotated and curated 10 yellow genes in the black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyidae). Then, the conserved amino acids in the major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) domain, structural architecture and phylogenetic relationship of yellow genes in BSF were analyzed. We found that the BSF yellow-y, yellow-c and yellow-f genes are expressed at all developmental stages, especially in the prepupal stage. Using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system, we successfully disrupted yellow-y, yellow-c and yellow-f in the BSF. Consequently, the mutation of yellow-y clearly resulted in a pale-yellow body color in prepupae, pupae and adults, instead of the typical black body color of the wild type. However, the mutation of yellow-c or yellow-f genes did not result in any change in color of the insects, when compared with the wild type. Our study indicates that the BSF yellow-y gene plays a role in body pigmentation, providing an optimal marker gene for the genetic manipulation of BSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongcheng Dong
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaomiao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Lansa Qian
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, CAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Zongqing Kou
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, CAS, Shanghai, China
| | - Awawing A Andongma
- Insect and Parasite Ecology Group, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Lijun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, College of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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Gong LL, Zhang MQ, Ma YF, Feng HY, Zhao YQ, Zhou YY, He M, Smagghe G, He P. RNAi of yellow-y, required for normal cuticle pigmentation, impairs courtship behavior and oviposition in the German cockroach (Blattella germanica). ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 115:e22114. [PMID: 38659314 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The insect cuticle plays a key role in maintaining the insect's physiological function and behavior. Herein, the yellow-y protein is required to produce black melanin, and is expressed in a pattern that correlates with the distribution of this pigment. However, yellow-y can also have other functions, for instance, in insect behavior, but not much is known. In this study, we have studied the yellow-y gene in one important model and pest species, namely the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), which is to our knowledge the first time reported. In essence, we identified the yellow-y gene (BgY-y) and characterized its function by using RNA interference (RNAi). Silencing of BgY-y gene led to different developmental abnormalities (body weight and wings) in both genders. Specifically, there was an abundant decrease in melanin, turning the body color in pale yellow and the cuticle softer and more transparent. Interestingly, we also observed that the knockdown of BgY-y impaired the male cockroaches to display a weaker response to female-emitted contact sex pheromones, and also that the oviposition ability was weakened in the RNAi females. This study comprehensively analyzed the biological functions of the yellow-y gene in German cockroaches from the perspectives of development, body color, courtship behavior and oviposition, and as a consequence, this may opens new avenues to explore it as a novel pest control gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang-Lang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Meng-Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yun-Feng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hong-Yan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ya-Qin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yang-Yuntao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ming He
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Institute Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peng He
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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Yang XL, Ling X, Sun Q, Qiu PP, Xiang K, Hong JF, He SL, Chen J, Ding X, Hu H, He ZB, Zhou C, Chen B, Qiao L. High-efficiency gene editing in Anopheles sinensis using ReMOT control. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:307-312. [PMID: 38079250 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lin Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xia Ling
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quan Sun
- Xunjian Life Science & Technology Co. Ltd., Chongqing, China
| | - Pin-Pin Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Xiang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun-Feng Hong
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shu-Lin He
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng-Bo He
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Cao Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liang Qiao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, Institute of Entomology and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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Pradhan SK, Karuppannasamy A, Sujatha PM, Nagaraja BC, Narayanappa AC, Chalapathi P, Dhawane Y, Bynakal S, Riegler M, Maligeppagol M, Ramasamy A. Embryonic microinjection of ribonucleoprotein complex (Cas9+sgRNA) of white gene in melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) produced white eye phenotype. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 114:e22059. [PMID: 37844014 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is a major pest of cucurbitaceous crops, and causes substantial yield losses and economic costs. CRISPR/Cas9 is a rapid and effective site-specific genome editing tool for the generation of genetic changes that are stable and heritable. The CRISPR/Cas9 tool uses synthetically designed single guide RNA (sgRNA) that is complementary to the target gene and guides the Cas9 enzyme to perform nuclease activity by making double-strand breaks in the target DNA sequences. This tool can be effectively exploited to improve traits critical for the management of insect pests by targeting specific genes encoding these traits without the need of extensive genetic information. The white gene is an important gene responsible for the transport of body pigment precursor molecules. In this study, we produced effective mutagenesis of the white gene of Z. cucurbitae using the CRISPR/Cas9 tool with double sgRNA to target multiple sites of white to increase the efficiency in the generation of frame-shift mutations resulting in the white eye phenotype in adults. This was achieved through embryonic microinjection of the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in the pre-blastoderm embryo stage 1 h after embryo laying. Our success with the production of a white eye mutant fly by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis is important for the research on gene function and protein-level modifications in melon fly and forms the basis for the development of new genetic control strategies such as precision guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) for this pest of economic significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Kumar Pradhan
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashok Karuppannasamy
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
| | - Parvathy Madhusoodanan Sujatha
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Bhargava Chikmagalur Nagaraja
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Anu Cholenahalli Narayanappa
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Pradeep Chalapathi
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Yogi Dhawane
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Shivanna Bynakal
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Manamohan Maligeppagol
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Asokan Ramasamy
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
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Misra V, Mall AK, Pandey H, Srivastava S, Sharma A. Advancements and prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies for abiotic and biotic stresses in sugar beet. Front Genet 2023; 14:1235855. [PMID: 38028586 PMCID: PMC10665535 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1235855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sugar beet is a crop with high sucrose content, known for sugar production and recently being considered as an emerging raw material for bioethanol production. This crop is also utilized as cattle feed, mainly when animal green fodder is scarce. Bioethanol and hydrogen gas production from this crop is an essential source of clean energy. Environmental stresses (abiotic/biotic) severely affect the productivity of this crop. Over the past few decades, the molecular mechanisms of biotic and abiotic stress responses in sugar beet have been investigated using next-generation sequencing, gene editing/silencing, and over-expression approaches. This information can be efficiently utilized through CRISPR/Cas 9 technology to mitigate the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses in sugar beet cultivation. This review highlights the potential use of CRISPR/Cas 9 technology for abiotic and biotic stress management in sugar beet. Beet genes known to be involved in response to alkaline, cold, and heavy metal stresses can be precisely modified via CRISPR/Cas 9 technology for enhancing sugar beet's resilience to abiotic stresses with minimal off-target effects. Similarly, CRISPR/Cas 9 technology can help generate insect-resistant sugar beet varieties by targeting susceptibility-related genes, whereas incorporating Cry1Ab and Cry1C genes may provide defense against lepidopteron insects. Overall, CRISPR/Cas 9 technology may help enhance sugar beet's adaptability to challenging environments, ensuring sustainable, high-yield production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varucha Misra
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India
| | - A. K. Mall
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India
| | - Himanshu Pandey
- ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India
- Khalsa College, Amritsar, India
| | | | - Avinash Sharma
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai, India
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Cheng Y, Wang P, Zeng Y, An W, Wang T, Xiao Y. Characterization of five pigmentation genes as transgenic markers in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Int J Biol Macromol 2023:124981. [PMID: 37236572 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), has become one of the most damaging pests worldwide since its invasion of Africa, Asia and Oceania from 2016, threatening plants in 76 families including important crops. Genetics-based methods have proved to be an efficient way to control pests, especially invasive species, but many difficulties must be overcome to develop a transgenic insect strain, especially for a non-model species. Here we thus sought to identify a visible marker that would facilitate the distinction between genetically modified (GM) and non-transgenic insects, thereby simplifying mutation identification and facilitating the broader application of genome editing tools in non-model insects. Five genes (sfyellow-y, sfebony, sflaccase2, sfscarlet, and sfok) that are orthologs of well-studied genes in pigment metabolism were knocked out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to identify candidate gene markers. Two genes, Sfebony and Sfscarlet, were identified responsible for body and compound eye coloration, respectively, in S. frugiperda, and could be potential visual markers for genetics-based pest management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cheng
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenwen An
- School of Life Science and Technology, Jining Normal University, Jining, China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Hubei Engineering University, Xiaogan, China
| | - Yutao Xiao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Gene Editing Technologies(Hainan), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
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Chen H, Sun H, Xie J, Yao Z, Zheng W, Li Z, Deng Z, Li X, Zhang H. CRISPR/Cas9-induced Mutation of Sex Peptide Receptor Gene Bdspr Affects Ovary, Egg Laying, and Female Fecundity in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:2. [PMID: 36640045 PMCID: PMC9840094 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an invasive and polyphagous pest of horticultural crops, and it can cause huge economic losses in agricultural production. The rapid development of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology has provided new opportunities for the scientific control of agricultural pests. Here, we explore the applicability of the B. dorsalis sex peptide receptor (Bdspr) as a target gene for the CRISPR/Cas9-based sterile insect technique (SIT) in B. dorsalis. We screened two high-efficient single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) for gene editing. The results showed that both mutation efficiency and germline transmission rate were 100% in the surviving G0 females (8/8) from injected embryos, and that 75% of mosaically mutated G0 females (6/8) were sterile. The 50% of heterozygous G1 females (4/8) could not lay eggs; 100% of eggs laid by them could not survive; and 62.5% of individual females (5/8) had abnormal ovaries. These results indicate that Bdspr plays an important role in regulating fertility, egg viability, and ovary development in female B. dorsalis, suggesting that the spr gene can be used for CRISPR/Cas9-based SIT in B. dorsalis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Junfei Xie
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhichao Yao
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenping Zheng
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ziniu Li
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhurong Deng
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaoxue Li
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Horticultural and Urban Pests, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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Tomihara K, Andolfatto P, Kiuchi T. Allele-specific knockouts reveal a role for apontic-like in the evolutionary loss of larval melanin pigmentation in the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:701-710. [PMID: 35752945 PMCID: PMC9633403 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, and its wild progenitor, B. mandarina, are extensively studied as a model case of the evolutionary process of domestication. A conspicuous difference between these species is the dramatic reduction in melanin pigmentation in both larval and adult B. mori. Here we evaluate the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-targeted knockouts of pigment-related genes as a tool to understand their potential contributions to domestication-associated melanin pigmentation loss in B. mori. To demonstrate the efficacy of targeted knockouts in B. mandarina, we generated a homozygous CRISPR/Cas9-targeted knockout of yellow-y. In yellow-y knockout mutants, black body colour became lighter throughout the larval, pupal and adult stages, confirming a role for this gene in melanin pigment formation. Further, we performed allele-specific CRISPR/Cas9-targeted knockouts of the pigment-related transcription factor, apontic-like (apt-like) in B. mori × B. mandarina F1 hybrid individuals which exhibit B. mandarina-like larval pigmentation. Knockout of the B. mandarina allele of apt-like in F1 embryos results in white patches on the dorsal integument of larvae, whereas corresponding knockouts of the B. mori allele consistently exhibit normal F1 larval pigmentation. These results demonstrate a contribution of apt-like to the evolution of reduced melanin pigmentation in B. mori. Together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of CRISPR/Cas9-targeted knockouts as a tool for understanding the genetic basis of traits associated with B. mori domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Tomihara
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Peter Andolfatto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY 10026, USA
| | - Takashi Kiuchi
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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10
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Bai TT, Pei XJ, Liu TX, Fan YL, Zhang SZ. Melanin synthesis genes BgTH and BgDdc affect body color and cuticle permeability in Blattella germanica. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1552-1568. [PMID: 35191584 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Melanin is involved in cuticle pigmentation and sclerotization of insects, which is critical for maintaining structural integrity and functional completeness of insect cuticle. The 2 key enzymes of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC) predicted in melanin biosynthesis are usually conserved in insects. However, it is unclear whether their function is related to epidermal permeability. In this study, we identified and cloned the gene sequences of BgTH and BgDdc from Blattella germanica, and revealed that they both showed a high expression at the molting, and BgTH was abundant in the head and integument while BgDdc was expressed highest in the fat body. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we found that knockdown of BgTH caused molting obstacles in some cockroaches, with the survivors showing pale color and softer integuments, while knockdown of BgDdc was viable and generated an abnormal light brown body color. Desiccation assay showed that the dsBgTH-injected adults died earlier than control groups under a dry atmosphere, but dsBgDdc-injected cockroaches did not. In contrast, when dsRNA-treated cockroaches were reared under a high humidity condition, almost no cockroaches died in all treatments. Furthermore, with eosin Y staining assay, we found that BgTH-RNAi resulted in a higher cuticular permeability, and BgDdc-RNAi also caused slight dye penetration. These results demonstrate that BgTH and BgDdc function in body pigmentation and affect the waterproofing ability of the cuticle, and the reduction of cuticular permeability may be achieved through cuticle melanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Tian Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao-Jin Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Present address: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology and Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yong-Liang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shi-Ze Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Pei XJ, Bai TT, Zhang ZF, Chen N, Li S, Fan YL, Liu TX. Two putative fatty acid synthetic genes of BgFas3 and BgElo1 are responsible for respiratory waterproofing in Blattella germanica. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:33-50. [PMID: 33543834 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Water retention is critical for physiological homeostasis and survival in terrestrial insects. While deposition of hydrocarbons on insect cuticles as a key measure for water conservation has been extensively investigated, we know little about other mechanisms for preventing water loss in insects. Here, we report two fatty acid synthetic genes that are independent of hydrocarbon production but crucial for water retention in the German cockroach Blattella germanica (L.). First, an integument enriched fatty acid elongase gene (BgElo1) was identified as a critical gene for desiccation resistance in B. germanica; however, knockdown of BgElo1 surprisingly failed to cause a decline in cuticular lipids. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi)-knockdown of an upstream fatty acid synthase gene (BgFas3) showed a similar phenotype, and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that BgFas3- or BgElo1-RNAi did not affect cuticle architecture. Bodyweight loss test showed that repression of BgFas3 and BgElo1 significantly increased the weight loss rate, but the difference disappeared when the respiration was closed by freeze killing the cockroaches. A water immersion test was performed, and we found that BgFas3- and BgElo1-RNAi made it difficult for cockroaches to recover from drowning, which was supported by the upregulation of hypoxia-related genes after a 10-h recovery from drowning. Moreover, a dyeing assay with water-soluble Eosin Y showed that this was caused by the entry of water into the respiratory system. Our research suggests that BgFas3 and BgElo1 are required for both inward and outward waterproofing of the respiratory system. This study benefits the understanding of water retention mechanisms in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jin Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Tian-Tian Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Zhan-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology and Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology and Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Yong-Liang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
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Wang P, Ze LJ, Jin L, Li GQ. Yellow-b, -c, -d, and -h are required for normal body coloration of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 109:e21856. [PMID: 34850449 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The involvement of yellow genes y-b, y-c, y-e, and y-h in cuticle tanning has poorly been clarified. In the present paper, six putative yellow (y-y, y-b, y-c, y-e y-f, and y-h) genes were identified in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. Hvy-b, Hvy-c, Hvy-e, and Hvy-h were abundantly transcribed at early larval and late pupal stages, especially in the epidermis. Accordingly, RNA interference (RNAi) experiments were performed by an injection of dsy-b, dsy-c, dsy-e, or dsy-h into the second instar larvae and 1-day-old pupae. The head capsule, scoli and strumae, and legs in the fourth-instar larvae became blacker; the blackish spots in the pupae were darkened and widened after RNAi of Hvy-b, compared with those of dsegfp-treated controls. Depletion of Hvy-b at the 1-day-old pupal stage expanded two pair of black markings on the sternum of the metathorax, and darkened the black patched on the sterna of the abdomen segments I-VI in the resultant adults. Depletion of Hvy-e caused darker pigmented adult body and elytral cuticles than those of dsegfp-introduced controls. However, there was no obvious difference in pigmentation of the black markings. Hvy-h-deficient larvae displayed dark yellow body color, whereas the body color of the dsegfp-injected control was pale yellow. There was no obvious difference in coloration of larval specific-black markings or pupal cuticle between dsHvy-h- and dsegfp-treated animals. Moreover, silence of Hvy-c at the second instar larval stage lightened black markings in the resulting larvae and pupae, but had no influence on pale yellow body color. Our results demonstrated their different roles of the four yellow genes during body pigmentation: HvY-b and HvY-c, respectively, inhibit and facilitate the coloration within dark markings, whereas HvY-e and HvY-h, respectively, repress the pigmentation in adult and larval body cuticles outside the black patches in H. vigintioctopunctata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Long-Ji Ze
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Jin
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guo-Qing Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Li H, Huang X, Yang Y, Chen X, Yang Y, Wang J, Jiang H. The short neuropeptide F receptor regulates olfaction-mediated foraging behavior in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 140:103697. [PMID: 34843938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The short neuropeptide F (sNPF) signaling system, consisting of sNPF and its receptor (sNPFR), influences many physiological processes in insects, including feeding, growth and olfactory memory. We previously showed that sNPF regulates olfactory sensitivity in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) during starvation. However, the functional analysis of sNPFR is constrained by the failure of RNA interference in this species. Here, we generated a null sNPFR mutant using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to investigate the physiological roles of this receptor in more detail. G0 adults were produced at a frequency of 60.8%, and sNPFR-/- mutants were obtained after several generations of backcrossing followed by self-crossing among heterozygous flies. We found that the mutants were significantly less successful at foraging for certain foods and showed increased foraging latency. Electroantennogram (EAG) assays indicated that the mutants had significantly lower electrophysiological responses to three tested odorants. Furthermore, qPCR data revealed the inhibition of several olfactory receptor genes, including Orco. Immunohistochemistry showed that BdsNPFR was localized in cells under the sensillum on the antennae. Based on their shape and size, the BdsNPFR+ cells differ from odorant receptor neurons (ORNs), which were labeled using a Drosophila melanogaster Orco antibody. Our data suggest that sNPFR regulates olfaction-mediated foraging behavior by mediating interactions between BdsNPFR+ cells and selected ORNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongfei Li
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Xingying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Yahui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Jinjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
| | - Hongbo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China; Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China.
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Chen EH, Hou QL, Dou W, Yang PJ, Wang JJ. Expression profiles of tyrosine metabolic pathway genes and functional analysis of DOPA decarboxylase in puparium tanning of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:344-354. [PMID: 34532962 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tanning is an important physiological process with critical roles in cuticle pigmentation and sclerotization. Previous studies have shown that insect cuticle tanning is closely associated with the tyrosine metabolism pathway, which consists of a series of enzymes. RESULTS In this study, 24 tyrosine metabolism pathway genes were identified in the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) genome. Gene expression profiles throughout 15 developmental stages of B. dorsalis were established based on our previous RNA sequencing data, and we found that 13 enzyme genes could be involved in the process of pupariation. Accordingly, a tyrosine-mediated tanning pathway during the pupariation of B. dorsalis was predicted and a critical enzyme, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) decarboxylase (DDC), was used to explore its possible roles in formation of the puparium. First, a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed that BdDDC had an epidermis-specific expression pattern, and was highly expressed during larval metamorphosis in B. dorsalis. Subsequent disruption of BdDDC by feeding 5-day-old larvae with DDC inhibitor (l-α-methyl-DOPA) could lead to: (i) a significant decrease in BdDDC enzyme activity and dopamine concentration; (ii) defects in puparium pigmentation; (iii) impairment of the morphology and less thickness of the puparium; and (iv) lower pupal weight and obstacles to eclosion. CONCLUSION This study provided a potential tyrosine metabolic pathway that was responsible for insect tanning during pupariation, and the BdDDC enzyme has been shown to have crucial roles in larval-pupal tanning of B. dorsalis. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Er-Hu Chen
- College of Food Science and Engineering/Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety/Key Laboratory of Grains and Oils Quality Control and Processing, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiu-Li Hou
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wei Dou
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pei-Jin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Noh MY, Mun S, Kramer KJ, Muthukrishnan S, Arakane Y. Yellow-y Functions in Egg Melanization and Chorion Morphology of the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:769788. [PMID: 34977021 PMCID: PMC8716798 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.769788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is one of the most serious public health pests, which can transmit various vector-borne diseases. Eggs from this mosquito species become dark black shortly after oviposition and exhibit high desiccation resistance. Some of the Yellow proteins that act as dopachrome conversion enzymes (DCEs) are involved in the tyrosine-mediated tanning (pigmentation and sclerotization) metabolic pathway that significantly accelerates melanization reactions in insects. In this research, we analyzed the function of one of the yellow genes, yellow-y (AalY-y), in eggshell/chorion melanization of Ae. albopictus eggs. Developmental and tissue-specific expression measured by real-time PCR showed that AalY-y transcripts were detected at all stages of development analyzed, with significantly higher levels in the ovaries from blood-fed adult females. Injection of double-stranded RNA for AalY-y (dsAalY-y) had no significant effect on fecundity. However, unlike dsEGFP-treated control eggs that become black by 2–3 h after oviposition (HAO), dsAalY-y eggs were yellow-brown at 2 HAO, and reddish-brown even at 48 HAO. dsEGFP eggs exhibited resistance to desiccation at 48 HAO, whereas approximately 50% of the dsAalY-y eggs collapsed when they were moved to a low humidity condition. In addition, TEM analysis revealed an abnormal morphology and ultrastructure of the outer-endochorion in the dsAalY-y eggs. These results support the hypothesis that AalY-y is involved in the tyrosine-induced melanin biosynthetic pathway, plays an important role in black melanization of the chorion and functions in conferring proper morphology of the outer-endochorion, a structure that is presumably required for egg desiccation resistance in Ae. albopictus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Young Noh
- Department of Forest Resources, AgriBio Institute of Climate Change Management, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Mi Young Noh, ; Yasuyuki Arakane,
| | - Seulgi Mun
- Department of Applied Biology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Karl J. Kramer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Yasuyuki Arakane
- Department of Applied Biology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Mi Young Noh, ; Yasuyuki Arakane,
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Wang Y, Fang G, Chen X, Cao Y, Wu N, Cui Q, Zhu C, Qian L, Huang Y, Zhan S. The genome of the black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 139:103665. [PMID: 34624466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The black cutworm (BCW), Agrotis ipsilon, is a worldwide polyphagous and underground pest that causes a high level of economic loss to a wide range of crops through the damage of roots. This species performs non-directed migration throughout East and Southeast Asia seasonally. Lack of a genome information has limited further studies on its unique biology and the development of novel management approaches. In this study, we present a 476 Mb de novo assembly of BCW, along with a consensus gene set of 14,801 protein-coding gene models. Quality controls show that both genome assembly and annotations are high-quality and mostly complete. We focus manual annotation and comparative genomics on gene families that related to the unique attributes of this species, such as nocturnality, long-distance migration, and host adaptation. We find that the BCW genome encodes a similar gene repertoire in various migration-related gene families to the diural migratory butterfly Danaus plexiipus, with additional copies of long wavelength opsin and two eye development-related genes. On the other hand, we find that the genomes of BCW and many other polyphagous lepidopterans encode many more gustatory receptor genes, particularly the lineage-specific expanded bitter receptor genes, than the mono- or oligo-phagous species, suggesting a common role of gustatory receptors (GRs) expansion in host range expansion. The availability of a BCW genome provides valuable resources to study the molecular mechanisms of non-directed migration in lepidopteran pests and to develop novel strategies to control migratory nocturnal pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohui Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Gangqi Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xi'en Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanghui Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningning Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxu Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lansa Qian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Shuai Zhan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Li JJ, Shi Y, Wu JN, Li H, Smagghe G, Liu TX. CRISPR/Cas9 in lepidopteran insects: Progress, application and prospects. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 135:104325. [PMID: 34743972 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly spaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPR) structure family forms the acquired immune system in bacteria and archaea. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas genome editing as derived from prokaryotes, confirmed the characteristics of robustness, high target specificity and programmability, and also revolutionized the insect sciences field. The successful application of CRISPR in a wide variety of lepidopteran insects, with a high genetic diversity, provided opportunities to explore gene functions, insect modification and pest control. In this review, we present a detailed overview on the recent progress of CRISPR in lepidopteran insects, and described the basic principles of the system and its application. Major interest is on wing development, pigmentation, mating, reproduction, sex determination, metamorphosis, resistance and silkworm breeding innovation. Finally, we outlined the limitations of CRISPR/Cas system and discussed its application prospects in lepidopteran insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Jie Li
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, PR China; Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yan Shi
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, PR China; Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ji-Nan Wu
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, PR China
| | - Hao Li
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, PR China
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- Key Lab of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong 266109, PR China.
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Han W, Tang F, Zhong Y, Zhang J, Liu Z. Identification of yellow gene family and functional analysis of Spodoptera frugiperda yellow-y by CRISPR/Cas9. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 178:104937. [PMID: 34446204 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.104937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For a devastating agricultural pest, functional genomics promotes the finding of novel technology to control Spodoptera frugiperda, such as the genetics-based strategies. In the present study, 11 yellow genes were identified in Spodoptera frugiperda. The transcriptome analysis showed the tissue-specific expression of part yellow genes, which suggested the importance of yellow genes in some biological processes in S. frugiperda, such as pigmentation. Among these yellow genes, the expression profiles of yellow-y gene showed that it was expressed in all life stages. In order to realize the further study of yellow-y, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 system to knock out this gene. Following knock out, diverse phenotypes were observed, such as color changes in both larvae and adults. Different from the wild-type larvae and adults, G0 mutants were yellowed since hatching. However, no color difference was observed with the pupal cuticle between the wild-type and mutant pupae before the 8th day. On the basis of the single-pair strategy of G0 generation, the yellow-y gene was proved to be a recessive gene. The G1 yellowish larvae with biallelic mutations displayed a relatively longer development period than wild-type, and often generated abnormal pupae and moths. The deletion of yellow-y also resulted in a decline in the fecundity. The results revealed that yellow-y gene was important for S. frugiperda pigmentation, as well as in its development and reproduction. Besides, the present study set up a standard procedure to knock out genes in S. frugiperda, which could be helpful for our understanding some key molecular processes, such as functional roles of detoxification genes as insecticide resistance mechanisms or modes of action of insecticides to facilitate the management of this insect pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikang Han
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Fengxian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yanni Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Junteng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zewen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China.
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Wang Y, Huang Y, Xu X, Liu Z, Li J, Zhan X, Yang G, You M, You S. CRISPR/Cas9-based functional analysis of yellow gene in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1504-1509. [PMID: 32893952 PMCID: PMC8518405 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is an economically important pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. This pest is notorious for rapid evolution of the resistance to different classes of insecticides, making it increasingly difficult to control. Genetics-based control approaches, through manipulation of target genes, have been reported as promising supplements or alternatives to traditional methods of pest management. Here we identified a gene of pigmentation (yellow) in P. xylostella, Pxyellow, which encodes 1674 bp complementary DNA sequence with four exons and three introns. Using the clustered regularly interspersed palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 system, we knocked out Pxyellow, targeting two sites in Exon III, to generate 272 chimeric mutants (57% of the CRISPR-treated individuals) with color-changed phenotypes of the 1st to 3rd instar larvae, pupae, and adults, indicating that Pxyellow plays an essential role in the body pigmentation of P. xylostella. Fitness analysis revealed no significant difference in the oviposition of adults, the hatchability of eggs, and the weight of pupae between homozygous mutants and wildtypes, suggesting that Pxyellow is not directly involved in regulation of growth, development, or reproduction. This work advances our understanding of the genetic and insect science molecular basis for body pigmentation of P. xylostella, and opens a wide avenue for development of the genetically based pest control techniques using Pxyellow as a screening marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
| | - Yuping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Department of Physiology & NeurobiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsCT06269USA
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
| | - Zhaoxia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
| | - Jianyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Monitoring and Integrated Management of Crop PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionFujian Academy of Agricultural SciencesFuzhou350013China
| | - Xue Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
| | - Shijun You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsInstitute of Applied EcologyFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhou350002China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest ControlMinistry of EducationFuzhou350002China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan CropsMinistry of AgricultureFuzhou350002China
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20
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Nie HY, Liang LQ, Li QF, Li ZHQ, Zhu YN, Guo YK, Zheng QL, Lin Y, Yang DL, Li ZG, Su SK. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of Amyellow-y gene results in melanization defect of the cuticle in adult Apis mellifera. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 132:104264. [PMID: 34081960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Visible genetic markers are critical to gene function studies using genome editing technology in insects. However, there is no report about visible phenotypic markers in Apis mellifera, which extremely influences the application of genomic editing in honey bees. Here, we cloned and characterized the Amyellow-y gene in A. mellifera. Stage expression profiles showed that Amyellow-y gene was highly expressed in 2-, 4-day-old pupae, and newly emerged bees, and a high expression level was detected in the leg, thorax, wing and sting. To understand its functional role in pigmentation, Amyellow-y edited honeybees were created using CRISPR/Cas9, and it was found that the black pigment was decreased in the cuticle of mosaic workers and mutant drones. In particular, mutant drones manifested an overall appearance of yellowish cuticle in the body and appendages, including antennae, wings and legs, indicating that mutagenesis induced by disruption of Amyellow-y with CRISPR/Cas9 are heritable. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes associated with melanin pigmentation was investigated in mutant and wild-type drones using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Transcription levels of Amyellow-y and aaNAT decreased markedly in mutant drones than that in wild-type ones, whereas laccase 2 was significantly up-regulated. Our results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that CRISPR/Cas9 edited G1 mutant drones of A. mellifera have a dramatic body pigmentation defect that can be visualized in adults, suggesting that Amyellow-y may serve as a promising visible phenotypic marker for genome editing in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yi Nie
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Li-Qiang Liang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qiu-Fang Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zheng-Han-Qing Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ya-Nan Zhu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yong-Kang Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qiu-Lan Zheng
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yan Lin
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Dong-Lin Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Kinase Modulators as Innovative Medicine, IATTI, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing 402160, China
| | - Zhi-Guo Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Song-Kun Su
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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21
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Mongkol W, Pomun T, Nguitragool W, Kumpitak C, Duangmanee A, Sattabongkot J, Kubera A. Anopheles dirus yellow-g mediates Plasmodium vivax infection. Trop Med Int Health 2021; 26:1029-1035. [PMID: 34089555 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our previous transcriptome analysis of Anopheles dirus revealed upregulation of the An. dirus yellow-g gene upon ingestion of Plasmodium vivax-infected blood. This gene belongs to the yellow gene family, but its role regarding P. vivax infection is not known and remains to be validated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the An. dirus yellow-g gene in P. vivax infection. METHODS The qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of the yellow-g gene in many organs of both male and female mosquitos. The yellow-g gene silencing was performed by dsRNA membrane feeding to An. dirus. These mosquitoes were later challenged by P. vivax-infected blood. The oocyst numbers were determined. RESULTS The yellow-g transcript was detected in several organs of both male and female An. dirus mosquitoes. Successful knockdown of yellow-g was achieved and resulted in reduced P. vivax infection in the mosquitoes. The decrease in yellow-g expression had no effect on the life span of the mosquitoes. CONCLUSIONS These results support the yellow-g gene as having an important function in Plasmodium development in Anopheles mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Watcharakorn Mongkol
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tippawan Pomun
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wang Nguitragool
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chalermpon Kumpitak
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Apisak Duangmanee
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jetsumon Sattabongkot
- Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anchanee Kubera
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
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22
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Liu XL, Han WK, Ze LJ, Peng YC, Yang YL, Zhang J, Yan Q, Dong SL. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 Mediated Knockout Reveals Functions of the yellow-y Gene in Spodoptera litura. Front Physiol 2021; 11:615391. [PMID: 33519520 PMCID: PMC7839173 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.615391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Yellow genes are thought to be involved in the melanin biosynthetic pathway and play a crucial role in pigmentation reactions in insects. However, little research has been done on yellow genes in lepidopteran pests. To clarify the function of one of the yellow genes (yellow-y) in Spodoptera litura, we cloned the full-length of yellow-y, and investigated its spatial and temporal expression profiles by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). It revealed that yellow-y was highly expressed in larva of fourth, fifth, and sixth instars, as well as in epidermis (Ep), fat bodies (FB), Malpighian tubes (MT), and midguts (MG) of the larvae; whereas it was expressed in very low levels in different tissues of adults, and was almost undetected in pupa. This expression profile suggests an important role of yellow-y in larvae, minor role in adults, and no role in pupae. To confirm this, we disrupted yellow-y using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, and obtained G0 insects with mutation in yellow-y. The mutation in yellow-y clearly rendered the larvae body, a color yellower than that of wide type insects, and in addition, the mutation resulted in abnormal segmentation and molting for older larvae. The mutation of yellow-y also made various adult tissues (antennae, proboscis, legs, and wings) yellowish. However, the mutation had no effect on pigmentation of the pupal cuticle. Taken together, our study clearly demonstrated the role of yellow-y not only in the body pigmentation of larvae and adults, and but also in segmentation and molting of larvae, providing new insights into the physiology of larval development, as well as a useful marker gene for genome editing based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Long Liu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Kang Han
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Long-Ji Ze
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying-Chuan Peng
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yi-Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Evolutionary Neuroethology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Qi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuang-Lin Dong
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education/Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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23
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Shirai Y, Ohde T, Daimon T. Functional conservation and diversification of yellow-y in lepidopteran insects. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 128:103515. [PMID: 33387638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The diverse colors and patterns found in Lepidoptera are important for success of these species. Similar to the wings of adult butterflies, lepidopteran larvae exhibit diverse color variations to adapt to their habitats. Compared with butterfly wings, however, less attention has been paid to larval body colorations and patterns. In the present study, we focus on the yellow-y gene, which participates in the melanin synthesis pathway. We conducted CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of yellow-y in the tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura. We analyzed the role of S. litura yellow-y in pigmentation by morphological observation and discovered that yellow-y is necessary for normal black pigmentation in S. litura. We also showed species- and tissue-specific requirements of yellow-y in pigmentation in comparison with those of Bombyx mori yellow-y mutants. Furthermore, we found that almost none of the yellow-y mutant embryos hatched unaided. We provide evidence that S. litura yellow-y has a novel important function in egg hatching, in addition to pigmentation. The present study will enable a greater understanding of the functions and diversification of the yellow-y gene in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shirai
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ohde
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takaaki Daimon
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
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24
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Dion WA, Shittu MO, Steenwinkel TE, Raja KKB, Kokate PP, Werner T. The modular expression patterns of three pigmentation genes prefigure unique abdominal morphologies seen among three Drosophila species. Gene Expr Patterns 2020; 38:119132. [PMID: 32828854 PMCID: PMC7725850 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2020.119132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To understand how novel animal body colorations emerged, one needs to ask how the development of color patterns differs among closely related species. Here we examine three species of fruit flies - Drosophila guttifera (D. guttifera), D. palustris, and D. subpalustris - displaying a varying number of abdominal spot rows. Through in situ hybridization experiments, we examine the mRNA expression patterns for the pigmentation genes Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), tan (t), and yellow (y) during pupal development. Our results show that Ddc, t, and y are co-expressed in modular, identical patterns, each foreshadowing the adult abdominal spots in D. guttifera, D. palustris, and D. subpalustris. We suggest that differences in the expression patterns of these three genes partially underlie the morphological diversity of the quinaria species group.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Dion
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Mujeeb O Shittu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Tessa E Steenwinkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Komal K B Raja
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Prajakta P Kokate
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Werner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA.
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25
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Liu T, Yang WQ, Xie YG, Liu PW, Xie LH, Lin F, Li CY, Gu JB, Wu K, Yan GY, Chen XG. Construction of an efficient genomic editing system with CRISPR/Cas9 in the vector mosquito Aedes albopictus. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:1045-1054. [PMID: 30311353 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is a mosquito which originated in Asia. In recent years, it has become increasingly rampant throughout the world. This mosquito can transmit several arboviruses, including dengue, Zika and chikungunya viruses, and is considered a public health threat. Despite the urgent need of genome engineering to analyze specific gene functions, progress in genetical manipulation of Ae. albopictus has been slow due to a lack of efficient methods and genetic markers. In the present study, we established targeted disruptions in two genes, kynurenine hydroxylase (kh) and dopachrome conversion enzyme (yellow), to analyze the feasibility of generating visible phenotypes with genome editing by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system in Ae. albopictus. Following Cas9 single guide RNA ribonucleoprotein injection into the posterior end of pre-blastoderm embryos, 30%-50% of fertile survivors produced alleles that failed to complement existing kh and yellow mutations. Complete eye and body pigmentation defects were readily observed in G1 pupae and adults, indicating successful generation of highly heritable mutations. We conclude that the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing system can be used in Ae. albopictus and that it can be adopted as an efficient tool for genome-scale analysis and biological study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Gu Xie
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Wen Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Hua Xie
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen-Ying Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Bao Gu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kun Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gui-Yun Yan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Wang YH, Chen XE, Yang Y, Xu J, Fang GQ, Niu CY, Huang YP, Zhan S. The Masc gene product controls masculinization in the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:1037-1044. [PMID: 30088858 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sex determination has been studied in the model lepidopteran species Bombyx mori, but it remains poorly understood in lepidopteran pests. In the present study, we identified and characterized the Masculinizer (Masc) gene in a Noctuidae pest species, Agrotis ipsilon. Sequence analysis revealed that AiMasc encodes a protein of 658 amino acids that has two CCCH-type zinc finger domains and two conserved cysteine residues (Cys-277 and Cys-280). We assessed the masculinizing activity of AiMasc in BmN cells and found that AiMasc induced expression of the male-specific doublesex isoform. Disruption of Masc via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) in A. ipsilon caused abnormalities in abdominal segments and external genitalia, resulting in male-specific sterility. These results suggest that Masc participates in the process of sex determination in A. ipsilon. Successful identification of sex-determination gene in a pest species may enable the development of novel genetic approaches for pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hui Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi-En Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang-Qi Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang-Ying Niu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong-Ping Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Zhan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, China
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27
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Bi HL, Xu J, He L, Zhang Y, Li K, Huang YP. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ebony knockout results in puparium melanism in Spodoptera litura. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:1011-1019. [PMID: 30688002 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Insect body pigmentation and coloration are critical to adaption to the environment. To explore the mechanisms that drive pigmentation, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) genome editing system to target the ebony gene in the non-model insect Spodoptera litura. Ebony is crucial to melanin synthesis in insects. By directly injecting Cas9 messenger RNA and ebony-specific guide RNAs into S. litura embryos, we successfully induced a typical ebony-deficient phenotype of deep coloration of the puparium and induction of melanin formation during the pupal stage. Polymerase chain reaction-based genotype analysis demonstrated that various mutations had occurred at the sites targeted in ebony. Our study clearly demonstrates the function of ebony in the puparium coloration and also provides a potentially useful marker gene for functional studies in S. litura as well as other lepidopteran pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Lun Bi
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin He
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Kai Li
- College of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Ping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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28
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Bai X, Zeng T, Ni XY, Su HA, Huang J, Ye GY, Lu YY, Qi YX. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the eye pigmentation gene white leads to alterations in colour of head spots in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:837-849. [PMID: 31106480 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The intensely studied white gene is widely used as a genetic marker in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we cloned and characterized the white gene in an important pest of the fruit industry, Bactrocera dorsalis, to understand its functional role in pigmentation. We obtained BdWhite knockout strains, based on the wild-type strain, using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system, and found that mutants lost pigmentation in the compound eye and their black head spots. We then examined differences in the expression levels of genes associated with melanin pigmentation between mutants and the wild-type strain using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. We found that transcription levels of the Bd-yellow1 were lower in the head of mutants than in the wild-type strain, and there were no significant differences in expression of the other six genes between mutants and the wild type. Since yellow is critical for melanin biosynthesis (Heinze et al., Scientific Reports. 2017;7:4582), the lower levels of expression of Bd-yellow1 in mutants led to reduced dark pigmentation in head spots. Our results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that white may play a functional role in cuticle pigmentation by affecting the expression of yellow.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Bai
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - T Zeng
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - X-Y Ni
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - H-A Su
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - J Huang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - G-Y Ye
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Y-Y Lu
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Y-X Qi
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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An Evolutionary Perspective of Dopachrome Tautomerase Enzymes in Metazoans. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10070495. [PMID: 31261784 PMCID: PMC6678240 DOI: 10.3390/genes10070495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin plays a pivotal role in the cellular processes of several metazoans. The final step of the enzymically-regulated melanin biogenesis is the conversion of dopachrome into dihydroxyindoles, a reaction catalyzed by a class of enzymes called dopachrome tautomerases. We traced dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) and dopachrome converting enzyme (DCE) genes throughout metazoans and we could show that only one class is present in most of the phyla. While DCTs are typically found in deuterostomes, DCEs are present in several protostome phyla, including arthropods and mollusks. The respective DCEs belong to the yellow gene family, previously reported to be taxonomically restricted to insects, bacteria and fungi. Mining genomic and transcriptomic data of metazoans, we updated the distribution of DCE/yellow genes, demonstrating their presence and active expression in most of the lophotrochozoan phyla as well as in copepods (Crustacea). We have traced one intronless DCE/yellow gene through most of the analyzed lophotrochozoan genomes and we could show that it was subjected to genomic diversification in some species, while it is conserved in other species. DCE/yellow was expressed in most phyla, although it showed tissue specific expression patterns. In the parasitic copepod Mytilicola intestinalis DCE/yellow even belonged to the 100 most expressed genes. Both tissue specificity and high expression suggests that diverse functions of this gene family also evolved in other phyla apart from insects.
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30
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Chen X, Cao Y, Zhan S, Tan A, Palli SR, Huang Y. Disruption of sex-specific doublesex exons results in male- and female-specific defects in the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:1697-1706. [PMID: 30520231 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Doublesex (dsx), the downstream gene in the insect sex-determination pathway, is a key regulator of sexually dimorphic development and behavior across a variety of insects. Manipulating expression of dsx could be useful in the genetic control of insects. However, information on the sex-specific function of dsx in non-model insects is lacking. RESULTS In this work, we isolated a dsx homolog, which is alternatively spliced into six female-specific and one male-specific isoforms, from an important agricultural pest, the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon. Studies on the expression of sex-specific Aidsx mRNA during embryonic development showed that the sixth hour post oviposition is the key stage for sex determination in A. ipsilon. Functional analysis of Aidsx was conducted using a CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting female- and male-specific Aidsx exons. Disruptions of sex-specific Aidsx exons resulted in sex-specific, sexually dimorphic defects in external genitals, gonads and antennae, and expression of sex-specific genes as well as production of offspring in both sexes. CONCLUSION Our results not only demonstrate that dsx is a key player determining A. ipsilon sexually dimorphic traits, but also provide a potential method for the genetic control of this pest. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xien Chen
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Yanghui Cao
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Shuai Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Anjiang Tan
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Subba Reddy Palli
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Yongping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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31
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Zhang YN, Zhang XQ, Zhu GH, Zheng MY, Yan Q, Zhu XY, Xu JW, Zhang YY, He P, Sun L, Palli SR, Zhang LW, Dong SL. A Δ9 desaturase (SlitDes11) is associated with the biosynthesis of ester sex pheromone components in Spodoptera litura. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 156:152-159. [PMID: 31027575 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths relies on the activity of multiple enzymes, including Δ9 desaturase, which plays an important role in catalyzing desaturation at the Δ9 position of the carbon chain. However, the physiological function of moth Δ9 desaturase has not been elucidated in vivo. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockout the Δ9 desaturase gene (SlitDes11) of Spodoptera litura to analyze its role in sex pheromone biosynthesis. First, through the direct injection of SlitDes11-single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9 messenger RNA into newly laid eggs, gene editing was induced in around 30% of eggs 24 h after injection and was induced in 20.8% of the resulting adult moths. Second, using a sibling-crossing strategy, insects with mutant SlitDes11 (bearing a premature stop codon) were selected, and homozygous mutants were obtained in the G5 generation. Third, pheromone gland extracts of adult female homozygous SlitDes11 mutants were analyzed using Gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that titers of all three ester sex pheromone components; Z9, E11-14:Ac, Z9,E12-14:Ac, and Z9-14:Ac; were reduced by 62.40%, 78.50%, and 72.50%, respectively. This study provides the first direct evidence for the role of SlitDes11 in sex pheromone biosynthesis in S. litura, and indicates the gene could be as potential target to disrupt sexual communication in S. litura for developing a new pollution-free insecticide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China.
| | - Xiao-Qing Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Control, School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guan-Heng Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China; Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
| | - Mei-Yan Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiu-Yun Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Ji-Wei Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Yun-Ying Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Peng He
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Liang Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Long-Wa Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Control, School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.
| | - Shuang-Lin Dong
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
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Merlin C, Liedvogel M. The genetics and epigenetics of animal migration and orientation: birds, butterflies and beyond. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:222/Suppl_1/jeb191890. [PMID: 30728238 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.191890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Migration is a complex behavioural adaptation for survival that has evolved across the animal kingdom from invertebrates to mammals. In some taxa, closely related migratory species, or even populations of the same species, exhibit different migratory phenotypes, including timing and orientation of migration. In these species, a significant proportion of the phenotypic variance in migratory traits is genetic. In others, the migratory phenotype and direction is triggered by seasonal changes in the environment, suggesting an epigenetic control of their migration. The genes and epigenetic changes underpinning migratory behaviour remain largely unknown. The revolution in (epi)genomics and functional genomic tools holds great promise to rapidly move the field of migration genetics forward. Here, we review our current understanding of the genetic and epigenetic architecture of migratory traits, focusing on two emerging models: the European blackcap and the North American monarch butterfly. We also outline a vision of how technical advances and integrative approaches could be employed to identify and functionally validate candidate genes and cis-regulatory elements on these and other migratory species across both small and broad phylogenetic scales to significantly advance the field of genetics of animal migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Merlin
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clock Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Miriam Liedvogel
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Research Group (MPRG) Behavioural Genomics, 24306 Plön, Germany
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33
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Yang Y, Wang YH, Chen XE, Tian D, Xu X, Li K, Huang YP, He L. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Tyrosine hydroxylase knockout resulting in larval lethality in Agrotis ipsilon. INSECT SCIENCE 2018; 25:1017-1024. [PMID: 30328670 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is involved in insect melanin and the catecholamine biosynthesis pathway. TH as an enzyme catalyzing the conversion of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine is the first step reaction in the pathway. Although TH has been proven to affect the pigmentation of the epidermis and development in many insects, there is no report about physiological function of the TH gene in Agrotis ipsilon. Here we cloned the TH gene from A. ipsilon. Semi-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that AiTH was expressed at all development stages. Moreover, its high expression levels in the head and epidermis suggest that it is mainly related to pigment deposition and insect development. Then, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 system to target the AiTH gene: deletion events were detected at the target sites. Compared with the control group, a few mutants with the phenomenon of narrowing in the egg shell and embryos can develop but cannot hatch; the other hatched embryos were seriously dehydrated after hatching and died within the first day. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that TH was down-regulated in AiTH mutants. Here, our work demonstrated that AiTH plays an important role in growth and development of newly hatched larvae; meanwhile, it would be a promising target to explore a control strategy for A. ipsilon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao-Hui Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi-En Chen
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Tian
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Xu
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Ping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin He
- School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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34
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Gassias E, Durand N, Demondion E, Bourgeois T, Bozzolan F, Debernard S. The insect HR38 nuclear receptor, a member of the NR4A subfamily, is a synchronizer of reproductive activity in a moth. FEBS J 2018; 285:4019-4040. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.14648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Durand
- Département d'Ecologie Sensorielle UMR 1392 Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris Université Paris VI France
| | - Elodie Demondion
- Département d'Ecologie Sensorielle UMR 1392 Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris INRA Versailles France
| | - Thomas Bourgeois
- Département d'Ecologie Sensorielle UMR 1392 Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris INRA Versailles France
| | - Françoise Bozzolan
- Département d'Ecologie Sensorielle UMR 1392 Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris Université Paris VI France
| | - Stéphane Debernard
- Département d'Ecologie Sensorielle UMR 1392 Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris Université Paris VI France
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