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Tang Y, Zhang H, Zhu H, Bi S, Wang X, Ji S, Ji J, Ma D, Huang C, Zhang G, Yang N, Wan F, Lü Z, Liu W. DNA methylase 1 influences temperature responses and development in the invasive pest Tuta absoluta. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:503-515. [PMID: 38808749 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12919] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylase 1 (Dnmt1) is an important regulatory factor associated with biochemical signals required for insect development. It responds to changes in the environment and triggers phenotypic plasticity. Meanwhile, Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)-a destructive invasive pest-can rapidly invade and adapt to different habitats; however, the role of Dnmt1 in this organism has not been elucidated. Accordingly, this study investigates the mechanism(s) underlying the rapid adaptation of Tuta absoluta to temperature stress. Potential regulatory genes were screened via RNAi (RNA interference), and the DNA methylase in Tuta absoluta was cloned by RACE (Rapid amplification of cDNA ends). TaDnmt1 was identified as a potential regulatory gene via bioinformatics; its expression was evaluated in response to temperature stress and during different development stages using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results revealed that TaDnmt1 participates in hot/cold tolerance, temperature preference and larval development. The full-length cDNA sequence of TaDnmt1 is 3765 bp and encodes a 1254 kDa protein with typical Dnmt1 node-conserved structural features and six conserved DNA-binding active motifs. Moreover, TaDnmt1 expression is significantly altered by temperature stress treatments and within different development stages. Hence, TaDnmt1 likely contributes to temperature responses and organismal development. Furthermore, after treating with double-stranded RNA and exposing Tuta absoluta to 35°C heat shock or -12°C cold shock for 1 h, the survival rate significantly decreases; the preferred temperature is 2°C lower than that of the control group. In addition, the epidermal segments become enlarged and irregularly folded while the surface dries up. This results in a significant increase in larval mortality (57%) and a decrease in pupation (49.3%) and eclosion (50.9%) rates. Hence, TaDnmt1 contributes to temperature stress responses and temperature perception, as well as organismal growth and development, via DNA methylation regulation. These findings suggest that the rapid geographic expansion of T absoluta has been closely associated with TaDnmt1-mediated temperature tolerance. This study advances the research on 'thermos Dnmt' and provides a potential target for RNAi-driven regulation of Tuta absoluta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Huifang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huanqing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Siyan Bi
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shunxia Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhang Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dongfang Ma
- Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Cong Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guifen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nianwan Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji, China
| | - Fanghao Wan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhichuang Lü
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanxue Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Huang X, Li Q, Xu Y, Li A, Wang S, Chen Y, Zhang C, Zhang X, Wang H, Lv C, Sun B, Li S, Kang L, Chen B. A neural m 6A pathway regulates behavioral aggregation in migratory locusts. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1242-1254. [PMID: 38478296 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2476-1] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A), as the most abundant modification of messenger RNA, can modulate insect behaviors, but its specific roles in aggregation behaviors remain unexplored. Here, we conducted a comprehensive molecular and physiological characterization of the individual components of the methyltransferase and demethylase in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. Our results demonstrated that METTL3, METTL14 and ALKBH5 were dominantly expressed in the brain and exhibited remarkable responses to crowding or isolation. The individual knockdown of methyltransferases (i.e., METTL3 and METTL14) promoted locust movement and conspecific attraction, whereas ALKBH5 knockdown induced a behavioral shift toward the solitary phase. Furthermore, global transcriptome profiles revealed that m6A modification could regulate the orchestration of gene expression to fine tune the behavioral aggregation of locusts. In summary, our in vivo characterization of the m6A functions in migratory locusts clearly demonstrated the crucial roles of the m6A pathway in effectively modulating aggregation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianliang Huang
- School of Life Science, Institutes of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Qing Li
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Institute of Health Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Ang Li
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Shanzheng Wang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yusheng Chen
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Chunrui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hailin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Cong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Baofa Sun
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Shaoqin Li
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Le Kang
- School of Life Science, Institutes of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Bing Chen
- School of Life Science, Institutes of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
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Geens B, Goossens S, Li J, Van de Peer Y, Vanden Broeck J. Untangling the gordian knot: The intertwining interactions between developmental hormone signaling and epigenetic mechanisms in insects. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 585:112178. [PMID: 38342134 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Hormones control developmental and physiological processes, often by regulating the expression of multiple genes simultaneously or sequentially. Crosstalk between hormones and epigenetics is pivotal to dynamically coordinate this process. Hormonal signals can guide the addition and removal of epigenetic marks, steering gene expression. Conversely, DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs can modulate regional chromatin structure and accessibility and regulate the expression of numerous (hormone-related) genes. Here, we provide a review of the interplay between the classical insect hormones, ecdysteroids and juvenile hormones, and epigenetics. We summarize the mode-of-action and roles of these hormones in post-embryonic development, and provide a general overview of epigenetic mechanisms. We then highlight recent advances on the interactions between these hormonal pathways and epigenetics, and their involvement in development. Furthermore, we give an overview of several 'omics techniques employed in the field. Finally, we discuss which questions remain unanswered and possible avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Geens
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Stijn Goossens
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Xie X, Shang F, Ding BY, Yang L, Wang JJ. Assessment of a zinc finger protein gene (MPZC3H10) as potential RNAi target for green peach aphid Myzus persicae control. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:4956-4962. [PMID: 36181420 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA interference (RNAi) has potential application in pest control, and selection of the specific target gene is one of the key steps in RNAi. As an important effector, the zinc finger protein (ZFP) gene has high similarity among aphid species, and may have potential use in an RNAi-based pest control strategy. This study assessed the control efficiency of an RNAi target, MPZC3H10, a CCCH-type ZFP gene, against green peach aphid. RESULTS ZC3H10 amino acid sequence similarity is more than 97.71% among the five tested aphid species: Myzus persicae, Aphis citricidus, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Diuraphis noxia and Rhopalosiphum maidis. However, no homologous sequence was found in the transcriptome of their ladybeetle predator, Propylaea japonica. Spatial expression patterns revealed that MPZC3H10 showed high expression in the muscle and fat body of M. persicae. The RNAi bioassay revealed that silencing of MPZC3H10 resulted in high mortality (53.33%) in M. persicae. By contrast, there were no observed negative effects on the growth and development of P. japonica when fed on aphids treated with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) or injected with a "high dose" of dsRNA. CONCLUSION Targeting MPZC3H10 showed promising efficiency for green peach aphid control via artificially designed dsRNA, and was safe for the predatory ladybeetle. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiucheng Xie
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Shang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bi-Yue Ding
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Yang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Duncan EJ, Cunningham CB, Dearden PK. Phenotypic Plasticity: What Has DNA Methylation Got to Do with It? INSECTS 2022; 13:110. [PMID: 35206684 PMCID: PMC8878681 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
How does one genome give rise to multiple, often markedly different, phenotypes in response to an environmental cue? This phenomenon, known as phenotypic plasticity, is common amongst plants and animals, but arguably the most striking examples are seen in insects. Well-known insect examples include seasonal morphs of butterfly wing patterns, sexual and asexual reproduction in aphids, and queen and worker castes of eusocial insects. Ultimately, we need to understand how phenotypic plasticity works at a mechanistic level; how do environmental signals alter gene expression, and how are changes in gene expression translated into novel morphology, physiology and behaviour? Understanding how plasticity works is of major interest in evolutionary-developmental biology and may have implications for understanding how insects respond to global change. It has been proposed that epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, are the key link between environmental cues and changes in gene expression. Here, we review the available evidence on the function of DNA methylation of insects, the possible role(s) for DNA methylation in phenotypic plasticity and also highlight key outstanding questions in this field as well as new experimental approaches to address these questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Duncan
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Peter K. Dearden
- Genomics Aotearoa and Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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