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Han J, Klobasa W, de Oliveira L, Rotenberg D, Whitfield AE, Lorenzen MD. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing of Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips, via embryonic microinjection. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38676396 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, poses a significant challenge in global agriculture as a notorious pest and a vector of economically significant orthotospoviruses. However, the limited availability of genetic tools for F. occidentalis hampers the advancement of functional genomics and the development of innovative pest control strategies. In this study, we present a robust methodology for generating heritable mutations in F. occidentalis using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Two eye-colour genes, white (Fo-w) and cinnabar (Fo-cn), frequently used to assess Cas9 function in insects were identified in the F. occidentalis genome and targeted for knockout through embryonic microinjection of Cas9 complexed with Fo-w or Fo-cn specific guide RNAs. Homozygous Fo-w and Fo-cn knockout lines were established by crossing mutant females and males. The Fo-w knockout line revealed an age-dependent modification of eye-colour phenotype. Specifically, while young larvae exhibit orange-coloured eyes, the colour transitions to bright red as they age. Unexpectedly, loss of Fo-w function also altered body colour, with Fo-w mutants having a lighter coloured body than wild type, suggesting a dual role for Fo-w in thrips. In contrast, individuals from the Fo-cn knockout line consistently displayed bright red eyes throughout all life stages. Molecular analyses validated precise editing of both target genes. This study offers a powerful tool to investigate thrips gene function and paves the way for the development of genetic technologies for population suppression and/or population replacement as a means of mitigating virus transmission by this vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Han
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - William Klobasa
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lucas de Oliveira
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dorith Rotenberg
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anna E Whitfield
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marcé D Lorenzen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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Katsavou E, Sarafoglou C, Balabanidou V, Skoufa E, Nauen R, Linka M, Geibel S, Denecke S, Vontas J. Characterisation of lepidopteran geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase as a putative pesticide target. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:147-156. [PMID: 37962063 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12885] [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: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (diphosphate) synthase (GGPPS) plays an important role in various physiological processes in insects, such as isoprenoid biosynthesis and protein prenylation. Here, we functionally characterised the GGPPS from the major agricultural lepidopteran pests Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa armigera. Partial disruption of GGPPS by CRISPR in S. frugiperda decreased embryo hatching rate and larval survival, suggesting that this gene is essential. Functional expression in vitro of Helicoverpa armigera GGPPS in Escherichia coli revealed a catalytically active enzyme. Next, we developed and optimised an enzyme assay to screen for potential inhibitors, such as the zoledronate and the minodronate, which showed a dose-dependent inhibition. Phylogenetic analysis of GGPPS across insects showed that GGPPS is highly conserved but also revealed several residues likely to be involved in substrate binding, which were substantially different in bee pollinator and human GGPPS. Considering the essentiality of GGPPS and its putative binding residue variability qualifies a GGPPS as a novel pesticide target. The developed assay may contribute to the identification of novel insecticide leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia Katsavou
- Pesticide Science Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Chara Sarafoglou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Vasileia Balabanidou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Evangelia Skoufa
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ralf Nauen
- R&D Pest Control, Crop Science Division, Bayer AG, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Marc Linka
- R&D Pest Control, Crop Science Division, Bayer AG, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Sven Geibel
- R&D Pest Control, Crop Science Division, Bayer AG, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Shane Denecke
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John Vontas
- Pesticide Science Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
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Lee S, Ahn SJ. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of scarlet gene produces eye color mutants in the soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 115:e22100. [PMID: 38500478 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22100] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 technology has greatly progressed research on non-model organisms, demonstrating successful applications in genome editing for various insects. However, its utilization in the case of the soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens, a notable pest affecting soybean crops, has not been explored due to constraints such as limited genomic information and the embryonic microinjection technique. This study presents successful outcomes in generating heritable knockout mutants for a pigment transporter gene, scarlet, in C. includens through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis. The scarlet locus identified in the genome assembly of C. includens consists of 14 exons, with a coding sequence extending for 1,986 bp. Two single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were designed to target the first exon of scarlet. Microinjection of these two sgRNAs along with the Cas9 protein into fresh embryos resulted in the successful production of variable phenotypes, particularly mutant eyes. The observed mutation rate accounted for about 16%. Genotype analysis revealed diverse indel mutations at the target site, presumably originating from double-strand breaks followed by the nonhomologous end joining repair, leading to a premature stop codon due to frame shift. Single-pair mating of the mutant moths produced G1 offspring, and the establishment of a homozygous mutant strain occurred in G2. The mutant moths exhibited lightly greenish or yellowish compound eyes in both sexes, confirming the involvement of scarlet in pigmentation in C. includens. Notably, the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technique serves as a visible phenotypic marker, demonstrating its proof-of-concept applicability in C. includens, as other pigment transporter genes have been utilized as visible markers to establish genetic control for various insects. These results provide the first successful case that the CRISPR/Cas9 method effectively induces mutations in C. includes, an economically important soybean insect pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA
| | - Seung-Joon Ahn
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA
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Morin S, Atkinson PW, Walling LL. Whitefly-Plant Interactions: An Integrated Molecular Perspective. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 69:503-525. [PMID: 37816261 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120120-093940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The rapid advances in available transcriptomic and genomic data and our understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of whitefly-plant interactions have allowed us to gain new and significant insights into the biology of whiteflies and their successful adaptation to host plants. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms that whiteflies have evolved to overcome the challenges of feeding on phloem sap. We also highlight the evolution and functions of gene families involved in host perception, evaluation, and manipulation; primary metabolism; and metabolite detoxification. We discuss the emerging themes in plant immunity to whiteflies, focusing on whitefly effectors and their sites of action in plant defense-signaling pathways. We conclude with a discussion of advances in the genetic manipulation of whiteflies and the potential that they hold for exploring the interactions between whiteflies and their host plants, as well as the development of novel strategies for the genetic control of whiteflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai Morin
- Department of Entomology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel;
| | - Peter W Atkinson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA;
| | - Linda L Walling
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, USA;
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Wang L, He W, Lu JM, Sun J, Jiang SD, Wang JJ, Wei DD. Characterization and transcriptional expression of ABCG genes in Bactrocera dorsalis: Insights into their roles in fecundity and insecticidal stress response. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126836. [PMID: 37714235 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are essential for regulating various physiological processes and insecticide resistance across different living organisms. ABCG subfamily genes have diverse functions in insects, but little is known about the function of ABCGs in a serious agricultural pest, Bactrocera dorsalis. In this study, 15 BdABCG genes were identified, and BdABCG6 and BdABCG11 were highly expressed in the pupal and adult stages, especially during the transition period from pupae to adults. Silencing of these two genes resulted in a significant reduction of egg production in B. dorsalis, confirming their importance in reproduction. Analysis of tissue expression patterns showed that most genes, including BdABCG1, 3, 8, and 14, exhibited tissue-specificity, with significantly higher expression levels observed in the intestine, Malpighian tubule, and fat body compared to other tissues. Meanwhile, the induction of malathion and avermectin can significantly upregulate the expression of the above four genes. Furthermore, knockdown of BdABCG3 by RNAi significantly increased the mortality of B. dorsalis upon exposure to avermectin, which suggested that BdABCG3 is involved in the transport or metabolism of avermectin in B. dorsalis. Overall, our work provides valuable insights into the function of BdABCGs involved in the reproduction and detoxification system of B. dorsalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Wang He
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jin-Ming Lu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Shi-Die Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
| | - Dan-Dan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
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Yu B, Dong S, Jiang X, Qiao L, Chen J, Li T, Pan G, Zhou Z, Li C. Cas9-Mediated Gene Editing Using Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo (ReMOT) Control in Bombyx mori. INSECTS 2023; 14:932. [PMID: 38132605 PMCID: PMC10743513 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Lepidoptera is one of the most speciose insect orders, causing enormous damage to agricultural and forest crops. Although genome editing has been achieved in a few Lepidoptera for insect controls, most techniques are still limited. Here, by injecting female pupae of the Lepidoptera model species, Bombyx mori, gene editing was established using the Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo (ReMOT) control technique. We identified a B. mori oocytes-targeting peptide ligand (BmOTP, a 29 aa of vitellogenin N-terminal of silkworms) with a highly conserved sequence in lepidopteran insects that could efficiently deliver mCherry into oocytes. When BmOTP was fused to CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) and the BmOTP-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex was injected into female pupae, heritable editing of the offspring was achieved in the silkworms. Compared with embryo microinjection, individual injection is more convenient and eliminates the challenge of injecting extremely small embryos. Our results will significantly facilitate the genetic manipulation of other lepidopteran insects, which is essential for advancing lepidopteran pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Sichen Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaoyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Liang Qiao
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China;
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China;
| | - Chunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (B.Y.); (S.D.); (X.J.); (J.C.); (T.L.); (G.P.)
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Prevention, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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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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Genome editing of the vermilion locus generates a visible eye color marker for Oncopeltus fasciatus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4188. [PMID: 36918709 PMCID: PMC10015096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31145-2] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects display a vast array of eye and body colors. Genes encoding products involved in biosynthesis and deposition of pigments are ideal genetic markers, contributing, for example, to the power of Drosophila genetics. Oncopeltus fasciatus is an emerging model for hemimetabolous insects, a member of the piercing-sucking feeding order Hemiptera, that includes pests and disease vectors. To identify candidate visible markers for O. fasciatus, we used parental and nymphal RNAi to identify genes that altered eye or body color while having no deleterious effects on viability. We selected Of-vermilion for CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, generating three independent loss-of-function mutant lines. These studies mapped Of-vermilion to the X-chromosome, the first assignment of a gene to a chromosome in this species. Of-vermilion homozygotes have bright red, rather than black, eyes and are fully viable and fertile. We used these mutants to verify a role for Of-xdh1, ortholog of Drosophila rosy, in contributing to red pigmentation using RNAi. Rather than wild-type-like red bodies, bugs lacking both vermilion and xdh1 have bright yellow bodies, suggesting that ommochromes and pteridines contribute to O. fasciatus body color. Our studies generated the first gene-based visible marker for O. fasciatus and expanded the genetic toolkit for this model system.
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Shirk BD, Shirk PD, Furlong RB, Scully ED, Wu K, Siegfried BD. Gene editing of the ABC Transporter/White locus using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in the Indian Meal Moth. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 145:104471. [PMID: 36539178 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104471] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins are involved in transport of substrates across membranes including eye pigments. Mutations of ABC transporter white, brown and scarlet genes of Drosophila and other insects result in visible eye color phenotypes. White locus was identified in a genome assembly of Plodia interpunctella and was found to extend for 16,670 bp comprising 13 exons. We report here recovery of heritable mutants in white in the Indian meal moth, P. interpunctella, using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis. A white eye strain of P. interpunctella c.737delC (Piw-/-) was previously isolated in 1986. Guide RNA (sgRNA) was designed for exon 1 (sgRNA242). Microinjection of Cas9/sgRNA242 complex into Plodia wild type eggs (≤20 min post oviposition) produced 156 viable larvae of which 81 eclosed as adults. Forty-five (56 %) adults displayed wild type phenotype, while 26 females (32 %) and 10 males (12 %) showed full or partial white eye phenotype. The 26 white eye females were mated with Piw-/- males and 21 matings resulted in F1 white eye progeny. Thirteen of the Piw-242 lines were established and sequencing showed indels at the CRISPR/Cas9 242AM site. Based on RT-PCR analysis, most white mutations resulted in suppressed levels of transcript. These results demonstrate the utility of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in Plodia which suggests this technology can be used to characterize the role of various genetic elements including those that encode novel targets or confer insecticide resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce D Shirk
- Entomology & Nematology Department, PO Box 11620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Paul D Shirk
- Entomology & Nematology Department, PO Box 11620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; USDA-ARS CMAVE IBBRU, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
| | - Richard B Furlong
- USDA-ARS CMAVE IBBRU, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - Erin D Scully
- USDA-ARS, CGAHR-SPIERU, 1515 College Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Ke Wu
- Entomology & Nematology Department, PO Box 11620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Blair D Siegfried
- Entomology & Nematology Department, PO Box 11620, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Mazumdar T, Hänniger S, Shukla SP, Murali A, Bartram S, Heckel DG, Boland W. 8-HQA adjusts the number and diversity of bacteria in the gut microbiome of Spodoptera littoralis. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1075557. [PMID: 36744087 PMCID: PMC9891463 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1075557] [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: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Quinolinic carboxylic acids are known for their metal ion chelating properties in insects, plants and bacteria. The larval stages of the lepidopteran pest, Spodoptera littoralis, produce 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (8-HQA) in high concentrations from tryptophan in the diet. At the same time, the larval midgut is known to harbor a bacterial population. The motivation behind the work was to investigate whether 8-HQA is controlling the bacterial community in the gut by regulating the concentration of metal ions. Knocking out the gene for kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) in the insect using CRISPR/Cas9 eliminated production of 8-HQA and significantly increased bacterial numbers and diversity in the larval midgut. Adding 8-HQA to the diet of knockout larvae caused a dose-dependent reduction of bacterial numbers with minimal effects on diversity. Enterococcus mundtii dominates the community in all treatments, probably due to its highly efficient iron uptake system and production of the colicin, mundticin. Thus host factors and bacterial properties interact to determine patterns of diversity and abundance in the insect midgut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilottama Mazumdar
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine Hänniger
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Shantanu P. Shukla
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - Aishwarya Murali
- Department of Experimental Toxicology & Ecology, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Stefan Bartram
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - David G. Heckel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany,*Correspondence: David G. Heckel, ✉
| | - Wilhelm Boland
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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12
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Ze LJ, Xu P, Wu JJ, Jin L, Ali Anjum A, Li GQ. Disruption of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) biosynthesis pathway affects cuticle pigmentation in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 144:104457. [PMID: 36427533 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is produced from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) under catalyzation of GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH), 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) and sepiapterin reductase (SR), among others. In Drosophila melanogaster, BH4 and other pteridines are required for cuticle tanning and eye pigmentation. In this study, two Hvgtpch (Hvgtpch-a and Hvgtpch-b), an Hvptps and an Hvsr transcripts were identified in a serious defoliator Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. Hvgtpch-a and Hvgtpch-b were highly expressed just before and/or right after the molt, in contrast to Hvptps and Hvsr. RNA interference (RNAi) by injection of a dsgtpch targeting the common fragment of Hvgtpch-a and Hvgtpch-b into the third instar larvae caused albino fourth-instar larvae and pupae. Around 80% of the Hvgtpch RNAi larvae failed to pupate. The remaining 20% of Hvgtpch RNAi pupated beetles did not completely remove the larval/pupal exuviae after emerged as adults and eventually died. Depletion of Hvgtpch at the fourth instar stage resulted in under-pigmented pupae and adults, with significantly low pupation and emergence rates. The Hvgtpch RNAi adults rarely moved and fed on plant leaves; they died within a week after emergence. Silence of Hvptps or Hvsr at the third- and fourth-instar stages led to similar but less serious phenotypes, with lowest influence in the Hvsr RNAi ladybirds. Moreover, RNAi of Hvgtpch, Hvptps or Hvsr did not affect coloration of the larval ocelli and pupal/adult compound eyes. Therefore, our results demonstrated that pteridines are involved in melanin formation but not in eye pigmentation in H. vigintioctopunctata. Moreover, our findings will enable the development of a dsgtpch-based pesticide to control H. vigintioctopunctata larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Ji Ze
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Ping Xu
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Jian-Jian Wu
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Lin Jin
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Ahmad Ali Anjum
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Guo-Qing Li
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests/State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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13
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Heryanto C, Mazo-Vargas A, Martin A. Efficient hyperactive piggyBac transgenesis in Plodia pantry moths. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:1074888. [PMID: 36620082 PMCID: PMC9816379 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.1074888] [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: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
While piggyBac transposon-based transgenesis is widely used in various emerging model organisms, its relatively low transposition rate in butterflies and moths has hindered its use for routine genetic transformation in Lepidoptera. Here, we tested the suitability of a codon-optimized hyperactive piggyBac transposase (hyPBase) in mRNA form to deliver and integrate transgenic cassettes into the genome of the pantry moth Plodia interpunctella. Co-injection of hyPBase mRNA with donor plasmids successfully integrated 1.5-4.4 kb expression cassettes driving the fluorescent markers EGFP, DsRed, or EYFP in eyes and glia with the 3xP3 promoter. Somatic integration and expression of the transgene in the G0 injected generation was detectable from 72-h embryos and onward in larvae, pupae and adults carrying a recessive white-eyed mutation. Overall, 2.5% of injected eggs survived into transgene-bearing adults with mosaic fluorescence. Subsequent outcrossing of fluorescent G0 founders transmitted single-insertion copies of 3xP3::EGFP and 3xP3::EYFP and generated stable isogenic lines. Random in-crossing of a small cohort of G0 founders expressing 3xP3::DsRed yielded a stable transgenic line segregating for more than one transgene insertion site. We discuss how hyPBase can be used to generate stable transgenic resources in Plodia and other moths.
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14
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CRISPR-Cas Genome Editing for Insect Pest Stress Management in Crop Plants. STRESSES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/stresses2040034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Global crop yield and food security are being threatened by phytophagous insects. Innovative methods are required to increase agricultural output while reducing reliance on hazardous synthetic insecticides. Using the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas technology to develop insect-resistant plants appears to be highly efficient at lowering production costs and increasing farm profitability. The genomes of both a model insect, Drosophila melanogaster, and major phytophagous insect genera, viz. Spodoptera, Helicoverpa, Nilaparvata, Locusta, Tribolium, Agrotis, etc., were successfully edited by the CRISPR-Cas toolkits. This new method, however, has the ability to alter an insect’s DNA in order to either induce a gene drive or overcome an insect’s tolerance to certain insecticides. The rapid progress in the methodologies of CRISPR technology and their diverse applications show a high promise in the development of insect-resistant plant varieties or other strategies for the sustainable management of insect pests to ensure food security. This paper reviewed and critically discussed the use of CRISPR-Cas genome-editing technology in long-term insect pest management. The emphasis of this review was on the prospective uses of the CRISPR-Cas system for insect stress management in crop production through the creation of genome-edited crop plants or insects. The potential and the difficulties of using CRISPR-Cas technology to reduce pest stress in crop plants were critically examined and discussed.
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15
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McCulloch KJ, Macias-Muñoz A, Briscoe AD. Insect opsins and evo-devo: what have we learned in 25 years? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210288. [PMID: 36058243 PMCID: PMC9441233 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The visual pigments known as opsins are the primary molecular basis for colour vision in animals. Insects are among the most diverse of animal groups and their visual systems reflect a variety of life histories. The study of insect opsins in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has led to major advances in the fields of neuroscience, development and evolution. In the last 25 years, research in D. melanogaster has improved our understanding of opsin genotype-phenotype relationships while comparative work in other insects has expanded our understanding of the evolution of insect eyes via gene duplication, coexpression and homologue switching. Even so, until recently, technology and sampling have limited our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that evolution uses to shape the diversity of insect eyes. With the advent of genome editing and in vitro expression assays, the study of insect opsins is poised to reveal new frontiers in evolutionary biology, visual neuroscience, and animal behaviour. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding colour vision: molecular, physiological, neuronal and behavioural studies in arthropods'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J. McCulloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Aide Macias-Muñoz
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Adriana D. Briscoe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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16
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Wu MM, Chen X, Xu QX, Zang LS, Wang S, Li M, Xiao D. Melanin Synthesis Pathway Interruption: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Knockout of dopa decarboxylase (DDC) in Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2022; 22:6694719. [PMID: 36082675 PMCID: PMC9459435 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac048] [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: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 technology is a very powerful genome editing tool and has been used in many insect species for functional genomics studies through targeted gene mutagenesis. Here, we successfully established CRISPR/Cas9 research platform in Asian multi-colored ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis, an important natural enemy in biological control. In this study, one pivotal gene dopa decarboxylase (DDC) in melanin synthesis was targeted by CRISPR/Cas9 to generate mutants in H. axyridis by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Our results showed that injection of single guide RNA of the DDC and Cas9 protein into preblastoderm eggs induced one insertion and four deletion (indels) mutant H. axyridis. Mutations of HaDDC gene generated 25% mutant rate with melanin missing phenotype in larva, pupa,l and adult stage. The predation ability of the fourth instar larvae has no significant difference between wild (control) and mutant H. axyridis (G0), while these mutant fourth instar larvae had longer developmental period than that of the wild type. Consequently, the total predation of the fourth instar larvae was significantly increased in H. axyridis mutants comparing with the wild type. These results indicated that the success of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in H. axyridis. The gene editing platform in H. axyridis would facilitate the gene function research and promote special strain of predatory ladybird beetle generation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qing-xuan Xu
- Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Lian-sheng Zang
- Jilin Engineering Research Center of Resource Insects Industrialization, Institute of Biological Control, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering of Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Su Wang
- Institute of Plant and Environment Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Ming Li
- Corresponding author, e-mail: (M.L.), (D.X.)
| | - Da Xiao
- Corresponding author, e-mail: (M.L.), (D.X.)
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17
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Yang J, Chen S, Xu X, Lin G, Lin S, Bai J, Song Q, You M, Xie M. Novel-miR-310 mediated response mechanism to Cry1Ac protoxin in Plutella xylostella (L.). Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 219:587-596. [PMID: 35952810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), has evolved resistance to multiple insecticides including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a class of transmembrane protein families, involved in multiple physiological processes and pesticide resistances in insects. However, the role and regulatory mechanism of ABC transporter in mediating the response to Bt Cry1Ac toxin remain unclear. Here, we characterized a MAPK signaling pathway-enriched ABCG subfamily gene PxABCG20 from DBM, and found it was differentially expressed in the Cry1Ac-resistant and Cry1Ac-susceptible strains. RNAi knockdown of PxABCG20 increased the tolerance of DBM to Cry1Ac protoxin. To explore the regulatory mechanism of PxABCG20 expression, we predicted the potential miRNAs targeting PxABCG20 using two target prediction algorithms. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that novel-miR-310 was able to down-regulate PxABCG20 expression in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, injection of novel-miR-310 agomir markedly inhibited PxABCG20 expression, resulting in increased tolerance to Cry1Ac protoxin in susceptible strain, while injection of novel-miR-310 antagomir markedly induced the expression of PxABCG20, leading to decreased tolerance to Cry1Ac protoxin. Our work provides theoretical basis for exploring novel targets for the DBM response to Cry1Ac toxin and expands the understanding of miRNA role in mediating the susceptibility of insect pest to Cry1Ac toxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shiyao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xuejiao Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Guifang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Sujie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jianlin Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
| | - Miao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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18
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Souza D, Christensen SA, Wu K, Buss L, Kleckner K, Darrisaw C, Shirk PD, Siegfried BD. RNAi-induced knockdown of white gene in the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula L.). Sci Rep 2022; 12:10396. [PMID: 35729244 PMCID: PMC9213411 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14620-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The southern green stink bug (SGSB) Nezara viridula L. is one of the most common stink bug species in the United States and can cause significant yield loss in a variety of crops. A suitable marker for the assessment of gene-editing tools in SGSB has yet to be characterized. The white gene, first documented in Drosophila, has been a useful target to assess the efficiency of introduced mutations in many species as it controls pigmentation processes and mutants display readily identifiable phenotypes. In this study we used the RNAi technique to investigate functions and phenotypes associated with the white ortholog in the SGSB and to validate white as a marker for genetic transformation in this species. This study revealed that white may be a suitable marker for germline transformation in the SGSB as white transcript knockdown was not lethal, did not impair embryo development and provided a distinguishable phenotype. Our results demonstrated that the white ortholog in SGSB is involved in the pathway for ommochrome synthesis and suggested additional functions of this gene such as in the integument composition, management of hemolymph compounds and riboflavin mobilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariane Souza
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA. .,Syngenta Crop Protection AG, WST-540.1.17 Schaffhauserstrasse, 4332, Stein, Switzerland.
| | - Shawn A Christensen
- USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, 32608, USA
| | - Ke Wu
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA
| | - Lyle Buss
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA
| | - Kaylin Kleckner
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA
| | - Constance Darrisaw
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA
| | - Paul D Shirk
- USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, 32608, USA
| | - Blair D Siegfried
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611, USA
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19
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Pacheco ID, Walling LL, Atkinson PW. Gene Editing and Genetic Control of Hemipteran Pests: Progress, Challenges and Perspectives. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:900785. [PMID: 35747496 PMCID: PMC9209771 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.900785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin of the order Hemiptera can be traced to the late Permian Period more than 230 MYA, well before the origin of flowering plants 100 MY later in during the Cretaceous period. Hemipteran species consume their liquid diets using a sucking proboscis; for phytophagous hemipterans their mouthparts (stylets) are elegant structures that enable voracious feeding from plant xylem or phloem. This adaptation has resulted in some hemipteran species becoming globally significant pests of agriculture resulting in significant annual crop losses. Due to the reliance on chemical insecticides for the control of insect pests in agricultural settings, many hemipteran pests have evolved resistance to insecticides resulting in an urgent need to develop new, species-specific and environmentally friendly methods of pest control. The rapid advances in CRISPR/Cas9 technologies in model insects such as Drosophila melanogaster, Tribolium castaneum, Bombyx mori, and Aedes aegypti has spurred a new round of innovative genetic control strategies in the Diptera and Lepidoptera and an increased interest in assessing genetic control technologies for the Hemiptera. Genetic control approaches in the Hemiptera have, to date, been largely overlooked due to the problems of introducing genetic material into the germline of these insects. The high frequency of CRISPR-mediated mutagenesis in model insect species suggest that, if the delivery problem for Hemiptera could be solved, then gene editing in the Hemiptera might be quickly achieved. Significant advances in CRISPR/Cas9 editing have been realized in nine species of Hemiptera over the past 4 years. Here we review progress in the Hemiptera and discuss the challenges and opportunities for extending contemporary genetic control strategies into species in this agriculturally important insect orderr.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inaiara D. Pacheco
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Linda L. Walling
- Department of Botany & Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Peter W. Atkinson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Peter W. Atkinson,
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20
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Functional Diversity of the Lepidopteran ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:258-270. [PMID: 35513601 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10056-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene family is ubiquitous in the living world. ABC proteins bind and hydrolyze ATP to transport a myriad of molecules across various lipid-containing membrane systems. They have been studied well in plants for transport of a variety of compounds and particularly, in vertebrates due to their direct involvement in resistance mechanisms against several toxic molecules/metabolites. ABC transporters in insects are found within large multigene families involved in the efflux of chemical insecticides and toxic/undesired metabolites originating from food and endogenous metabolism. This review deals with ABC transporter subfamilies of few agronomically important Lepidopteran pests. The transcriptional dynamics and regulation of ABC transporters during insect development emphasizes their functional diversity against insecticides, Cry toxins, and plant specialized metabolites. To generate insights about molecular function and physiological roles of ABCs, functional and structural characterization is necessary. Also, expansion and divergence of ABC transporter gene subfamilies in Lepidopteran insects needs more systematic investigation. We anticipate that newer methods of insect control in agriculture can benefit from an understanding of ABC transporter interactions with a vast range of natural specialized molecules and synthetic compounds.
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21
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Berni M, Lima L, Bressan D, Julio A, Bonfim L, Simão Y, Pane A, Ramos I, Oliveira PL, Araujo H. Atypical strategies for cuticle pigmentation in the blood-feeding hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus. Genetics 2022; 221:6571811. [PMID: 35445704 PMCID: PMC9157140 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigmentation in insects has been linked to mate selection and predator evasion, thus representing an important aspect for natural selection. Insect body color is classically associated to the activity of tyrosine pathway enzymes, and eye color to pigment synthesis through the tryptophan and guanine pathways, and their transport by ABC proteins. Among the hemiptera, the genetic basis for pigmentation in kissing bugs such as Rhodnius prolixus, that transmit Chagas disease to humans, has not been addressed. Here we report the functional analysis of R. prolixus eye and cuticle pigmentation genes. Consistent with data for most insect clades, we show that knockdown for yellow results in a yellow cuticle, while scarlet and cinnabar knockdowns display red eyes as well as cuticle phenotypes. In addition, tyrosine pathway aaNATpreto knockdown resulted in a striking dark cuticle that displays no color pattern or UV reflectance. In contrast, knockdown of ebony and tan, that encode NBAD branch tyrosine pathway enzymes, did not generate the expected dark and light brown phenotypes, respectively, as reported for other insects. We hypothesize that R. prolixus, which requires tyrosine pathway enzymes for detoxification from the blood diet, evolved an unusual strategy for cuticle pigmentation based on the preferential use of a color erasing function of the aaNATpreto tyrosine pathway branch. We also show that genes classically involved in the generation and transport of eye pigments regulate red body color in R. prolixus. This is the first systematic approach to identify the genes responsible for the generation of color in a blood-feeding hemiptera, providing potential visible markers for future transgenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Berni
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Brasil (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil.,Post-graduate Program in Morphological Sciences (PCM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Lima
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Post-graduate Program in Morphological Sciences (PCM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Daniel Bressan
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Post-graduate Program in Morphological Sciences (PCM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Alison Julio
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Post-graduate Program in Morphological Sciences (PCM), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Larissa Bonfim
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Simão
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Attilio Pane
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ramos
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Brasil (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Brasil (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Helena Araujo
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Brasil (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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22
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CRISPR-mediated knockout of cardinal and cinnabar eye pigmentation genes in the western tarnished plant bug. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4917. [PMID: 35322099 PMCID: PMC8943060 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08908-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus, is a key hemipteran pest of numerous agricultural, horticultural, and industrial crops in the western United States and Mexico. A lack of genetic tools in L. hesperus hinders progress in functional genomics and in developing innovative pest control methods such as gene drive. Here, using RNA interference (RNAi) against cardinal (LhCd), cinnabar (LhCn), and white (LhW), we showed that knockdown of LhW was lethal to developing embryos, while knockdown of LhCd or LhCn produced bright red eye phenotypes, in contrast to wild-type brown eyes. We further used CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated) genome editing to generate germline knockouts of both LhCd (Card) and LhCn (Cinn), producing separate strains of L. hesperus characterized by mutant eye phenotypes. Although the cardinal knockout strain Card exhibited a gradual darkening of the eyes to brown typical of the wild-type line later in nymphal development, we observed bright red eyes throughout all life stages in the cinnabar knockout strain Cinn, making it a viable marker for tracking gene editing in L. hesperus. These results provide evidence that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing functions in L. hesperus and that eye pigmentation genes are useful for tracking the successful genetic manipulation of this insect.
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23
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Li R, Meng Q, Qi J, Hu L, Huang J, Zhang Y, Yang J, Sun J. Microinjection-based CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis in the decapoda crustaceans, Neocaridina heteropoda and Eriocheir sinensis. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:274276. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been applied to many arthropods. However, application of this technology to crustaceans remains limited due to the unique characteristics of embryos. Our group has developed a microinjection system to introduce the CRISPR/Cas9 system into Neocaridina heteropoda embryos (one-cell stage). Using the developed method, we mutated the target gene Nh-scarlet (N. heteropoda scarlet), which functions in eye development and pigmentation. The results showed that both eye color and shape were altered in individuals in which Nh-scarlet was knocked out. Furthermore, this system was also successfully applied to another decapod crustacean, Eriocheir sinensis. DNA sequencing revealed that the zoeae with red eyes had an edited version of Es-scarlet. This study provides a stable microinjection method for freshwater crustaceans, and will contribute to functional genomics studies in various decapods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghao Meng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiachen Qi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Lezhen Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinwei Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Yichen Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiale Yang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsheng Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, People's Republic of China
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24
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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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25
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Chakravarty S, Mahalle RM, Srivastava CP. Phenotypic variability in the Old World bollworm,
Helicoverpa armigera
(Hübner) populations in India. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/azo.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Snehel Chakravarty
- Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology Institute of Agricultural Sciences Banaras Hindu University Varanasi India
| | - Rashmi M. Mahalle
- Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology Institute of Agricultural Sciences Banaras Hindu University Varanasi India
| | - Chandra P. Srivastava
- Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology Institute of Agricultural Sciences Banaras Hindu University Varanasi India
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26
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The Essential and Enigmatic Role of ABC Transporters in Bt Resistance of Noctuids and Other Insect Pests of Agriculture. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12050389. [PMID: 33924857 PMCID: PMC8145640 DOI: 10.3390/insects12050389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The insect family, Noctuidae, contains some of the most damaging pests of agriculture, including bollworms, budworms, and armyworms. Transgenic cotton and maize expressing Cry-type insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are protected from such pests and greatly reduce the need for chemical insecticides. However, evolution of Bt resistance in the insects threatens the sustainability of this environmentally beneficial pest control strategy. Understanding the interaction between Bt toxins and their targets in the insect midgut is necessary to evaluate the risk of resistance evolution. ABC transporters, which in eukaryotes typically expel small molecules from cells, have recently been proposed as a target for the pore-forming Cry toxins. Here we review the literature surrounding this hypothesis in noctuids and other insects. Appreciation of the critical role of ABC transporters will be useful in discovering counterstrategies to resistance, which is already evolving in some field populations of noctuids and other insects. Abstract In the last ten years, ABC transporters have emerged as unexpected yet significant contributors to pest resistance to insecticidal pore-forming proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Evidence includes the presence of mutations in resistant insects, heterologous expression to probe interactions with the three-domain Cry toxins, and CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts. Yet the mechanisms by which ABC transporters facilitate pore formation remain obscure. The three major classes of Cry toxins used in agriculture have been found to target the three major classes of ABC transporters, which requires a mechanistic explanation. Many other families of bacterial pore-forming toxins exhibit conformational changes in their mode of action, which are not yet described for the Cry toxins. Three-dimensional structures of the relevant ABC transporters, the multimeric pore in the membrane, and other proteins that assist in the process are required to test the hypothesis that the ATP-switch mechanism provides a motive force that drives Cry toxins into the membrane. Knowledge of the mechanism of pore insertion will be required to combat the resistance that is now evolving in field populations of insects, including noctuids.
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27
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Liu G, Liu W, Zhao R, He J, Dong Z, Chen L, Wan W, Chang Z, Wang W, Li X. Genome-wide identification and gene-editing of pigment transporter genes in the swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:120. [PMID: 33596834 PMCID: PMC7891156 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07400-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Insect body coloration often functions as camouflage to survive from predators or mate selection. Transportation of pigment precursors or related metabolites from cytoplasm to subcellular pigment granules is one of the key steps in insect pigmentation and usually executed via such transporter proteins as the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transmembrane transporters and small G-proteins (e.g. Rab protein). However, little is known about the copy numbers of pigment transporter genes in the butterfly genomes and about the roles of pigment transporters in the development of swallowtail butterflies. Results Here, we have identified 56 ABC transporters and 58 Rab members in the genome of swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus. This is the first case of genome-wide gene copy number identification of ABC transporters in swallowtail butterflies and Rab family in lepidopteran insects. Aiming to investigate the contribution of the five genes which are orthologous to well-studied pigment transporters (ABCG: white, scarlet, brown and ok; Rab: lightoid) of fruit fly or silkworm during the development of swallowtail butterflies, we performed CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing of these genes using P. xuthus as a model and sequenced the transcriptomes of their morphological mutants. Our results indicate that the disruption of each gene produced mutated phenotypes in the colors of larvae (cuticle, testis) and/or adult eyes in G0 individuals but have no effect on wing color. The transcriptomic data demonstrated that mutations induced by CRISPR/Cas9 can lead to the accumulation of abnormal transcripts and the decrease or dosage compensation of normal transcripts at gene expression level. Comparative transcriptomes revealed 606 ~ 772 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mutants of four ABCG transporters and 1443 DEGs in the mutants of lightoid. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEGs in ABCG transporter mutants enriched to the oxidoreductase activity, heme binding, iron ion binding process possibly related to the color display, and DEGs in lightoid mutants are enriched in glycoprotein binding and protein kinases. Conclusions Our data indicated these transporter proteins play an important role in body color of P. xuthus. Our study provides new insights into the function of ABC transporters and small G-proteins in the morphological development of butterflies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07400-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guichun Liu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shanxi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, China
| | - Ruoping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Jinwu He
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shanxi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhiwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Lei Chen
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shanxi, China
| | - Wenting Wan
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shanxi, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhou Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, Shanxi, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China. .,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
| | - Xueyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, Yunnan, China.
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28
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Xu P, Ze LJ, Kang WN, Wu JJ, Jin L, Anjum AA, Li GQ. Functional divergence of white genes in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata revealed by RNA interference. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 29:466-476. [PMID: 32654258 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata is a serious pest of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae in many Asian countries. RNA interference (RNAi) can effectively reduce transcript abundance in this beetle, offering opportunities to explore the biological function of specific genes. The white gene encodes a half-type ATP-binding cassette transporter that plays an essential role in tryptophan, guanine and uric acid transport across membranes. Mutations that disrupt the function of white are known to cause eye pigmentation phenotypes in many insect species. Here, we found evidence for five white gene paralogues present in H. vigintioctopunctata transcriptome datasets sequenced from a range of developmental stages. We individually knocked down each of the five white genes through the injection of corresponding double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) to the fourth-instar larvae to determine whether functional divergence has occurred. We found that injecting 1 μg dswhite3 caused compound eye colour of pupae and adults to develop as red/brown and brown, respectively, compared with black eyes in control beetles. Injection of 2 μg dswhite3 increased RNAi efficacy and produced a clearer eye colour phenotype. At both doses, the ocular diaphragm (a ring of black pigment surrounding each eye) did not change in the white3 RNAi hypomorphs. Moreover, our data revealed that injection of dswhite2 at the fourth-instar larval stage impaired the climbing ability of both male and female adults. Our results confirmed, for the first time, functional divergence of duplicated white genes in an insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Xu
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - L-J Ze
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - W-N Kang
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - J-J Wu
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - L Jin
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - A A Anjum
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - G-Q Li
- Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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29
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Yan Y, Ziemek J, Schetelig MF. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated disruption of the white gene leads to pigmentation deficiency and copulation failure in Drosophila suzukii. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 126:104091. [PMID: 32745561 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Spotted-wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is a devastating invasive pest of fruit crops. In D. melanogaster, the white (w) gene was associated with pigmentation and mating behavior, which are also important aspects to understand the invasion biology as well as to develop control strategies for D. suzukii. Here, we show that the generation of D. suzukii white-eyed mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis of the w gene resulted in the complete failure of copulation when w- males were individually paired with w- females in small circular arenas (diameter 0.7 cm) for 24 h. Further analysis showed that the mating defect was associated with w- males and could not be rectified by two years of inbreeding by crossing sibling w- females with w+ males, dim red illumination, male-female sexual training, changing to large arenas (diameter 3.5 cm), or different sex ratios. Profound pigmentation deficiency was detected in the compound eyes, ocelli, Malpighian tubules and testis sheaths in the w- flies. Specifically, testis imaging showed that w- males failed to deposit any pigments into pigment cells of the testis sheath, and produced smaller sperms and less seminal fluid compared to those from wildtype males. Together these observations suggest that the w gene plays an essential role in the regulation of sexual behavior and reproduction in D. suzukii. The similarities and differences in w gene function between D. suzukii and D. melanogaster in the context of pigmentation and mating behavior are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yan
- Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Judith Ziemek
- Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany
| | - Marc F Schetelig
- Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Insect Biotechnology in Plant Protection, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Winchesterstr. 2, 35394 Giessen, Germany.
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30
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Xu X, Harvey-Samuel T, Yang J, Alphey L, You M. Ommochrome pathway genes kynurenine 3-hydroxylase and cardinal participate in eye pigmentation in Plutella xylostella. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:63. [PMID: 32917146 PMCID: PMC7488671 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-020-00308-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eye pigmentation genes have been utilized as visible markers for constructing genetic control prototypes in several insect vectors of human disease. Here, orthologs of two ommochrome pathway genes, kynurenine 3-hydroxylase (kmo) and cardinal, were investigated in Plutella xylostella, a globally distributed, economically important pest of Brassica crops. RESULTS Both somatic mosaic and germline mutations were efficiently created using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and null mutant strains of Pxkmo and Pxcardinal were obtained. A frame-shift mutation in Pxkmo caused yellow compound eyes at adult stage while an in-frame mutation lacking two amino acids resulted in a hypomorphic red eye phenotypes. In contrast, Pxcardinal-deficient moths with a frame-shift mutation exhibited yellow eye pigmentation in newly emerged adults which turned to red as the adults aged. Additionally, differences were observed in the coloration of larval ocelli, brains and testes in Pxkmo and Pxcardinal yellow-eye mutant lines. CONCLUSIONS Our work identifies the important roles of Pxkmo and Pxcardinal in P. xylostella eye pigmentation and provides tools for future genetic manipulation of this important crop pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tim Harvey-Samuel
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Luke Alphey
- Arthropod Genetics Group, The Pirbright Institute, Woking, Pirbright, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China. .,Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China. .,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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31
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Koidou V, Denecke S, Ioannidis P, Vlatakis I, Livadaras I, Vontas J. Efficient genome editing in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 29:363-372. [PMID: 32141659 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, causes great damage to the quality and quantity of olive production worldwide. Pest management approaches have proved difficult for a variety of reasons, a fact that has brought about a need for alternative tools and approaches. Here we report for the first time in B. oleae the development of the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) gene editing tool, using the well-known eye colour marker gene scarlet. Two synthetic guide RNAs targeting the coding region of the scarlet gene were synthesized and shown to work efficiently in vitro. These reagents were then microinjected along with purified Cas9 protein into early-stage embryos. Successful CRISPR-induced mutations of both copies of the scarlet gene showed a striking yellow eye phenotype, indicative of gene disruption. Multiple successful CRISPR events were confirmed by PCR and sequencing. The establishment of an efficient CRISPR-based gene editing tool in B. oleae will enable the study of critical molecular mechanisms in olive fruit fly biology and physiology, including the analysis of insecticide resistance mechanisms and the discovery of novel insecticide targets, as well as facilitate the development of novel biotechnology-based pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Koidou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology, Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - S Denecke
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology, Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - P Ioannidis
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology, Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - I Vlatakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology, Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - I Livadaras
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology, Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - J Vontas
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology, Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Laboratory of Pesticide Science, Faculty of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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32
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High-Efficiency CRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis of the white Gene in the Milkweed Bug Oncopeltus fasciatus. Genetics 2020; 215:1027-1037. [PMID: 32493719 PMCID: PMC7404234 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In this manuscript, we report that clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 is highly efficient in the hemipteran Oncopeltus fasciatus. The white gene is well characterized in Drosophila where mutation causes loss of eye pigmentation; white is a reliable marker for transgenesis and other genetic manipulations. Accordingly, white has been targeted in a number of nonmodel insects to establish tools for genetic studies. Here, we generated mutations in the Of-white (Of-w) locus using CRISPR/Cas9. We found that Of-w is required for pigmentation throughout the body of Oncopeltus, not just the ommatidia. High rates of somatic mosaicism were observed in the injected generation, reflecting biallelic mutations, and a high rate of germline mutation was evidenced by the large proportion of heterozygous G1s. However, Of-w mutations are homozygous lethal; G2 homozygotes lacked pigment dispersion throughout the body and did not hatch, precluding the establishment of a stable mutant line. Embryonic and parental RNA interference (RNAi) were subsequently performed to rule out off-target mutations producing the observed phenotype and to evaluate the efficacy of RNAi in ablating gene function compared to a loss-of-function mutation. RNAi knockdowns phenocopied Of-w homozygotes, with an unusual accumulation of orange granules observed in unhatched embryos. This is, to our knowledge, the first CRISPR/Cas9-targeted mutation generated in Oncopeltus. While we were unable to establish white as a useful visible marker for Oncopeltus, these findings are instructive for the selection of visible markers in nonmodel species and reveal an unusual role for an ortholog of a classic Drosophila gene.
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Zheng JC, Yue XR, Kuang WQ, Li SL, Tang R, Zhang ZF, Kurban A, Zhao C, Liu TX, Jing X. NPC1b as a novel target in controlling the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:2233-2242. [PMID: 31976620 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insects cannot synthesize sterols and must acquire them from food. The mechanisms underlying how insects uptake dietary sterols are largely unknown except that NPC1b, an integral membrane protein, has been shown to be responsible for dietary cholesterol uptake in Drosophila melanogaster. However, whether NPC1b orthologs in other insect species, particularly the economically important pests, function similarly remains to be determined. RESULTS In this study, we characterized the function of NPC1b in Helicoverpa armigera, a global pest that causes severe yield losses to many important crops. Limiting dietary cholesterol uptake to insects significantly inhibited food ingestion and weight gain. Compared to the wild-type H. armigera, the CRISPR/Cas9-edited NPC1b mutant larvae were incapable of getting adequate cholesterol and died in their early life stage. Gene expression profile and in situ hybridization analyses indicated that NPC1b was mainly expressed in the midgut where dietary cholesterol was absorbed. Expression of NPC1b was also correlated with the feeding life stages and was especially upregulated during early larval instars. Protein-ligand docking and sequence similarity analyses further demonstrated that NPC1b proteins of lepidopteran insects shared a relatively conserved cholesterol binding region, NPC1b_NTD, which, however, was highly divergent from bees-derived sequences. CONCLUSION NPC1b was crucial for dietary cholesterol uptake and growth of H. armigera, and therefore could serve as an insecticide target for the development of a novel pest-management approach to control this economically significant insect pest with little off-target effect on bees and sterol-autotrophic animals. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Cheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Basic Medical School, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiao-Rong Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wen-Qing Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Sa-Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhan-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Anwar Kurban
- College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chaoyang Zhao
- College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiangfeng Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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Dermauw W, Jonckheere W, Riga M, Livadaras I, Vontas J, Van Leeuwen T. Targeted mutagenesis using CRISPR-Cas9 in the chelicerate herbivore Tetranychus urticae. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 120:103347. [PMID: 32114158 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The use of CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized functional genetic work in many organisms, including more and more insect species. However, successful gene editing or genetic transformation has not yet been reported for chelicerates, the second largest group of terrestrial animals. Within this group, some mite and tick species are economically very important for agriculture and human health, and the availability of a gene-editing tool would be a significant advancement for the field. Here, we report on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae. The ovary of virgin adult females was injected with a mix of Cas9 and sgRNAs targeting the phytoene desaturase gene. Natural mutants of this laterally transferred gene have previously shown an easy-to-score albino phenotype. Albino sons of injected virgin females were mated with wild-type females, and two independent transformed lines where created and further characterized. Albinism inherited as a recessive monogenic trait. Sequencing of the complete target-gene of both lines revealed two different lesions at expected locations near the PAM site in the target-gene. Both lines did not genetically complement each other in dedicated crosses, nor when crossed to a reference albino strain with a known genetic defect in the same gene. In conclusion, two independent mutagenesis events were induced in the spider mite T. urticae using CRISPR-Cas9, hereby providing proof-of-concept that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to create gene knockouts in mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wannes Dermauw
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Wim Jonckheere
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Maria Riga
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Nikolaou Plastira Street 100, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Ioannis Livadaras
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Nikolaou Plastira Street 100, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - John Vontas
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), Nikolaou Plastira Street 100, 70013, Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Pesticide Science Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
| | - Thomas Van Leeuwen
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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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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Paulo DF, Williamson ME, Arp AP, Li F, Sagel A, Skoda SR, Sanchez-Gallego J, Vasquez M, Quintero G, Pérez de León AA, Belikoff EJ, Azeredo-Espin AML, McMillan WO, Concha C, Scott MJ. Specific Gene Disruption in the Major Livestock Pests Cochliomyia hominivorax and Lucilia cuprina Using CRISPR/Cas9. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2019; 9:3045-3055. [PMID: 31340950 PMCID: PMC6723136 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cochliomyia hominivorax and Lucilia cuprina are major pests of livestock. Their larvae infest warm-blooded vertebrates and feed on host's tissues, resulting in severe industry losses. As they are serious pests, considerable effort has been made to develop genomic resources and functional tools aiming to improve their management and control. Here, we report a significant addition to the pool of genome manipulation tools through the establishment of efficient CRISPR/Cas9 protocols for the generation of directed and inheritable modifications in the genome of these flies. Site-directed mutations were introduced in the C hominivorax and L cuprina yellow genes (ChY and LcY) producing lightly pigmented adults. High rates of somatic mosaicism were induced when embryos were injected with Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) pre-assembled with guide RNAs (sgRNAs) at high concentrations. Adult flies carrying disrupted yellow alleles lacked normal pigmentation (brown body phenotype) and efficiently transmitted the mutated alleles to the subsequent generation, allowing the rapid creation of homozygous strains for reverse genetics of candidate loci. We next used our established CRISPR protocol to disrupt the C hominivorax transformer gene (Chtra). Surviving females carrying mutations in the Chtra locus developed mosaic phenotypes of transformed ovipositors with characteristics of male genitalia while exhibiting abnormal reproductive tissues. The CRISPR protocol described here is a significant improvement on the existing toolkit of molecular methods in calliphorids. Our results also suggest that Cas9-based systems targeting Chtra and Lctra could be an effective means for controlling natural populations of these important pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Paulo
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas
- Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | - Megan E Williamson
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
| | - Alex P Arp
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville TX, and
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
| | - Agustin Sagel
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Screwworm Research Site, Pacora, Panama
| | - Steven R Skoda
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Screwworm Research Site, Pacora, Panama
| | - Joel Sanchez-Gallego
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Screwworm Research Site, Pacora, Panama
| | - Mario Vasquez
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Screwworm Research Site, Pacora, Panama
| | - Gladys Quintero
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Screwworm Research Site, Pacora, Panama
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville TX, and
| | - Esther J Belikoff
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
| | - Ana M L Azeredo-Espin
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Campinas
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | - Carolina Concha
- Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Panama
| | - Maxwell J Scott
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
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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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38
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Dong X, Liao H, Zhu G, Khuhro SA, Ye Z, Yan Q, Dong S. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PBP1 and PBP3 mutagenesis induced significant reduction in electrophysiological response to sex pheromones in male Chilo suppressalis. INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 26:388-399. [PMID: 29058383 PMCID: PMC7379591 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Revised: 08/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are thought to bind and transport sex pheromones onto the olfactory receptors on the dendrite membrane of olfactory neurons, and thus play a vital role in sex pheromone perception. However, the function of PBPs has rarely been demonstrated in vivo. In this study, two PBPs (PBP1 and PBP3) of Chilo suppressalis, one of the most notorious pyralid pests, were in vivo functionally characterized using insects with the PBP gene knocked out by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. First, through direct injection of PBP-single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9 messenger RNA into newly laid eggs, a high rate of target-gene editing (checked with polled eggs) was induced at 24 h after injection, 21.3% for PBP1-sgRNA injected eggs and 19.5% for PBP3-sgRNA injected eggs. Second, by an in-crossing strategy, insects with mutant PBP1 or PBP3 (both with a premature stop codon) were screened, and homozygous mutants were obtained in the G3 generation. Third, the mutant insects were measured for electroantennogram (EAG) response to female sex pheromones. As a result, both PBP mutant males displayed significant reduction in EAG response, and this reduction in PBP1 mutants was higher than that in PBP3 mutants, indicating a more important role of PBP1. Finally, the relative importance of two PBPs and the possible off target effect induced by sgRNA-injection are discussed. Taken together, our study provides a deeper insight into the function of and interaction between different PBP genes in sex pheromone perception of C. suppressalis, as well as a valuable reference in methodology for gene functional study in other genes and other moth species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao‐Tong Dong
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Hui Liao
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Guan‐Heng Zhu
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Sajjad Ali Khuhro
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Zhan‐Feng Ye
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Qi Yan
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
| | - Shuang‐Lin Dong
- College of Plant ProtectionNanjing Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and PestsMinistry of EducationNanjingChina
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Francikowski J, Krzyżowski M, Kochańska B, Potrzebska M, Baran B, Chajec Ł, Urbisz A, Małota K, Łozowski B, Kloc M, Kubiak J. Characterisation of white and yellow eye colour mutant strains of house cricket, Acheta domesticus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216281. [PMID: 31059541 PMCID: PMC6502451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Two eye-colour mutant strains, white (W) and yellow (Y) of house cricket Acheta domesticus were established in our laboratory. We phenotyped and genotyped the mutants, performed genetic crossings and studied the eye structure and pigment composition using light and electron microscopy and biochemical analysis. We show that W and Y phenotypes are controlled by a single autosomal recessive allele, as both traits are metabolically independent. The analysis of the mutants`eye structure showed a reduced number of dark pigment granules while simultaneously, and an increased amount of light vacuoles in white eye mutants was observed. Significant differences in eye pigment composition between strains were also found. The Y mutant had a lower number of ommochromes, while the W mutant had a lower number of ommochromes and pteridines. This indicates that mutated genes are involved in two different, independent metabolic pathways regulating tryptophan metabolism enzymes, pigment transporter granules or pigment granule formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Francikowski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Michał Krzyżowski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Barbara Kochańska
- The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Marta Potrzebska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bartosz Baran
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Chajec
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Urbisz
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Karol Małota
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bartosz Łozowski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Kloc
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston,Texas, United States of America
- The Houston Methodist Hospital, Department of Surgery, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Genetics, Houston Texas, United States of America
| | - Jacek Kubiak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (WIHE), Warsaw, Poland
- UnivRennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes), UMR 6290, Cell Cycle Group, Faculty of Medicine, Rennes, France
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40
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Brent CS, Hull JJ. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of eye coloration genes in the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus Knight). ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 100:e21527. [PMID: 30588650 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Insect eye coloration arises from the accumulation of various pigments. A number of genes that function in the biosynthesis (vermilion, cinnabar, and cardinal) and importation (karmoisin, white, scarlet, and brown) of these pigments, and their precursors, have been identified in diverse species and used as markers for transgenesis and gene editing. To examine their suitability as visible markers in Lygus hesperus Knight (western tarnished plant bug), transcriptomic data were screened for sequences exhibiting homology with the Drosophila melanogaster proteins. Complete open reading frames encoding putative homologs for all seven genes were identified. Bioinformatic-based sequence and phylogenetic analyses supported initial annotations as eye coloration genes. Consistent with their proposed role, each of the genes was expressed in adult heads as well as throughout nymphal and adult development. Adult eyes of those injected with double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) for karmoisin, vermilion, cinnabar, cardinal, and scarlet were characterized by a red band along the medial margin extending from the rostral terminus to the antenna. In contrast, eyes of insects injected with dsRNAs for both white and brown were a uniform light brown. White knockdown also produced cuticular and behavioral defects. Based on its expression profile and robust visible phenotype, cardinal would likely prove to be the most suitable marker for developing gene editing methods in Lygus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin S Brent
- USDA-ARS Arid Land Agricultural Center, Maricopa, Arizona
| | - J Joe Hull
- USDA-ARS Arid Land Agricultural Center, Maricopa, Arizona
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41
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Wu K, Shirk PD, Taylor CE, Furlong RB, Shirk BD, Pinheiro DH, Siegfried BD. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of the abdominal-A homeotic gene in fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208647. [PMID: 30521608 PMCID: PMC6283638 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is an important pest of maize in the Americas and has recently been introduced into Africa. Fall armyworm populations have developed resistance to control strategies that depend on insecticides and transgenic plants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins. The study of various resistance mechanisms at the molecular level and the development novel control strategies have been hampered by a lack of functional genomic tools such as gene editing in this pest. In the current study, we explored the possibility of using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to modify the genome of FAW. We first identified and characterized the abdominal-A (Sfabd-A) gene of FAW. Sfabd-A single guide RNA (sgRNA) and Cas9 protein were then injected into 244 embryos of FAW. Sixty-two embryos injected with Sfabd-A sgRNA hatched. Of these hatched embryos, twelve developed into larvae that displayed typical aba-A mutant phenotypes such as fused segments. Of the twelve mutant larvae, three and five eventually developed into female and male moths, respectively. Most mutant moths were sterile, and one female produced a few unviable eggs when it was outcrossed to a wild-type male. Genotyping of 20 unhatched Sfabd-A sgRNA-injected embryos and 42 moths that developed from Sfabd-A sgRNA-injected embryos showed that 100% of the unhatched embryos and 50% of the moths contained indel mutations at the Sfabd-A genomic locus near the guide RNA target site. These results suggest that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is highly efficient in editing FAW genome. Importantly, this gene editing technology can be used to validate gene function to facilitate an understanding of the resistance mechanism and lead to the development of novel pest management approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Wu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Paul D. Shirk
- USDA-ARS, CMAVE-IBBRU, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Caitlin E. Taylor
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | | | - Bryce D. Shirk
- USDA-ARS, CMAVE-IBBRU, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Daniele H. Pinheiro
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Blair D. Siegfried
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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Karlgren M, Simoff I, Keiser M, Oswald S, Artursson P. CRISPR-Cas9: A New Addition to the Drug Metabolism and Disposition Tool Box. Drug Metab Dispos 2018; 46:1776-1786. [PMID: 30126863 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.118.082842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), i.e., CRISPR-Cas9, has been extensively used as a gene-editing technology during recent years. Unlike earlier technologies for gene editing or gene knockdown, such as zinc finger nucleases and RNA interference, CRISPR-Cas9 is comparably easy to use, affordable, and versatile. Recently, CRISPR-Cas9 has been applied in studies of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and for ADME model generation. To date, about 50 papers have been published describing in vitro or in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of ADME and ADME-related genes. Twenty of these papers describe gene editing of clinically relevant genes, such as ATP-binding cassette drug transporters and cytochrome P450 drug-metabolizing enzymes. With CRISPR-Cas9, the ADME tool box has been substantially expanded. This new technology allows us to develop better and more predictive in vitro and in vivo ADME models and map previously underexplored ADME genes and gene families. In this mini-review, we give an overview of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology and summarize recent applications of CRISPR-Cas9 within the ADME field. We also speculate about future applications of CRISPR-Cas9 in ADME research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Karlgren
- Department of Pharmacy (M.Ka., P.A.), Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy (I.S.), and Science for Life Laboratory (P.A.), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, University Medicine of Greifswald, Germany (M.Ke., S.O.)
| | - I Simoff
- Department of Pharmacy (M.Ka., P.A.), Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy (I.S.), and Science for Life Laboratory (P.A.), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, University Medicine of Greifswald, Germany (M.Ke., S.O.)
| | - M Keiser
- Department of Pharmacy (M.Ka., P.A.), Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy (I.S.), and Science for Life Laboratory (P.A.), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, University Medicine of Greifswald, Germany (M.Ke., S.O.)
| | - S Oswald
- Department of Pharmacy (M.Ka., P.A.), Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy (I.S.), and Science for Life Laboratory (P.A.), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, University Medicine of Greifswald, Germany (M.Ke., S.O.)
| | - P Artursson
- Department of Pharmacy (M.Ka., P.A.), Uppsala University Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling Platform, Department of Pharmacy (I.S.), and Science for Life Laboratory (P.A.), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Drug Absorption and Transport, University Medicine of Greifswald, Germany (M.Ke., S.O.)
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43
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Melanin Pathway Genes Regulate Color and Morphology of Butterfly Wing Scales. Cell Rep 2018; 24:56-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.05.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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Perera OP, Little NS, Pierce CA. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated high efficiency knockout of the eye color gene Vermillion in Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197567. [PMID: 29771955 PMCID: PMC5957398 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Among various genome editing tools available for functional genomic studies, reagents based on clustered regularly interspersed palindromic repeats (CRISPR) have gained popularity due to ease and versatility. CRISPR reagents consist of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes formed by combining guide RNA (gRNA) that target specific genomics regions and a CRISPR associated nuclease (Cas). The gRNA targeting specific gene sequences may be delivered as a plasmid construct that needs to be transcribed or as a synthetic RNA. The Cas nuclease can be introduced as a plasmid construct, mRNA, or purified protein. The efficiency of target editing is dependent on intrinsic factors specific to each species, the target gene sequence, and the delivery methods of CRISPR gRNA and the Cas nuclease. Although intrinsic factors affecting genome editing may not be altered in most experiments, the delivery method for CRISPR/Cas reagents can be optimized to produce the best results. In this study, the efficiency of genome editing by CRISPR/Cas system in the bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), was evaluated using ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes assembled by binding synthetic gRNA with purified Cas9 nuclease engineered with nuclear localization signals to target the vermillion (eye color) gene. Mutation rates of adults emerging from embryos microinjected with 1, 2, or 4 μM RNP complexes were compared using replicated experiments. Embryos injected with 2 or 4 μM RNP complexes displayed significantly higher mutation rates (>88%) in surviving adults compared to those injected with 1 μM. The hatch rate in embryos injected with RNP complexes and with injection buffer only (mock injections) was reduced by 19.8(±5.2)% compared to noninjected control embryos, but did not differ significantly between injected embryos. Evaluation of potential off-target sites in H. zea genome did not identify any mutations. This study demonstrates that in vitro assembled synthetic RNP complexes can be used to obtain high genome editing rates in a reproducible manner in functional genomics or genetic manipulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omaththage P. Perera
- Southern Insect Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, United States
| | - Nathan S. Little
- Southern Insect Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, United States
| | - Calvin A. Pierce
- Southern Insect Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, United States
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45
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Chen X, Cao Y, Zhan S, Zhang Y, Tan A, Huang Y. Identification of yellow gene family in Agrotis ipsilon and functional analysis of Aiyellow-y by CRISPR/Cas9. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 94:1-9. [PMID: 29337139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2017] [Revised: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The yellow gene family has been identified in several model insects, but yellow genes were poorly identified in non-model insects and the functions of yellow genes are largely unknown. In this study, we identified seven yellow genes in an important agricultural pest Agrotis ipsilon. Each gene encodes a protein containing a major royal jelly domain. Phylogenetic analysis defined these genes as yellow-y, -b, -b2, -c, -d, -e, and -h, respectively. The A. ipsilon yellow genes yellow-b, -b2, and -c were stably expressed in all developmental stages and tissues analyzed, whereas the other four yellow genes had unique expression patterns, suggesting distinct physiological roles of each gene. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we successfully disrupted yellow-y in A. ipsilon and obtained G0 insects with somatic mutations. Unlike the black of wild-type newly hatched larvae and of adults, the mutants were yellow, although in the pupal stage mutant coloration did not differ from wild-type coloration. This phenotype was inherited by G1 offspring. The G0 mutants did not show any growth deficiency compared with control insects; however, a dehydration-like phenotype was observed in newly hatched G1 larvae from sibling crossed mutants. Our results indicate that A. ipsilon yellow-y gene plays a role in body pigmentation and also might function in waterproofing.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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 200032, China
| | - 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 200032, China
| | - 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 200032, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - 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 200032, China
| | - 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 200032, China.
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46
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Xue WH, Xu N, Yuan XB, Chen HH, Zhang JL, Fu SJ, Zhang CX, Xu HJ. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of two eye pigmentation genes in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 93:19-26. [PMID: 29241845 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens is one of the most destructive insect pests in Asia, demonstrating high fertility and causing huge crop losses by sucking sap of rice as well as transmitting viruses. However, functional genomic studies on N. lugens are seriously constrained by lack of genetic tools. Here, we employed two eye pigmentation genes to generate germ-line mutations in N. lugens using the CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated) system. We showed that injection of single guide RNA of the cinnabar gene of N. lugens (Nl-cn) into pre-blastoderm eggs induced insertion and deletion (indels) in the founder generation (G0), which were heritably transmitted to the following G1 generation, leading to bright red compound eyes and ocelli. Mutations of N. lugens white (Nl-w) generated a high mutant rate of up to 27.3%, resulting in mosaic eyes consisting of white and lightly pigmented ommatidia in both G0 and G1 individuals. The specificity of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis was further bolstered by PCR and RNA interference-based knockdown analysis. These results show that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing is achievable in a hemipteran insect, offering a valuable tool for the study of functional genomics and pest management in this planthopper species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hua Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Nan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Bo Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hao-Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jin-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Sheng-Jie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hai-Jun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Zhang H, Kiuchi T, Hirayama C, Katsuma S, Shimada T. Bombyx ortholog of the Drosophila eye color gene brown controls riboflavin transport in Malpighian tubules. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 92:65-72. [PMID: 29191464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila eye color gene brown is known to control the transport of pteridine precursors in adult eyes. The Brown protein belongs to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter G family, which includes proteins encoded by the genes brown, scarlet, and white. These genes are responsible for pigmentation in Drosophila and the domestic silkworm Bombyx mori. Although orthologs of brown are conserved among insects, the function of this gene is only known in Drosophila. Here, we elucidated the function of the B. mori ortholog Bm-brown. We examined the spatial and temporal expression profiles of Bm-brown and found that this gene was specifically and continuously expressed in larval Malpighian tubules (MTs), indicating this gene has a special function in MTs. We then successfully obtained a Bm-brown knockout (KO) strain based on a wild-type (WT) strain using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) system. We found that larval MTs of the KO strain were white, whereas those of WT were yellow. It is known that larval yellow MTs of WT are due to the accumulation of riboflavin. Therefore, we compared the riboflavin contents of MTs of KO and WT strains, and found that the riboflavin level in the KO strain was 20 fold less than that in WT during the 5th instar period. MTs are known to exhibit a similar milky color in w-3 mutant larvae due to a deficiency of riboflavin accumulation. The responsible gene for w-3 mutant is the Bmwh3 gene, which is orthologous to Drosophila white. Thus, we speculate that Bm-brown is heterodimerized with Bmwh3, similar to Brown/White in Drosophila, and acts as a riboflavin transporter in silkworm MTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haokun Zhang
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Takashi Kiuchi
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Chikara Hirayama
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
| | - Susumu Katsuma
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Toru Shimada
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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Mo YD, Yang SX, Zhao JY, Jin PY, Hong XY. Comparative transcriptomes and reciprocal best hit analysis revealed potential pigment genes in two color forms of Tetranychus urticae. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2017; 73:159-176. [PMID: 29116474 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0188-9] [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: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Tetranychus urticae Koch is a worldwide agricultural pest. There are two color forms: red and green. The molecular mechanism underlying this color variation is unknown. To elucidate the mechanism, we characterized differentially expressed pigment pathway genes shared in the transcriptomes of these two forms using RNA sequencing and reciprocal best hit analysis. Differentially expressed pigment pathway genes were determined by qRT-PCR to confirm the accuracy of RNA-Seq. The transcriptomes revealed 963 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 687 DEGs were higher in the green form. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed carotenoid biosynthesis genes in T. urticae. Reciprocal best hit analysis revealed 817 putative pigment pathway genes, 38 of which were differentially expressed and mainly classified into four categories: heme, melanin, ommochrome and rhodopsin. Phylogenetic analysis of homologous ommochrome genes showed that tetur09g01950 is closely related to Ok. This study revealed putative pigment pathway genes in the two forms of T. urticae, and might provide a new resource for understanding the mechanism of color variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Dan Mo
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Si-Xia Yang
- School of Energy and Environment Science, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China
| | - Jing-Yu Zhao
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng-Yu Jin
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Yue Hong
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
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Sun D, Guo Z, Liu Y, Zhang Y. Progress and Prospects of CRISPR/Cas Systems in Insects and Other Arthropods. Front Physiol 2017; 8:608. [PMID: 28932198 PMCID: PMC5592444 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and the CRISPR-associated gene Cas9 represent an invaluable system for the precise editing of genes in diverse species. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is an adaptive mechanism that enables bacteria and archaeal species to resist invading viruses and phages or plasmids. Compared with zinc finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has the advantage of requiring less time and effort. This efficient technology has been used in many species, including diverse arthropods that are relevant to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and public health; however, there is no review that systematically summarizes its successful application in the editing of both insect and non-insect arthropod genomes. Thus, this paper seeks to provide a comprehensive and impartial overview of the progress of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in different arthropods, reviewing not only fundamental studies related to gene function exploration and experimental optimization but also applied studies in areas such as insect modification and pest control. In addition, we also describe the latest research advances regarding two novel CRISPR/Cas systems (CRISPR/Cpf1 and CRISPR/C2c2) and discuss their future prospects for becoming crucial technologies in arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Sun
- Longping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan UniversityChangsha, China.,Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Zhaojiang Guo
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Longping Branch, Graduate School of Hunan UniversityChangsha, China
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing, China
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Douris V, Papapostolou KM, Ilias A, Roditakis E, Kounadi S, Riga M, Nauen R, Vontas J. Investigation of the contribution of RyR target-site mutations in diamide resistance by CRISPR/Cas9 genome modification in Drosophila. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 87:127-135. [PMID: 28669775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Diamide insecticides are used widely against lepidopteran pests, acting as potent activators of insect Ryanodine Receptors (RyRs) and thus inducing muscle contraction and eventually death. However, resistant phenotypes have recently evolved in the field, associated with the emergence of target site resistance mutations (G4946E/V and I4790M). We investigated the frequency of the mutations found in a resistant population of Tuta absoluta from Greece (G4946V ~79% and I4790M ~21%) and the associated diamide resistance profile: there are very high levels of resistance against chlorantraniliprole (9329-fold) and flubendiamide (4969-fold), but moderate levels against cyantraniliprole (191-fold). To further investigate functionally the contribution of each mutation in the resistant phenotype, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate genome modified Drosophila carrying alternative allele combinations, and performed toxicity bioassays against all three diamides. Genome modified flies bearing the G4946V mutation exhibited high resistance ratios to flubendiamide (91.3-fold) and chlorantraniliprole (194.7-fold) when compared to cyantraniliprole (5.4-fold). Flies naturally wildtype for the I4790M mutation were moderately resistant to flubendiamide (15.3-fold) but significantly less resistant to chlorantraniliprole (7.5-fold), and cyantraniliprole (2.3-fold). These findings provide in vivo functional genetic confirmation for the role and relative contribution of RyR mutations in diamide resistance and suggest that the mutations confer subtle differences on the relative binding affinities of the three diamides at an overlapping binding site on the RyR protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassilis Douris
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas, 100 N. Plastira Street, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Laboratory of Molecular Entomology, Department of Biology, University of Crete, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
| | - Kyriaki-Maria Papapostolou
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas, 100 N. Plastira Street, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Laboratory of Molecular Entomology, Department of Biology, University of Crete, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Aris Ilias
- Hellenic Agricultural Organisation - 'Demeter', Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Roditakis
- Hellenic Agricultural Organisation - 'Demeter', Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Styliani Kounadi
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas, 100 N. Plastira Street, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Laboratory of Molecular Entomology, Department of Biology, University of Crete, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Riga
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas, 100 N. Plastira Street, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Laboratory of Molecular Entomology, Department of Biology, University of Crete, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Ralf Nauen
- Bayer AG, Crop Science Division, R&D Pest Control Biology, Alfred Nobel Str. 50, D-40789 Monheim, Germany
| | - John Vontas
- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas, 100 N. Plastira Street, GR-700 13 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Laboratory of Pesticide Science, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Street, GR-11855, Athens, Greece.
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