1
|
Zeng F, Jiang H, Xu H, Shen R, Wang D. Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals Rusty Grain Beetle's Aggregation Pheromone Biosynthesis Mechanism in Response to Starvation. INSECTS 2024; 15:137. [PMID: 38392556 PMCID: PMC10888681 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Pheromones are the basis of insect aggregation, mating, and other behaviors. Cucujoid grain beetles produce macrocyclic lactones as aggregation pheromones, yet research on their biosynthesis at the molecular level remains limited. The rusty grain beetle, C. ferrugineus, is an important economic species in China. Although two aggregation pheromone components have been identified, their suspected biosynthesis via the MVA pathway and the FAS pathway lacks molecular elucidation. Previous evidence supports that starvation affects the production of aggregation pheromones. Therefore, we constructed comparative transcriptome libraries of pheromone production sites in C. ferrugineus under starvation stress and identified genes related to pheromone biosynthesis and hormone regulation. A total of 2665 genes were significantly differentially expressed, of which 2029 genes were down-regulated in starved beetles. Putative C. ferrugineus genes directly involved in pheromone biosynthesis were identified, as well as some genes related to the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway and the insulin pathway, both of which were depressed in the starved beetles, suggesting possible functions in pheromone biosynthesis and regulation. The identification of genes involved in macrolide lactone biosynthesis in vivo holds great significance, aiding in the elucidation of the synthesis and regulatory mechanisms of cucujoid grain beetle pheromones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Zeng
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Haixin Jiang
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Haoqi Xu
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Ruotong Shen
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Dianxuan Wang
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| |
Collapse
|