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Fan J, Shang F, Pan H, Yuan C, Liu T, Yi L, Wang J, Dou W. Body color plasticity of Diaphorina citri reflects a response to environmental stress. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:937-952. [PMID: 37715371 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Body color polyphenism is common in Diaphorina citri. Previous studies compared physiological characteristics in D. citri, but the ecological and biological significance of its body color polyphenism remains poorly understood. We studied the ecological and molecular effects of stressors related to body color in D. citri. Crowding or low temperature induced a high proportion of gray morphs, which had smaller bodies, lower body weight, and greater susceptibility to the insecticide dinotefuran. We performed transcriptomic and metabolomics analysiis of 2 color morphs in D. citri. Gene expression dynamics revealed that the differentially expressed genes were predominantly involved in energy metabolism, including fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Among these genes, plexin, glycosidase, phospholipase, take out, trypsin, and triacylglycerol lipase were differentially expressed in 2 color morphs, and 6 hsps (3 hsp70, hsp83, hsp90, hsp68) were upregulated in gray morphs. The metabolome data showed that blue morphs exhibited a higher abundance of fatty acid and amino acid, whereas the content of carbohydrates was elevated in gray morphs. This study partly explains the body color polyphenism of D. citri and provides insights into the molecular changes of stress response of D. citri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayao Fan
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Shang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huimin Pan
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenyang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tianyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Long Yi
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jinjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Dou
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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2
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Zhu YN, He J, Wang J, Guo W, Liu H, Song Z, Kang L. Parental experiences orchestrate locust egg hatching synchrony by regulating nuclear export of precursor miRNA. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4328. [PMID: 38773155 PMCID: PMC11109280 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48658-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Parental experiences can affect the phenotypic plasticity of offspring. In locusts, the population density that adults experience regulates the number and hatching synchrony of their eggs, contributing to locust outbreaks. However, the pathway of signal transmission from parents to offspring remains unclear. Here, we find that transcription factor Forkhead box protein N1 (FOXN1) responds to high population density and activates the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (Ptbp1) in locusts. FOXN1-PTBP1 serves as an upstream regulator of miR-276, a miRNA to control egg-hatching synchrony. PTBP1 boosts the nucleo-cytoplasmic transport of pre-miR-276 in a "CU motif"-dependent manner, by collaborating with the primary exportin protein exportin 5 (XPO5). Enhanced nuclear export of pre-miR-276 elevates miR-276 expression in terminal oocytes, where FOXN1 activates Ptbp1 and leads to egg-hatching synchrony in response to high population density. Additionally, PTBP1-prompted nuclear export of pre-miR-276 is conserved in insects, implying a ubiquitous mechanism to mediate transgenerational effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Nan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jing He
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Wei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Hongran Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zhuoran Song
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, 071002, China.
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3
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Huang G, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Wei F. Genetic mechanisms of animal camouflage: an interdisciplinary perspective. Trends Genet 2024:S0168-9525(24)00073-8. [PMID: 38644132 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.03.009] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Camouflage is a classic example of a trait wherein animals respond to natural selection to avoid predation or attract prey. This unique phenomenon has attracted significant recent attention and the rapid development of integrative research methods is facilitating advances in our understanding of the in-depth genetic mechanisms of camouflage. In this review article, we revisit camouflage definitions and strategies and then we examine the underlying mechanisms of the two most common forms of camouflage, crypsis and masquerade, that have recently been elucidated using multiple approaches. We also discuss unresolved questions related to camouflage. Ultimately, we highlight the implications of camouflage for informing various key issues in ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangping Huang
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yubo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Fuwen Wei
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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4
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Wu Y, Wang H, Hu Z, Pan M, Wu Y, Guo X, Ge J, Wang Z, Yang M. The pyrexia channel remodels egg-laying of Liriomyza huidobrensis in response to temperature change. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38629874 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pea leafminer, Liriomyza huidobrensis, is one of the most important insect pests on vegetables and ornamentals. The survival and egg-laying behavior of leafminers are markedly affected by the environment temperature. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between egg-laying and temperature are still largely unknown. RESULTS Here, we find that leafminers have evolved an adaptive strategy to overcome the stress from high or low temperature by regulating oviposition-punching plasticity. We further show that this oviposition-punching plasticity is mediated by the expression of pyx in the ovipositor when subjected to disadvantageous temperature. Specifically, down-regulation of pyx expression in leafminers under low temperature stress led to a significant decrease in the swing numbers of ovipositor and puncture area of the egg spot, and consequently the lower amount of egg-laying compared to leafminers at ambient temperature. Conversely, activation of pyx expression under high temperature stress increased the swing numbers and puncture area, still resulting in a reduction of egg-laying amount. CONCLUSION Thereby, leafminers are able to coordinate pyx channel expression level and accordingly depress the oviposition. Our study uncovers a molecular mechanism underlying the adaptive strategy in insects that can avoid disadvantageous temperature for reproducing offspring. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxi Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Huimin Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihao Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengchen Pan
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengjun Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Meiling Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
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5
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Egorkin NA, Dominnik EE, Maksimov EG, Sluchanko NN. Insights into the molecular mechanism of yellow cuticle coloration by a chitin-binding carotenoprotein in gregarious locusts. Commun Biol 2024; 7:448. [PMID: 38605243 PMCID: PMC11009388 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06149-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are hydrophobic pigments binding to diverse carotenoproteins, many of which remain unexplored. Focusing on yellow gregarious locusts accumulating cuticular carotenoids, here we use engineered Escherichia coli cells to reconstitute a functional water-soluble β-carotene-binding protein, BBP. HPLC and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that recombinant BBP avidly binds β-carotene, inducing the unusual vibronic structure of its absorbance spectrum, just like native BBP extracted from the locust cuticles. Bound to recombinant BBP, β-carotene exhibits pronounced circular dichroism and allows BBP to withstand heating (T0.5 = 68 °C), detergents and pH variations. Using bacteria producing distinct xanthophylls we demonstrate that, while β-carotene is the preferred carotenoid, BBP can also extract from membranes ketocarotenoids and, very poorly, hydroxycarotenoids. We show that BBP-carotenoid complex reversibly binds to chitin, but not to chitosan, implying the role for chitin acetyl groups in cuticular BBP deposition. Reconstructing such locust coloration mechanism in vitro paves the way for structural studies and BBP applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita A Egorkin
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Eva E Dominnik
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene G Maksimov
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolai N Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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6
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Liu S, Gao Y, Shi R, Huang H, Xu Y, Chen Z. Transcriptomics Provide Insights into the Photoperiodic Regulation of Reproductive Diapause in the Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). INSECTS 2024; 15:136. [PMID: 38392555 PMCID: PMC10889211 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto) displays typical adult reproductive diapause under short photoperiods; however, our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying photoperiod-sensitive reproduction remains limited. In this study, we performed transcriptome profiling of four treatments (the diapause-sensitive stage and pre-diapause phase under long and short photoperiods) of C. nipponensis using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). A total of 71,654 unigenes were obtained from the samples. Enrichment analysis showed that fatty acid metabolism-related pathways were altered under a short photoperiod. Moreover, β-oxidation-related gene expression was active during the diapause-sensitive period under a short photoperiod. The knockdown of juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase 1 (Jhamt1) prolonged the pre-oviposition period but did not affect the reproductive ability of female individuals in C. nipponensis. These findings provided us with a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of photoperiod-sensitive diapause and show that groundwork is crucial for bolstering the long-term storage and biocontrol potential of C. nipponensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoye Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Yuqing Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Rangjun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Haiyi Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Yongyu Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
| | - Zhenzhen Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271018, China
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7
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Xu Z, Lin T, Wang T, Hu Y, Shen G, Feng K, Zhang P, He L. Uridine Diphosphate Glycosyltransferases (UGTs) Involved in the Carotenoid-Based Body Color Difference between Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Red) and Tetranychus urticae (Green). INSECTS 2023; 14:823. [PMID: 37887835 PMCID: PMC10607543 DOI: 10.3390/insects14100823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
It has long been disputed whether Tetranychus cinnabarinus and Tetranychus urticae belong to the same genus, with T. cinnabarinus regarded as a red form of T. urticae. However, it is unclear why T. urticae and T. cinnabarinus have different body colors. Since carotenoids are responsible for the color of many organisms, the carotenoid profiles of T. cinnabarinus and T. urticae were compared by HPLC. There was no difference in carotenoid type, but T. cinnabarinus contained significantly more neoxanthin, astaxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, and γ-carotene, which may contribute to the deep red color. The transcriptome sequencing of both species identified 4079 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 12 were related to carotenoid metabolism. RNA interference (RNAi) experiments demonstrated that silencing seven of these DEGs resulted in the different accumulation of carotenoid compounds in T. cinnabarinus and T. urticae. In addition, the body of T. urticae turned yellow after two days of feeding with UGT double-stranded RNAs and β-UGT small interfering RNAs. In conclusion, differences in the carotenoid profiles of T. urticae and T. cinnabarinus may be responsible for the different body colors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ting Lin
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Tongyang Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Guangmao Shen
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Kaiyang Feng
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lin He
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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8
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Kang X, Yang M, Cui X, Wang H, Kang L. Spatially differential regulation of ATF2 phosphorylation contributes to warning coloration of gregarious locusts. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi5168. [PMID: 37611100 PMCID: PMC10446495 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Warning coloration are common defense strategies used by animals to deter predators. Pestilential gregarious locusts exhibit a notable black-brown pattern as a form of warning coloration. However, the mechanisms regulating this distinctive pattern remain largely unknown. Here, we revealed that the black and brown integuments of locusts are governed by varying amounts of β-carotene and β-carotene-binding protein (βCBP) complexes. βCBP expression is regulated by the bZIP transcription factor activation transcription factor 2 (ATF2), which is activated by protein kinase C alpha in response to crowding. Specifically, ATF2 is phosphorylated at Ser327 and translocates to the nucleus, where it binds to the βCBP promoter and stimulates overexpression. Differential phosphorylation of ATF2 leads to the divergent black and brown coloration in gregarious locusts. The accumulation of red pigments vital for creating the brown sternum depends on βCBP overexpression. The spatial variation in ATF2 phosphorylation enables locusts to rapidly adapt to changing environment for aposematism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinle Kang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Meiling Yang
- College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huimin Wang
- College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Le Kang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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9
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Guo S, Hou L, Dong L, Nie X, Kang L, Wang X. PLIN2-induced ectopic lipid accumulation promotes muscle ageing in gregarious locusts. Nat Ecol Evol 2023:10.1038/s41559-023-02059-z. [PMID: 37156891 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02059-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Ageing plasticity represents the flexibility of the ageing process in response to non-genetic factors, occurring commonly in animals. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying ageing plasticity are largely unclear. The density-dependent polyphenism of locusts, Locusta migratoria, displays dramatic lifespan divergence between solitary and gregarious phases, providing a useful system for studying ageing plasticity. Here, we found that gregarious locusts displayed faster locomotor deficits and increased muscle degeneration on ageing than solitary locusts. Comparative transcriptome analysis in flight muscles revealed significant differences in transcriptional patterns on ageing between two phases. RNA interference screening showed that the knockdown of the upregulated PLIN2 gene significantly relieved the ageing-related flight impairments in gregarious locusts. Mechanistically, the gradual upregulation of PLIN2 could induce the accumulation of ectopic lipid droplets and triacylglycerols in flight muscles during the ageing process. Further experiments suggested that ectopic lipid accumulation led to an ageing-related β-oxidation decline through limiting fatty acid transport and content. These findings reveal the key roles of lipid metabolism in the differences of muscle ageing between solitary and gregarious locusts and provide a potential mechanism underlying environment-induced muscle ageing plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liushu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
| | - Xianhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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10
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Li JX, Tian Z, Liu XF, Li B, An HM, Brent CS, Wang JL, Wang XP, Liu W. Juvenile hormone regulates the photoperiodic plasticity of elytra coloration in the ladybird Harmonia axyridis. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:2884-2897. [PMID: 36811404 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16896] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Many animals, including insects, exhibit plasticity of body colour in response to environmental changes. Varied expression of carotenoids, major cuticle pigments, significantly contributes to body colour flexibility. However, the molecular mechanisms by which environmental cues regulate carotenoid expression remain largely unknown. In this study, we used the ladybird Harmonia axyridis as a model to investigate the photoperiodic-responsive plasticity of elytra coloration and its endocrine regulation. It was found that H. axyridis females under long-day conditions develop elytra that are much redder than those under short-day conditions, resulting from the differential accumulation of carotenoids. Exogenous hormone application and RNAi-mediated gene knockdown indicate that carotenoid deposition was directed through the juvenile hormone (JH) receptor-mediated canonical pathway. Moreover, we characterized an SR-BI/CD36 (SCRB) gene SCRB10 as the carotenoid transporter responding to JH signalling and regulating the elytra coloration plasticity. Taken together, we propose that JH signalling transcriptionally regulates the carotenoid transporter gene for the photoperiodic coloration plasticity of elytra in the beetles, which reveals a novel role of the endocrine system in the regulation of carotenoid-associated animal body coloration under environmental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xu Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhong Tian
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xing-Feng Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bei Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao-Min An
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Colin S Brent
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Arid Land Agricultural Centre, Maricopa, Arizona, USA
| | - Jia-Lu Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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11
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Cytosolic and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins mediate the locust phase transition via divergence of translational profiles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216851120. [PMID: 36701367 PMCID: PMC9945961 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216851120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The phase transition from solitary to gregarious locusts is crucial in outbreaks of locust plague, which threaten agricultural yield and food security. Research on the regulatory mechanisms of phase transition in locusts has focused primarily on the transcriptional or posttranslational level. However, the translational regulation of phase transition is unexplored. Here, we show a phase-dependent pattern at the translation level, which exhibits different polysome profiles between gregarious and solitary locusts. The gregarious locusts exhibit significant increases in 60S and polyribosomes, while solitary locusts possess higher peaks of the monoribosome and a specific "halfmer." The polysome profiles, a molecular phenotype, respond to changes in population density. In gregarious locusts, ten genes involved in the cytosolic ribosome pathway exhibited increased translational efficiency (TE). In solitary locusts, five genes from the mitochondrial ribosome pathway displayed increased TE. The high expression of large ribosomal protein 7 at the translational level promotes accumulation of the free 60S ribosomal subunit in gregarious locusts, while solitary locusts employ mitochondrial small ribosomal protein 18c to induce the assembly of mitochondrial ribosomes, causing divergence of the translational profiles and behavioral transition. This study reveals the translational regulatory mechanism of locust phase transition, in which the locusts employ divergent ribosome pathways to cope with changes in population density.
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12
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Wang S, Yang H, Hu Y, Zhang C, Fan D. Multi-Omics Reveals the Effect of Population Density on the Phenotype, Transcriptome and Metabolome of Mythimna separata. INSECTS 2023; 14:68. [PMID: 36661996 PMCID: PMC9861010 DOI: 10.3390/insects14010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Population-density-dependent polymorphism is important in the biology of some agricultural pests. The oriental armyworm (Mythimna separata) is a lepidopteran pest (family Noctuidae). As the population density increases, its body color becomes darker, and the insect eats more and causes greater damage to crops. The molecular mechanisms underlying this phase change are not fully clear. Here, we used transcriptomic and metabolomic methods to study the effect of population density on the differentiation of second-day sixth instar M. separata larvae. The transcriptomic analysis identified 1148 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in gregarious-type (i.e., high-population-density) armyworms compared with solitary-type (low-population-density) armyworms; 481 and 667 genes were up- and downregulated, respectively. The metabolomic analysis identified 137 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), including 59 upregulated and 78 downregulated. The analysis of DEGs and DAMs showed that activation of the insulin-like signaling pathway promotes the melanization of gregarious armyworms and accelerates the decomposition of saccharides, which promotes the gregarious type to take in more food. The gregarious type is more capable of digesting and absorbing proteins and decreases energy consumption by inhibiting transcription and translation processes. The phase change traits of the armyworm are thus attributable to plasticity of its energy metabolism. These data broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of insect-density-dependent polymorphism.
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Glutamate-GABA imbalance mediated by miR-8-5p and its STTM regulates phase-related behavior of locusts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2215660120. [PMID: 36574679 PMCID: PMC9910461 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215660120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of locusts from solitary to gregarious phases is crucial for the formation of devastating locust plagues. Locust management requires research on the prevention of aggregation or alternative and greener solutions to replace insecticide use, and insect-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) show the potential for application in pest control. Here, we performed a genome-wide screen of the differential expression of miRNAs between solitary and gregarious locusts and showed that miR-8-5p controls the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/glutamate functional balance by directly targeting glutamate decarboxylase (Gad). Blocking glutamate-GABA neurotransmission by miR-8-5p overexpression or Gad RNAi in solitary locusts decreased GABA production, resulting in locust aggregation behavior. Conversely, activating this pathway by miR-8-5p knockdown in gregarious locusts induced GABA production to eliminate aggregation behavior. Further results demonstrated that ionotropic glutamate/GABA receptors tuned glutamate/GABA to trigger/hamper the aggregation behavior of locusts. Finally, we successfully established a transgenic rice line expressing the miR-8-5p inhibitor by short tandem target mimic (STTM). When locusts fed on transgenic rice plants, Gad transcript levels in the brain increased greatly, and aggregation behavior was lost. This study provided insights into different regulatory pathways in the phase change of locusts and a potential control approach through behavioral regulation in insect pests.
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14
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Toga K, Yokoi K, Bono H. Meta-Analysis of Transcriptomes in Insects Showing Density-Dependent Polyphenism. INSECTS 2022; 13:864. [PMID: 36292812 PMCID: PMC9604164 DOI: 10.3390/insects13100864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With increasing public data, a statistical analysis approach called meta-analysis, which combines transcriptome results obtained from multiple studies, has succeeded in providing novel insights into targeted biological processes. Locusts and aphids are representative of insect groups that exhibit density-dependent plasticity. Although the physiological mechanisms underlying density-dependent polyphenism have been identified in aphids and locusts, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of public transcriptomes to gain additional insights into the molecular underpinning of density-dependent plasticity. We collected RNA sequencing data of aphids and locusts from public databases and detected differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between crowded and isolated conditions. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to reveal the characteristics of the DEGs. DNA replication (GO:0006260), DNA metabolic processes (GO:0006259), and mitotic cell cycle (GO:0000278) were enriched in response to crowded conditions. To date, these processes have scarcely been the focus of research. The importance of the oxidative stress response and neurological system modifications under isolated conditions has been highlighted. These biological processes, clarified by meta-analysis, are thought to play key roles in the regulation of density-dependent plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouhei Toga
- Laboratory of BioDX, PtBio Co-Creation Research Center, Genome Editing Innovation Center, Hiroshima University, 3-10-23 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City 739-0046, Japan
- Laboratory of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 3-10-23 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City 739-0046, Japan
| | - Kakeru Yokoi
- Insect Design Technology Module, Division of Insect Advanced Technology, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba 305-8634, Japan
| | - Hidemasa Bono
- Laboratory of BioDX, PtBio Co-Creation Research Center, Genome Editing Innovation Center, Hiroshima University, 3-10-23 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City 739-0046, Japan
- Laboratory of Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 3-10-23 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City 739-0046, Japan
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15
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Ding BY, Xie XC, Shang F, Smagghe G, Niu JZ, Wang JJ. Characterization of carotenoid biosynthetic pathway genes in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) revealed by heterologous complementation and RNA interference assays. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:645-656. [PMID: 34399028 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12958] [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: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are involved in many essential physiological functions and are produced from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate through synthase, desaturase, and cyclase activities. In the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), the duplication of carotenoid biosynthetic genes, including carotenoid synthases/cyclases (ApCscA-C) and desaturases (ApCdeA-D), through horizontal gene transfer from fungi has been detected, and ApCdeB has known dehydrogenation functions. However, whether other genes contribute to aphid carotenoid biosynthesis, and its specific regulatory pathway, remains unclear. In the current study, functional analyses of seven genes were performed using heterologous complementation and RNA interference assays. The bifunctional enzymes ApCscA-C were responsible for the synthase of phytoene, and ApCscC may also have a cyclase activity. ApCdeA, ApCdeC, and ApCdeD had diverse dehydrogenation functions. ApCdeA catalyzed the enzymatic conversion of phytoene to neurosporene (three-step product), ApCdeC catalyzed the enzymatic conversion of phytoene to ζ-carotene (two-step product), and ApCdeD catalyzed the enzymatic conversion of phytoene to lycopene (four-step product). Silencing of ApCscs reduced the expression levels of ApCdes, and silencing these carotenoid biosynthetic genes reduced the α-, β-, and γ-carotene levels, as well as the total carotenoid level. The results suggest that these genes were activated and led to carotenoid biosynthesis in the pea aphid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Yue Ding
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest, Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiu-Cheng Xie
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest, Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Shang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest, Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest, Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jin-Zhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest, Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest, Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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16
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piRNA-guided intron removal from pre-mRNAs regulates density-dependent reproductive strategy. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110593. [PMID: 35476998 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal density-dependent experiences have profound effects on reproductive strategies with marked fecundity differences. Migratory locust adopts distinct population density-dependent reproductive strategies to cope with their respective life cycles, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report that Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in the locust germline play key roles in this process. We find that the locust Piwi protein Liwi1 and piRNAs are highly expressed in early developing egg chambers in solitarious locusts, which have higher fecundity than gregarious locusts. Approximately 40% of solitarious locust-associated piRNAs map to protein-coding genes. We find that Liwi1/piRNAs facilitate pre-mRNA splicing of oocyte development-related genes, such as oo18 RNA-binding protein (Orb), in the germline by recruiting the splicing factor U2AF35 to piRNA-targeted introns, thereby increasing fecundity. Such piRNA-guided pre-mRNA splicing is also functional in Drosophila and mouse germ cells. We uncover a piRNA-guided splicing mechanism for processing reproduction-related mRNAs and determining animal reproductive strategies.
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17
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Liu X, Li J, Sun Y, Liang X, Zhang R, Zhao X, Zhang M, Zhang J. A nuclear receptor HR4 is essential for the formation of epidermal cuticle in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 143:103740. [PMID: 35183732 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) function as key factors in diverse signaling and metabolic pathways. Previous studies have focused on the roles of a nuclear receptor, hormone receptor 4 (HR4), mainly in holometabolous insects, while current knowledge of its function in hemimetabolous insects is still limited. In this study, we identified a HR4 gene in the orthopteran species Locusta migratoria. The full-length open reading frame of LmHR4 comprises 2694-nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 897 amino acids, which contained a DNA-binding and a ligand-binding domain. Analyzing LmHR4 expression by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed that LmHR4 was highly expressed in integument, hindgut and fat body. During development from 3rd and 5th nymphal instars, the expression of LmHR4 reached maximal levels before ecdysis. We further demonstrated that LmHR4 expression is induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and suppressed by silencing LmEcR, suggesting that LmHR4 expression is controlled by 20E signaling. The dsLmHR4-injected nymphs failed to molt and remained in the nymphal stage until death. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the integument indicated that apolysis in the dsLmHR4-injected insects was delayed compared to that in control insects. Chitin staining and ultra-structural analysis showed that both the synthesis of the new cuticle and the degradation of the old cuticle were blocked in dsLmHR4-injected insects. Silencing LmHR4 decreased 20E titer and down-regulated the transcript levels of genes involved in chitin synthesis and degradation. Taken together, these results suggest that LmHR4 is essential for the formation of epidermal cuticle by mediating the 20E signaling to regulate the expression of chitin synthesis and degradation genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojian Liu
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Juan Li
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Yawen Sun
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liang
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhao
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China.
| | - Jianzhen Zhang
- Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030006, China.
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18
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Wang H, Jiang F, Liu X, Liu Q, Fu Y, Li R, Hou L, Zhang J, He J, Kang L. Piwi/piRNAs control food intake by promoting neuropeptide F expression in locusts. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e50851. [PMID: 34985794 PMCID: PMC8892266 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202050851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal feeding, which directly affects growth and metabolism, is an important physiological process. However, the contribution of PIWI proteins and PIWI‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to the regulatory mechanism of animal feeding is unknown. Here, we report a novel function of Piwi and piRNAs in regulating food intake in locusts. Our study shows that the locust can serve as a representative species for determining PIWI function in insects. Knockdown of Piwi1 expression suppresses anabolic processes and reduces food consumption and body weight. The reduction in food intake by knockdown of Piwi1 expression results from decreased expression of neuropeptide NPF1 in a piRNA‐dependent manner. Mechanistically, intronic piRNAs might enhance RNA splicing of NPF1 by preventing hairpin formation at the branch point sites. These results suggest a novel nuclear PIWI/piRNA‐mediated mechanism that controls food intake in the locust nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Wang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Xiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- Sino‐Danish College University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Yunyun Fu
- College of Life Science Hebei University Baoding China
| | - Ran Li
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Li Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jing He
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Le Kang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science Hebei University Baoding China
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19
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Locust density shapes energy metabolism and oxidative stress resulting in divergence of flight traits. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2115753118. [PMID: 34969848 PMCID: PMC8740713 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2115753118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Migratory locusts display striking phenotypical plasticity. Gregarious locusts at high density can migrate long distances and cause huge economic losses of crops. By contrast, solitary locusts at low density have limited ability in long-distance flight. However, the mechanisms underlying such flight capacity variation are poorly understood. Here, we found that the flight muscle of solitary locusts has a higher catabolic capacity that is associated with greater reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation during high-velocity flights. By contrast, a relatively lower catabolic capacity in gregarious locusts is associated with lower ROS generation during long-distance flights. This finding uncovers the metabolic mechanism of locust flight trait alteration in response to density changes and enhances our understanding of the biological processes enabling locust migration. Flight ability is essential for the enormous diversity and evolutionary success of insects. The migratory locusts exhibit flight capacity plasticity in gregarious and solitary individuals closely linked with different density experiences. However, the differential mechanisms underlying flight traits of locusts are largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the variation of flight capacity by using behavioral, physiological, and multiomics approaches. Behavioral assays showed that solitary locusts possess high initial flight speeds and short-term flight, whereas gregarious locusts can fly for a longer distance at a relatively lower speed. Metabolome–transcriptome analysis revealed that solitary locusts have more active flight muscle energy metabolism than gregarious locusts, whereas gregarious locusts show less evidence of reactive oxygen species production during flight. The repression of metabolic activity by RNA interference markedly reduced the initial flight speed of solitary locusts. Elevating the oxidative stress by paraquat injection remarkably inhibited the long-distance flight of gregarious locusts. In respective crowding and isolation treatments, energy metabolic profiles and flight traits of solitary and gregarious locusts were reversed, indicating that the differentiation of flight capacity depended on density and can be reshaped rapidly. The density-dependent flight traits of locusts were attributed to the plasticity of energy metabolism and degree of oxidative stress production but not energy storage. The findings provided insights into the mechanism underlying the trade-off between velocity and sustainability in animal locomotion and movement.
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20
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Huo SM, Zhang YY, Song ZR, Xiong XH, Hong XY. The potential pigmentation-related genes in spider mites revealed by comparative transcriptomes of the red form of Tetranychus urticae. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 30:580-593. [PMID: 34309936 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Colouration in spider mites is due to the presence of carotenoids with diverse colours, including yellows, oranges and reds. Tetranychus urticae has two main colour forms, red and green. Although a ketolase has been implicated in determining the colour, the underlying genetic basis of body colour divergence between the two forms has remained unclear. Based on a combination of comparative transcriptomes and RNA interference, we found that a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme of the CYP4 clan (CYP389B1) had remarkably high expression in adult females of the red T. urticae, as well as in hybrids obtained by crossing the red and green forms. Down-regulation of this gene by RNA interference resulted in decreased accumulation of red pigment. Up-regulation of the expressions of a scavenger receptor gene (SCARB1) and a mitochondrial glycine transporter (SLC25A38) also strongly contributed to red colour development in adult females. Suppressing the mRNA levels of these genes also resulted in reduced accumulation of red pigment in the three other spider mites with red body colour. Our results provide evidence that the body colour divergence between the two forms is caused by different expressions of pigmentation-related genes, and point to a possible role of a novel cytochrome P450 gene (CYP389B1) in regulating red-orange body colour. These findings expand the number of candidate cytochrome P450 genes involved in endogenous pigmentation and will help to understand their roles in determining colour patterns in mites and other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- S-M Huo
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Y-Y Zhang
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Z-R Song
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - X-H Xiong
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - X-Y Hong
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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21
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Foquet B, Castellanos AA, Song H. Comparative analysis of phenotypic plasticity sheds light on the evolution and molecular underpinnings of locust phase polyphenism. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11925. [PMID: 34099755 PMCID: PMC8184943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91317-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Locusts exhibit one of nature's most spectacular examples of complex phenotypic plasticity, in which changes in density cause solitary and cryptic individuals to transform into gregarious and conspicuous locusts forming large migrating swarms. We investigated how these coordinated alternative phenotypes might have evolved by studying the Central American locust and three closely related non-swarming grasshoppers in a comparative framework. By experimentally isolating and crowding during nymphal development, we induced density-dependent phenotypic plasticity and quantified the resulting behavioural, morphological, and molecular reaction norms. All four species exhibited clear plasticity, but the individual reaction norms varied among species and showed different magnitudes. Transcriptomic responses were species-specific, but density-responsive genes were functionally similar across species. There were modules of co-expressed genes that were highly correlated with plastic reaction norms, revealing a potential molecular basis of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity. These findings collectively highlight the importance of studying multiple reaction norms from a comparative perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Foquet
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4120, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
| | - Adrian A Castellanos
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA
| | - Hojun Song
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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22
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Foquet B, Song H. The role of the neuropeptide [His 7]-corazonin on phase-related characteristics in the Central American locust. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 131:104244. [PMID: 33891938 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Density-dependent phase polyphenism in locusts is one of the most extreme forms of phenotypic plasticity. Locusts exist along the continuum between two density-dependent phenotypes that differ in nymphal coloration, behavior, morphology, physiology, and reproduction among others. Nymphs of the solitarious phase, found in low population densities, are usually green, relatively inactive, and avoid each other, while gregarious nymphs, found in high density, exhibit a very obvious yellow/orange background with black patterning, and are highly active and attracted to each other. The multifunctional neuropeptide [His7]-corazonin has been shown to strongly affect black coloration and several other phase-related characteristics in at least two locust species, even though no effect on phase-related behavioral traits has been found. In this study, we investigate the role of [His7]-corazonin in the Central American locust Schistocerca piceifrons (Walker), which evolved density-dependent phase polyphenism independently from the two previously studied locust species. After successfully knocking down the transcript encoding [His7]-corazonin (CRZ) using RNA interference, we show that such a knockdown influences both color and morphometrics in this species, but does not influence phase-related behavioral traits. Our results suggest that the role of [His7]-corazonin is conserved in different locust species. Finally, our study represents the first controlled study of behavioral solitarization in S. piceifrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Foquet
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Hojun Song
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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23
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Zhao L, Guo W, Jiang F, He J, Liu H, Song J, Yu D, Kang L. Phase-related differences in egg production of the migratory locust regulated by differential oosorption through microRNA-34 targeting activinβ. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009174. [PMID: 33406121 PMCID: PMC7787450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of locust plagues result from the long-term accumulation of high-density egg production. The migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, displays dramatic differences in the egg-laid number with dependence on population density, while solitarious locusts lay more eggs compared to gregarious ones. However, the regulatory mechanism for the egg-laid number difference is unclear. Herein, we confirm that oosorption plays a crucial role in the regulation of egg number through the comparison of physiological and molecular biological profiles in gregarious and solitarious locusts. We find that gregarious oocytes display a 15% higher oosorption ratio than solitarious ones. Activinβ (Actβ) is the most highly upregulated gene in the gregarious terminal oocyte (GTO) compared to solitarious terminal oocyte (STO). Meanwhile, Actβ increases sharply from the normal oocyte (N) to resorption body 1 (RB1) stage during oosorption. The knockdown of Actβ significantly reduces the oosorption ratio by 13% in gregarious locusts, resulting in an increase in the egg-laid number. Based on bioinformatic prediction and experimental verification, microRNA-34 with three isoforms can target Actβ. The microRNAs display higher expression levels in STO than those in GTO and contrasting expression patterns of Actβ from the N to RB1 transition. Overexpression of each miR-34 isoform leads to decreased Actβ levels and significantly reduces the oosorption ratio in gregarious locusts. In contrast, inhibition of the miR-34 isoforms results in increased Actβ levels and eventually elevates the oosorption ratio of solitarious locusts. Our study reports an undescribed mechanism of oosorption through miRNA targeting of a TGFβ ligand and provides new insights into the mechanism of density-dependent reproductive adaption in insects. The continuous accumulation of high-density eggs laid by flying swarms of adults results in huge populations of flightless juveniles, which contributes to the outbreaks of locust plagues. An interesting phenomenon is that locusts have the phenotypic plasticity of reproduction. The gregarious locusts lay fewer big eggs than do solitarious phase locusts. In contrast, the solitarious phase locusts lay more small eggs compared to the gregarious locusts. We find the egg-laid number is not only regulated by the phase status of parents but also controlled by oosorption, a type of oocyte death. Further studies confirmed the phase-related ratio of oocyte death in the mother is regulated by a microRNA, which posttranscriptionally influences the expression level of a TGFβ ligand. This maternal effect on progeny size is especially critical for gregarious locusts to control the population size and maintain population fitness, and for solitarious locusts to enhance chance for gregarization and further enlargement of population size. This is the first study to reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of a microRNA-gene circuit for locust oocyte death to determine the offspring number. These findings can provide some important clues to develop potential drugs to prevent vast locust reproduction from a plague upsurge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianfeng Zhao
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Guo
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing He
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongran Liu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Song
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Le Kang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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Ding BY, Niu J, Shang F, Yang L, Zhang W, Smagghe G, Wang JJ. Parental silencing of a horizontally transferred carotenoid desaturase gene causes a reduction of red pigment and fitness in the pea aphid. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2020; 76:2423-2433. [PMID: 32056367 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aphids obtained carotenoid biosynthesis genes via horizontal gene transfers from fungi. However, the roles of these genes in the contributions of in aphids'adaptation and whether these genes could be used as RNAi-based pest control targets are not yet clear. Thus, in this study we used parental RNAi to analyze the potential function of a carotenoid desaturase gene (CdeB) by combined molecular and chemical approaches in the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum). RESULTS Transcriptional analyses showed that CdeB was significantly more highly expressed in the red morphs compared to the green ones and was associated with the production of red carotenoid. Co-transferring of pET28a-CdeB (the CdeB gene was cloned into pET28a) and pACCRT-EIB (produced lycopene) showed a deep red color in the bacterial precipitate and produced more of a red pigment, lycopene, in vitro. Parental gene-silencing of CdeB resulted in a lower body color intensity in the treated aphids and following generations in vivo. Interestingly, the dsCdeB treatment also reduced aphid performance as reflected by a delay in nymphal developmental duration, lower weight, smaller number, and altered age structure of the population. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that CdeB is involved in red color formation and the silencing of this gene by parental RNAi reduced fitness in the pea aphid. The results enhance our understanding of the biosynthesis of carotenoid in aphids and provide insights into the potential ecological significance of carotenoids in the adaptation of the aphid's biology to the environment and developing environmentally friendly control strategies for this pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Yue Ding
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinzhi Niu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Shang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Yang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jin-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Kilpatrick SK, Foquet B, Castellanos AA, Gotham S, Little DW, Song H. Revealing hidden density-dependent phenotypic plasticity in sedentary grasshoppers in the genus Schistocerca Stål (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 118:103937. [PMID: 31476314 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Comparative quantification of reaction norms across closely related species in a clade is rare, but such a study can reveal valuable insights into understanding how reaction norms evolve along phylogeny. The grasshopper genus Schistocerca Stål (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Cyrtacanthacridinae) is an ideal group to study the evolution of density-dependent phenotypic plasticity because it includes both swarming locusts and non-swarming sedentary grasshoppers, which show varying degrees of plastic reaction norms in many traits. The swarming locusts exhibit locust phase polyphenism in which cryptically colored and solitary individuals can transform into conspicuously colored and highly gregarious individuals in response to increases in population density. The sedentary grasshoppers do not swarm in nature, and thus it has been assumed that they have little or no expression of plastic reaction norms in many traits, except for color, which has been shown to be a phylogenetically conserved trait. In this study, we have quantified density-dependent reaction norms in behavior, color, body size, and morphometric ratio in the nymphs of four sedentary species within Schistocerca by conducting explicit rearing experiments to induce potential phenotypic changes in response to isolation and crowding. In contrast to our previous assumption, we find that all four species show a certain level of density-dependent plastic reaction norms, which implies that these sedentary species have hidden reaction norms that can only be induced experimentally, some components of which must be phylogenetically conserved. Furthermore, we demonstrate that rearing density differentially affects the expression of reaction norms in different species, suggesting that different reaction norms must have followed independent evolutionary trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby K Kilpatrick
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Bert Foquet
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Adrian A Castellanos
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Steven Gotham
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Drew W Little
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Hojun Song
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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Hu Z, Song H, Yang MJ, Yu ZL, Zhou C, Wang XL, Zhang T. Transcriptome analysis of shell color-related genes in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2019; 31:100598. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2019.100598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Core transcriptional signatures of phase change in the migratory locust. Protein Cell 2019; 10:883-901. [PMID: 31292921 PMCID: PMC6881432 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-019-0648-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity plays fundamental roles in successful adaptation of animals in response to environmental variations. Here, to reveal the transcriptome reprogramming in locust phase change, a typical phenotypic plasticity, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of multiple phase-related transcriptomic datasets of the migratory locust. We defined PhaseCore genes according to their contribution to phase differentiation by the adjustment for confounding principal components analysis algorithm (AC-PCA). Compared with other genes, PhaseCore genes predicted phase status with over 87.5% accuracy and displayed more unique gene attributes including the faster evolution rate, higher CpG content and higher specific expression level. Then, we identified 20 transcription factors (TFs) named PhaseCoreTF genes that are associated with the regulation of PhaseCore genes. Finally, we experimentally verified the regulatory roles of three representative TFs (Hr4, Hr46, and grh) in phase change by RNAi. Our findings revealed that core transcriptional signatures are involved in the global regulation of locust phase changes, suggesting a potential common mechanism underlying phenotypic plasticity in insects. The expression and network data are accessible in an online resource called LocustMine (http://www.locustmine.org:8080/locustmine).
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Yang M, Wang Y, Liu Q, Liu Z, Jiang F, Wang H, Guo X, Zhang J, Kang L. A β-carotene-binding protein carrying a red pigment regulates body-color transition between green and black in locusts. eLife 2019; 8:e41362. [PMID: 30616714 PMCID: PMC6324882 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes of body color have important effects for animals in adapting to variable environments. The migratory locust exhibits body color polyphenism between solitary and gregarious individuals, with the former displaying a uniform green coloration and the latter having a prominent pattern of black dorsal and brown ventral surface. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the density-dependent body color changes of conspecific locusts remain largely unknown. Here, we found that upregulation of β-carotene-binding protein promotes the accumulation of red pigment, which added to the green color palette present in solitary locusts changes it from green to black, and that downregulation of this protein led to the reverse, changing the color of gregarious locusts from black to green. Our results provide insight that color changes of locusts are dependent on variation in the red β-carotene pigment binding to βCBP. This finding of animal coloration corresponds with trichromatic theory of color vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yanli Wang
- Institute of Applied BiologyShanxi UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Qing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Sino-Danish CollegeUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhikang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Feng Jiang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Huimin Wang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiaojiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Jianzhen Zhang
- Institute of Applied BiologyShanxi UniversityTaiyuanChina
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and RodentsInstitute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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