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Gong LL, Zhang MQ, Ma YF, Feng HY, Zhao YQ, Zhou YY, He M, Smagghe G, He P. RNAi of yellow-y, required for normal cuticle pigmentation, impairs courtship behavior and oviposition in the German cockroach (Blattella germanica). Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2024; 115:e22114. [PMID: 38659314 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The insect cuticle plays a key role in maintaining the insect's physiological function and behavior. Herein, the yellow-y protein is required to produce black melanin, and is expressed in a pattern that correlates with the distribution of this pigment. However, yellow-y can also have other functions, for instance, in insect behavior, but not much is known. In this study, we have studied the yellow-y gene in one important model and pest species, namely the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), which is to our knowledge the first time reported. In essence, we identified the yellow-y gene (BgY-y) and characterized its function by using RNA interference (RNAi). Silencing of BgY-y gene led to different developmental abnormalities (body weight and wings) in both genders. Specifically, there was an abundant decrease in melanin, turning the body color in pale yellow and the cuticle softer and more transparent. Interestingly, we also observed that the knockdown of BgY-y impaired the male cockroaches to display a weaker response to female-emitted contact sex pheromones, and also that the oviposition ability was weakened in the RNAi females. This study comprehensively analyzed the biological functions of the yellow-y gene in German cockroaches from the perspectives of development, body color, courtship behavior and oviposition, and as a consequence, this may opens new avenues to explore it as a novel pest control gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang-Lang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Meng-Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yun-Feng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hong-Yan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ya-Qin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yang-Yuntao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ming He
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Institute Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peng He
- State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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Ze LJ, Wang P, Peng YC, Jin L, Li GQ. Silencing tyrosine hydroxylase or dopa decarboxylase gene disrupts cuticle tanning during larva-pupa-adult transformation in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. Pest Manag Sci 2022; 78:3880-3893. [PMID: 35470957 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 28-spotted potato ladybird, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, is a notorious defoliator of many solanaceous and cucurbitaceous plants. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC) are responsible for cuticle tanning pathway in insects. RESULTS We identified HvTH and HvDDC in H. vigintioctopunctata, and found that high levels of them were accumulated just before or right after molting. Injection of dsHvTH or feeding 3-iodo-tyrosine (3-IT) at the third instar larval stage repressed tanning of the larval cuticle, reduced larval feeding, inhibited larval growth, and consequently caused 100% of larval mortality. Knockdown of HvDDC at the third instar larval stage hardly affected the coloration of larval head, and partially inhibited pigmentation of larval bodies and around 80% of the HvDDC RNAi larvae developed into albino pupae and adults. Moreover, depletion of HvTH or HvDDC at the fourth instar larval stage resulted in albino pupae and adults. The HvTH or HvDDC hypomorph adults fully or partially failed to remove the larval/pupal exuviae, possessed pale and abnormal wings, and poorly tanned heads and bodies, and eventually, struggled for several days without feeding on leaves before death. CONCLUSION These results show that TH and DDC play key roles in larval and adult cuticle tanning and development in H. vigintioctopunctata. Also, these findings suggest that dopa- and dopamine-originated pigments are essential for larval and adult feeding behavior and the molting process during emergence. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Ji Ze
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education / State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education / State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying-Chuan Peng
- Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lin Jin
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education / State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guo-Qing Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Disease and Pests, Ministry of Education / State & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Green Pesticide Invention and Application, Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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Zhang L, Li MZ, Chen ZH, Tang Y, Liao CH, Han Q. Arylalkalamine N-acetyltransferase-1 functions on cuticle pigmentation in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Insect Sci 2021; 28:1591-1600. [PMID: 33369191 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (aaNAT) catalyzes the acetylation of dopamine, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine, tryptamine, octopamine, norepinephrine and other arylalkylamines to form respective N-acetyl-arylalkylamines. Depending on the products formed, aaNATs are involved in a variety of physiological functions. In the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, a number of aaNATs and aaNAT-like proteins have been reported. However, the primary function of each individual aaNAT is yet to be identified. In this study we investigated the function of Ae. aegypti aaNAT1 (Ae-aaNAT1) in cuticle pigmentation and development of morphology. Ae-aaNAT1 transcripts were detected at all stages of development with highest expressions after pupation and right before adult eclosion. Ae-aaNAT1 mutant mosquitoes generated using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) - CRISPR-associated protein 9 had no obvious effect on larval and pupal development. However, the mutant mosquitoes exhibited a roughened exoskeletal surface, darker cuticles, and color pattern changes suggesting that Ae-aaNAT1 plays a role in development of the morphology and pigmentation of Ae. aegypti adult cuticles. The mutant also showed less blood feeding efficiency and lower fecundity when compared with the wild-type. The mutation of Ae-aaNAT1 influenced expression of genes involved in cuticle formation. In summary, Ae-aaNAT1 mainly functions on cuticular pigmentation and also affects blood feeding efficiency and fecundity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Miao-Zhen Li
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Chen
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yu Tang
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Cheng-Hong Liao
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Qian Han
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
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Wang G, Zhou Y, Tang B, Ali H, Hou Y. Immune function differences between two color morphs of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) at different life stages. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5702-5712. [PMID: 34026041 PMCID: PMC8131810 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies demonstrated that in insects cuticle melanism is interrelated with pathogen resistance, as melanin-based coloration and innate immunity possess similar physiological pathways. For some insects, higher pathogen resistance was observed in darker individuals than in individuals with lighter cuticular coloration. Here, we investigated the difference in immune response between two color morphs (black and red) and between the life stages (pupa and adult) of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Here in this study, cuticle thickness, microbial test (antimicrobial activity, phenoloxidase activity, and hemocyte density), and immune-related gene expression were evaluated at different stages of RPW. Study results revealed that cuticle thickness of black phenotype was thicker than red phenotype at old-pupa stage, while no significant difference found at adult stage. These results may relate to the development processes of epidermis in different stages of RPW. The results of antimicrobial activity, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and hemocyte density analyses showed that adults with a red phenotype had stronger pathogen resistance than those with a black phenotype. In addition to antimicrobial activity and PO activity, we tested relative gene expression in the fat body of old pupae. The results of hemolymph antimicrobial analysis showed that old pupae with a red phenotype were significantly different from those with a black phenotype at 12 hr after Staphylococcus aureus injection, suggesting that red phenotype pupae were more sensitive to S. aureus. Examination of gene expression in the fat body also revealed that the red phenotype had a higher immune response than the black phenotype. Our results were inconsistent with the previous conclusion that dark insects had increased immune function, suggesting that the relationship between cuticle pigmentation and immune function in insects was not a direct link. Additional possible factors that are associated with the immune response, such as life-history, developmental, physiological factors also need to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guihua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical BiologyMinistry of EducationFujianChina
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Insect EcologyCollege of Plant ProtectionFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFujianChina
| | - Yuxuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical BiologyMinistry of EducationFujianChina
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Insect EcologyCollege of Plant ProtectionFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFujianChina
| | - Baozhen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical BiologyMinistry of EducationFujianChina
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Insect EcologyCollege of Plant ProtectionFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFujianChina
| | - Habib Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Department of Agriculture EngineeringKhawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Informtion TechnologyRahim Yar KhanPakistan
- University of Agriculture FaisalabdOkaraPakistan
| | - Youming Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan CropsFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFuzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical BiologyMinistry of EducationFujianChina
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory of Insect EcologyCollege of Plant ProtectionFujian Agriculture and Forestry UniversityFujianChina
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You L, Bi HL, Wang YH, Li XW, Chen XE, Li ZQ. CRISPR/Cas9-based mutation reveals Argonaute 1 is essential for pigmentation in Ostrinia furnacalis. Insect Sci 2019; 26:1020-1028. [PMID: 29938905 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the most destructive agricultural pests in Asia. Traditional pest-management methods include sex pheromone capture, transgenic crops that produce Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, and pesticides. Although these strategies control pest populations effectively, they also cause negative side effects, including dramatically increased pesticide resistance, severe pollution, and hazards for human health. Recently developed genome editing tools provide new prospects for pest management and have been successfully used in several species. However, few examples have been reported in the agricultural pest O. furnacalis due to a lack in genomic information. In this report, we identified only one transcript of O. furnacalis Argonaute 1 (OfAgo1) gene from the genome and cloned the open reading frame. OfAgo1 presented the maximum expression at the embryo stage or in the fat body during the larval stages. To understand its function, an OfAgo1 mutant was constructed using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR/Cas9). Mutagenesis of OfAgo1 disrupted cuticle pigmentation by down-regulating micro RNAs and pigmentation-related genes. This is the first report for the cloning and functional analysis of OfAgo1, revealing a role of OfAgo1 in cuticle pigmentation. The current report also established a CRISPR/Cas9 system in O. furnacalis, providing a new insight for pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang You
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong-Lun Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao-Hui Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi-En Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Qian Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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