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Zeng F, Jiang H, Xu H, Shen R, Wang D. Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals Rusty Grain Beetle's Aggregation Pheromone Biosynthesis Mechanism in Response to Starvation. Insects 2024; 15:137. [PMID: 38392556 PMCID: PMC10888681 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Pheromones are the basis of insect aggregation, mating, and other behaviors. Cucujoid grain beetles produce macrocyclic lactones as aggregation pheromones, yet research on their biosynthesis at the molecular level remains limited. The rusty grain beetle, C. ferrugineus, is an important economic species in China. Although two aggregation pheromone components have been identified, their suspected biosynthesis via the MVA pathway and the FAS pathway lacks molecular elucidation. Previous evidence supports that starvation affects the production of aggregation pheromones. Therefore, we constructed comparative transcriptome libraries of pheromone production sites in C. ferrugineus under starvation stress and identified genes related to pheromone biosynthesis and hormone regulation. A total of 2665 genes were significantly differentially expressed, of which 2029 genes were down-regulated in starved beetles. Putative C. ferrugineus genes directly involved in pheromone biosynthesis were identified, as well as some genes related to the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway and the insulin pathway, both of which were depressed in the starved beetles, suggesting possible functions in pheromone biosynthesis and regulation. The identification of genes involved in macrolide lactone biosynthesis in vivo holds great significance, aiding in the elucidation of the synthesis and regulatory mechanisms of cucujoid grain beetle pheromones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Zeng
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Haixin Jiang
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Haoqi Xu
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Ruotong Shen
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Dianxuan Wang
- National Grain Industry (Storage Insect Pest Control) Technology Innovation Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
- Grain Storage and Logistics National Engineering Research Center, School of Food and Strategic Reserves, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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Carot-Sans G, Muñoz L, Piulachs MD, Guerrero A, Rosell G. Identification and characterization of a fatty acyl reductase from a Spodoptera littoralis female gland involved in pheromone biosynthesis. Insect Mol Biol 2015; 24:82-92. [PMID: 25558806 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fatty acyl-CoA reductases (FARs), the enzymes that catalyse reduction of a fatty acyl-CoA to the corresponding alcohol in insect pheromone biosynthesis, are postulated to play an important role in determining the proportion of each component in the pheromone blend. For the first time, we have isolated and characterized from the Egyptian cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a FAR cDNA (Slit-FAR1), which appeared to be expressed only in the pheromone gland and was undetectable in other female tissues, such as fat body, ovaries, wings, legs or thorax. The encoded protein has been successfully expressed in a recombinant system, and the recombinant enzyme is able to produce the intermediate fatty acid alcohols of the pheromone biosynthesis of S. littoralis from the corresponding acyl-CoA precursors. The kinetic variables Km and Vmax, which have been calculated for each acyl-CoA pheromone precursor, suggest that in S. littoralis pheromone biosynthesis other biosynthetic enzymes (e.g. desaturases, acetyl transferase) should also contribute to the final ratio of components of the pheromone blend. In a phylogenetic analysis, Slit-FAR1 appeared grouped in a cluster of other FARs involved in the pheromone biosynthesis of other insects, with little or non-specificity for the natural pheromone precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Carot-Sans
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Modelling, IQAC (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
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Glaser N, Gallot A, Legeai F, Montagné N, Poivet E, Harry M, Calatayud PA, Jacquin-Joly E. Candidate chemosensory genes in the Stemborer Sesamia nonagrioides. Int J Biol Sci 2013; 9:481-95. [PMID: 23781142 PMCID: PMC3677684 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.6109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The stemborer Sesamia nonagrioides is an important pest of maize in the Mediterranean Basin. Like other moths, this noctuid uses its chemosensory system to efficiently interact with its environment. However, very little is known on the molecular mechanisms that underlie chemosensation in this species. Here, we used next-generation sequencing (454 and Illumina) on different tissues from adult and larvae, including chemosensory organs and female ovipositors, to describe the chemosensory transcriptome of S. nonagrioides and identify key molecular components of the pheromone production and detection systems. We identified a total of 68 candidate chemosensory genes in this species, including 31 candidate binding-proteins and 23 chemosensory receptors. In particular, we retrieved the three co-receptors Orco, IR25a and IR8a necessary for chemosensory receptor functioning. Focusing on the pheromonal communication system, we identified a new pheromone-binding protein in this species, four candidate pheromone receptors and 12 carboxylesterases as candidate acetate degrading enzymes. In addition, we identified enzymes putatively involved in S. nonagrioides pheromone biosynthesis, including a ∆11-desaturase and different acetyltransferases and reductases. RNAseq analyses and RT-PCR were combined to profile gene expression in different tissues. This study constitutes the first large scale description of chemosensory genes in S. nonagrioides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Glaser
- 1. INRA, UMR 1272, Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication, route de Saint-Cyr, F-78026 Versailles cedex, France
- 2. IRD, UR 072, c/o CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes et Spéciation, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Aurore Gallot
- 1. INRA, UMR 1272, Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication, route de Saint-Cyr, F-78026 Versailles cedex, France
- 3. IRISA, équipe GenScale, Campus universitaire de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Fabrice Legeai
- 3. IRISA, équipe GenScale, Campus universitaire de Beaulieu, 35042 Rennes cedex, France
| | - Nicolas Montagné
- 4. UPMC - Université Paris 6, UMR 1272 Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication, 7 quai Saint-Bernard, F-75252 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - Erwan Poivet
- 1. INRA, UMR 1272, Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication, route de Saint-Cyr, F-78026 Versailles cedex, France
| | - Myriam Harry
- 5. Université Paris-Sud 11, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
- 6. CNRS UPR9034, Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes et Spéciation, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Paul-André Calatayud
- 2. IRD, UR 072, c/o CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes et Spéciation, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
- 7. IRD, UR 072, c/o ICIPE, NSBB Project, PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly
- 1. INRA, UMR 1272, Physiologie de l'Insecte : Signalisation et Communication, route de Saint-Cyr, F-78026 Versailles cedex, France
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Watanabe H, Matsui A, Inomata SI, Yamamoto M, Ando T. Biosynthetic Pathway for Sex Pheromone Components Produced in a Plusiinae Moth, Plusia festucae. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2011; 2:74. [PMID: 22649385 PMCID: PMC3355991 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2011.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While many Plusiinae species commonly secrete (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:OAc) as a key pheromone component, female moths of the rice looper (Plusia festucae) exceptionally utilize (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate (Z5-12:OAc) to communicate with their partners. GC-MS analysis of methyl esters derived from fatty acids included in the pheromone gland of P. festucae showed a series of esters monounsaturated at the ω7-position, i.e., (Z)-5-dodecenoate, (Z)-7-tetradecenoate, (Z)-9-hexadecenoate (Z9-16:Me), and (Z)-11-octadecenoate (Z11-18:Me). By topical application of D(3)-labled palmitic acid (16:Acid) and stearic acid (18:Acid) to the pheromone glands, similar amounts of D(3)-Z5-12:OAc were detected. The glands treated with D(13)-labeled monoenoic acids (Z9-16:Acid and Z11-18:Acid), which were custom-made by utilizing an acetylene coupling reaction with D(13)-1-bromohexane, also produced similar amounts of D(13)-Z5-12:OAc. These results suggested that Z5-12:OAc was biosynthesized by ω7-desaturase with low substrate specificity, which could introduce a double bond at the 9-position of a 16:Acid derivative and the 11-position of an 18:Acid derivative. Additional experiments with the glands pretreated with an inhibitor of chain elongation supported this speculation. Furthermore, a comparative study with another Plusiinae species (Chrysodeixis eriosoma) secreting Z7-12:OAc indicated that the β-oxidation systems of P. festucae and C. eriosoma were different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayaki Watanabe
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyKoganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aya Matsui
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyKoganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sin-ichi Inomata
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyKoganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanobu Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyKoganei, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsu Ando
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyKoganei, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tetsu Ando, Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan. e-mail:
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Liénard MA, Löfstedt C. Functional flexibility as a prelude to signal diversity?: Role of a fatty acyl reductase in moth pheromone evolution. Commun Integr Biol 2010; 3:586-8. [PMID: 21331247 DOI: 10.4161/cib.3.6.13177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex pheromones are the hallmark of reproductive behavior in moths. Mature females perform the task of mate signaling and release bouquets of odors that attract conspecific males at long range. The pheromone chemistry follows a relatively minimal design but still the combinatorial action of a handful of specialized pheromone production enzymes has resulted in remarkably diverse sexual signals that subtly vary in structure and in number and ratio of components. In a recent article,1 we showed that a single reductase gene (pgFAR) enables the conversion of key biosynthetic fatty-acyl precursors into fatty alcohols, the immediate precursors of the multi-component pheromone in small ermine moths (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae). In the light of the widespread usage of multi-component pheromone blends across Lepidoptera, it is likely that the pgFAR biochemical flexibility is a regular feature of the moth pheromone machinery and polyvalent reductase genes are emerging as pivots to promote phenotypic transitions in moth mating signals. In addition, the small ermine moth pgFAR nevertheless contributes to regulating the ratio among components. Here we show that the pgFAR substrate specificity is actually counterbalancing the inherent chain-length preference of an upstream desaturase with Δ11-activity and that the enzymes together modulate the final blend ratio between the Z11-16:OH, Z11-14:OH and E11-14:OH compounds before the final acetylation.
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Dallerac R, Labeur C, Jallon JM, Knipple DC, Roelofs WL, Wicker-Thomas C. A delta 9 desaturase gene with a different substrate specificity is responsible for the cuticular diene hydrocarbon polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:9449-54. [PMID: 10920187 PMCID: PMC16884 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.150243997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster cuticular pheromones consist of unsaturated hydrocarbons with at least one double bond in position 7: 7 tricosene (T) in males and 7,11 heptacosadiene (HD) in females. However, in many African populations like the Tai strain, females possess low levels of 7,11 HD and high levels of its positional isomer 5,9 HD. We have previously isolated a desaturase gene, desat1, from the Canton-S strain (CS), a 7,11 HD-2-rich morph of D. melanogaster. This desaturase is located in 87C, a locus that has been involved in the difference between 7,11 HD and 5,9 HD morphs. Therefore, we have searched for different desaturase isoforms in both strains. We first cloned desat1 in the Tai strain and report here functional expression of desat1 in CS and Tai. In both strains, the Desat1 enzymes have the same Delta9 specificity and preferentially use palmitate as a substrate, leading to the synthesis of omega7 fatty acids. Also found was a desaturase sequence, named desat2, with a homologous catalytic domain and a markedly different N-terminal domain compared with desat1. In CS genome, it lies 3.8 kb upstream of desat1 and is not transcribed in either sex. In the Tai strain, it is expressed only in females and acts preferentially on myristate, leading to the synthesis of omega5 fatty acids. We suggest, therefore, that desat2 might play a control role in the biosynthesis of 5,9 HD hydrocarbons in Tai females and could explain the dienic hydrocarbon polymorphism in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dallerac
- Université Paris-Sud, Unité Mixte de Recherche 8620, Neurobiologie et Apprentissage de la Mémoire et de la Communication, Orsa, France
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Knipple DC, Rosenfield CL, Miller SJ, Liu W, Tang J, Ma PW, Roelofs WL. Cloning and functional expression of a cDNA encoding a pheromone gland-specific acyl-CoA Delta11-desaturase of the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:15287-92. [PMID: 9860961 PMCID: PMC28035 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.26.15287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Desaturation of coenzyme-A esters of saturated fatty acids is a common feature of sex pheromone biosynthetic pathways in the Lepidoptera. The enzymes that catalyze this step share several biochemical properties with the ubiquitous acyl-CoA Delta9-desaturases of animals and fungi, suggesting a common ancestral origin. Unlike metabolic acyl-CoA Delta9-desaturases, pheromone desaturases have evolved unusual regio- and stereoselective activities that contribute to the remarkable diversity of chemical structures used as pheromones in this large taxonomic group. In this report, we describe the isolation of a cDNA encoding a pheromone gland desaturase from the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, a species in which all unsaturated pheromone products are produced via a Delta11Z-desaturation mechanism. The largest ORF of the approximately 1,250-bp cDNA encodes a 349-aa apoprotein (PDesat-Tn Delta11Z) with a predicted molecular mass of 40,240 Da. Its hydrophobicity profile is similar overall to those of rat and yeast Delta9-desaturases, suggesting conserved transmembrane topology. A 182-aa core domain delimited by conserved histidine-rich motifs implicated in iron-binding and catalysis has 72 and 58% similarity (including conservative substitutions) to acyl-CoA Delta9Z-desaturases of rat and yeast, respectively. Northern blot analysis revealed an approximately 1,250-nt PDesat-Tn Delta11Z mRNA that is consistent with the spatial and temporal distribution of Delta11-desaturase enzyme activity. Genetic transformation of a desaturase-deficient strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with an expression plasmid encoding PDesat-Tn Delta11Z resulted in complementation of the strain's fatty acid auxotrophy and the production of Delta11Z-unsaturated fatty acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Knipple
- Department of Entomology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
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