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Cao Z, Bakumenko O, Vlasenko V, Li W, Cao J. Molecular characterization and functional analysis of the ecdysone receptor isoform (EcR) from the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2024; 115:e22110. [PMID: 38605666 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22110] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) plays a vital role in a series of biological processes, via the nuclear receptors, EcR/USP by activating the ecdysone regulatory cascade. To clarify the role of EcR during the development of Grapholita molesta, the complementary DNA of ecdysone receptor isoform B1 (GmEcR-B1) was obtained from the transcriptome of G. molesta and verified by PCR. Alignment analysis revealed that the deduced protein sequence of GmEcR-B1 was highly homologous to EcR proteins identified in other lepidopteran species, especially the EcR-B1 isoform in Spodoptera litura. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that GmEcRs was expressed at all test developmental stages, and the expression level of GmEcRs was relatively higher during the period of the 3rd day of fifth instar larvae to 2nd of pupa than those in other stages. Moreover, the messenger RNA of GmEcRs was much more strongly expressed in the Malpighian tubule and epidermis than those in other tissues, which suggests that this gene may function in a tissue-specific manner during larval development. Silencing of GmEcRs could significantly downregulate the transcriptional level of ecdysone-inducible genes and result in increased mortality during metamorphosis and prolonged prepupal duration. Taken together, the present results indicate that GmEcRs may directly or indirectly affect the development of G. molesta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhishan Cao
- Department of Plant Protection, International Joint Laboratory of Taxonomy and Systematic Evolution of Insecta, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
- Department of Plant Protection, Sumy National Agrarian University, Sumy, Ukraine
| | - Olha Bakumenko
- Department of Plant Protection, Sumy National Agrarian University, Sumy, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr Vlasenko
- Department of Plant Protection, Sumy National Agrarian University, Sumy, Ukraine
| | - Weihai Li
- Department of Plant Protection, International Joint Laboratory of Taxonomy and Systematic Evolution of Insecta, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Jinjun Cao
- Department of Plant Protection, International Joint Laboratory of Taxonomy and Systematic Evolution of Insecta, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, Henan, China
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Li G, Liu XY, Smagghe G, Niu JZ, Wang JJ. Molting process revealed by the detailed expression profiles of RXR1/RXR2 and mining the associated genes in a spider mite, Panonychus citri. Insect Sci 2022; 29:430-442. [PMID: 34015180 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Spider mites have one ecdysone receptor (EcR) and multiple retinoid X receptors (RXRs). However, the function of these RXRs in spider mite development is unknown. Here, we screened the expression dynamics of two PcRXR isoforms at 4 h intervals in the deutonymphal stage of Panonychus citri. The results showed that PcEcR had an expression pattern similar to that of PcRXR2. For PcRXR1, its expression remained at a certain high level, when there was a decrease of both PcEcR and PcRXR2. In situ hybridization showed that PcRXR2 was detected in the central nervous mass, while the ecdysteroid biosynthesis gene PcSpo was mainly expressed at the edge of the central nervous mass. RNAi-based silencing of PcRXR1 or PcRXR2 showed the same phenotype as in mites with that of silencing PcEcR. Furthermore, RNA-seq was used to mine the genes associated with the expression dynamics of PcRXR1 or PcRXR2, which revealed that the heterodimer of EcR-RXR2 in spider mites might be linked with the cell autophagy and tissue remodeling during apolysis, and RXR1 might be linked with new epicuticle and exocuticle secretion during ecdysis. Taken together, these results increase our understanding of the regulation mechanism of ecdysteroid signal pathway in spider mite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Li
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection; International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Regions, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xun-Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Entomology and Pest Control Engineering, College of Plant Protection; 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; 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; 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; International Joint Laboratory of China-Belgium on Sustainable Crop Pest Control, Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Masterson M, Bittar R, Chu H, Yamanaka N, Haga-Yamanaka S. Rapid Assessment of Insect Steroid Hormone Entry Into Cultured Cells. Front Physiol 2022; 12:816058. [PMID: 35145429 PMCID: PMC8824665 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.816058] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones control development and homeostasis in a wide variety of animals by interacting with intracellular nuclear receptors. Recent discoveries in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster revealed that insect steroid hormones or ecdysteroids are incorporated into cells through a membrane transporter named Ecdysone Importer (EcI), which may become a novel target for manipulating steroid hormone signaling in insects. In this study, we established an assay system that can rapidly assess EcI-mediated ecdysteroid entry into cultured cells. Using NanoLuc Binary Technology (NanoBiT), we first developed an assay to detect ligand-dependent heterodimerization of the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells. We also developed HEK293 cells that stably express EcI. By combining these tools, we can monitor ecdysteroid entry into the cells in real time, making it a reliable system to assess EcI-mediated steroid hormone incorporation into animal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Masterson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Riyan Bittar
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Hannah Chu
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Naoki Yamanaka
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Sachiko Haga-Yamanaka
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
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Zhou M, Jia X, Wan H, Wang S, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Wang Y. miR-34 regulates reproduction by inhibiting the expression of MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT genes in mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Mol Reprod Dev 2018; 86:122-131. [PMID: 30286264 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mud crab Scylla paramamosain is a commercially important species widely cultured in China. It is well known that the eyestalk regulates reproductive activities in crustaceans. In our previous research, we found that the miR-34 expression level in male eyestalk was significantly higher than that in females. Thus, we assumed that it may play an important role in regulating reproduction. In this study, we used bioinformatic tools to identify the target genes of miR-34 in eyestalk. Six reproduction-related genes with an intact 3'-untranslated region (UTR), including molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone, red pigment concentrating hormone, ecdysone receptor (EcR), and farnesoic acid methyltransferase (FAMeT) were identified. When the 3'-UTR plasmid vectors of the six genes were cotransfected with miR-34 mimics into 293FT cells, respectively, the luciferase activities of four genes (MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT) were significantly decreased compared with that in the control group; on the contrary, when the six plasmid vectors were cotransfected with the miR-34 inhibitor respectively, the luciferase activities of four genes (MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT) were significantly higher than that in the control group. When agomiR-34 and antagomiR-34 were injected into the eyestalk respectively in vivo, the expression levels of the MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT genes were detected by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that agomiR-34 suppressed the expression of the four genes, whereas antagomiR-34 enhanced their expression. These experimental results confirmed our hypothesis that miR-34 may indirectly regulate reproduction via binding to the 3'-UTRs of MIH, CHH, EcR, and FAMeT genes and suppressing their expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcan Zhou
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiwei Jia
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Haifu Wan
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Shuhong Wang
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ziping Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yilei Wang
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China
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Yan T, Chen H, Sun Y, Yu X, Xia L. RNA Interference of the Ecdysone Receptor Genes EcR and USP in Grain Aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) Affects Its Survival and Fecundity upon Feeding on Wheat Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:E2098. [PMID: 27983619 PMCID: PMC5187898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17122098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [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: 09/04/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has been widely used in functional genomics of insects and received intensive attention in the development of RNAi-based plants for insect control. Ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle protein (USP) play important roles in molting, metamorphosis, and reproduction of insects. EcR and USP orthologs and their function in grain aphid (Sitobion avenae F.) have not been documented yet. Here, RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, dsRNA feeding assay and aphid bioassay were employed to isolate EcR and USP orthologs in grain aphid, investigate their expression patterns, and evaluate the effect of RNAi on aphid survival and fecundity, and its persistence. The results indicated that SaEcR and SaUSP exhibited similar expression profiles at different developmental stages. Oral administration of dsRNAs of SaEcR and dsSaUSP significantly decreased the survival of aphids due to the down-regulation of these two genes, respectively. The silencing effect was persistent and transgenerational, as demonstrated by the reduced survival and fecundity due to knock-down of SaEcR and SaUSP in both the surviving aphids and their offspring, even after switching to aphid-susceptible wheat plants. Taken together, our results demonstrate that SaEcR and SaUSP are essential genes in aphid growth and development, and could be used as RNAi targets for wheat aphid control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yan
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Hongmei Chen
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yongwei Sun
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Xiudao Yu
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Lanqin Xia
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China.
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He H, Xi G, Lu X. Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of an ecdysone receptor homolog in Teleogryllus emma (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J Insect Sci 2015; 15:iev010. [PMID: 25797799 PMCID: PMC4535489 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iev010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Ecdysteroids are steroid hormones that play important roles in the regulation of Arthropoda animal growth development, larvae ecdysis, and reproduction. The effect of ecdysteroids is mediated by ecdysteroid receptor (EcR). The ecdysone receptor (EcR) belongs to the superfamily of nuclear receptors (NRs) that are ligand-dependent transcription factors. Ecdysone receptor is present only in invertebrates and plays a critical role in regulating the expression of a series of genes during development and reproduction. Here, we isolated and characterized cDNA of the cricket Teleopgryllus emma (Ohmachi & Matsuura) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) and studied mRNA expression pattern using real time-polymerase chain reaction. The full-length cDNA of T. emma EcR, termed TeEcR, is 2,558 bp and contains a 5'-untranslated region of 555 bp and a 3'-untranslated region of 407 bp. The open reading frame of TeEcR encodes deduced 531-amino acid peptides with a predicted molecular mass of 60.7 kDa. The amino acid sequence of T. emma EcR was similar to that of known EcR especially in the ligand-binding domain of insect EcR. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to compare TeEcR mRNA expression level at the whole body and gonad during T. emma development. The data revealed that TeEcR mRNA is differentially expressed during T. emma development, with the highest expression level in late-instar larvae of the body and lowest in third instar. The levels of TeEcR transcripts also vary among gonads development, and levels in ovaries were higher than in testes at every developmental stage. These results suggest that TeEcR may have potential significance to regulate the morphological structure and gonad development of T. emma, due to its expression in different developmental periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui He
- Institute of Zoology, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, People's Republic of China
| | - Gengsi Xi
- Institute of Zoology, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Institute of Zoology, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, People's Republic of China
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Yu R, Xu X, Liang Y, Tian H, Pan Z, Jin S, Wang N, Zhang W. The insect ecdysone receptor is a good potential target for RNAi-based pest control. Int J Biol Sci 2014; 10:1171-80. [PMID: 25516715 PMCID: PMC4261201 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.9598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has great potential for use in insect pest control. However, some significant challenges must be overcome before RNAi-based pest control can become a reality. One challenge is the proper selection of a good target gene for RNAi. Here, we report that the insect ecdysone receptor (EcR) is a good potential target for RNAi-based pest control in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, a serious insect pest of rice plants. We demonstrated that the use of a 360 bp fragment (NlEcR-c) that is common between NlEcR-A and NlEcR-B for feeding RNAi experiments significantly decreased the relative mRNA expression levels of NlEcR compared with those in the dsGFP control. Feeding RNAi also resulted in a significant reduction in the number of offspring per pair of N. lugens. Consequently, a transgenic rice line expressing NlEcR dsRNA was constructed by Agrobacterium- mediated transformation. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the total copy number of the target gene in all transgenic rice lines was 2. Northern blot analysis showed that the small RNA of the hairpin dsNlEcR-c was successfully expressed in the transgenic rice lines. After newly hatched nymphs of N. lugens fed on the transgenic rice lines, effective RNAi was observed. The NlEcR expression levels in all lines examined were decreased significantly compared with the control. In all lines, the survival rate of the nymphs was nearly 90%, and the average number of offspring per pair in the treated groups was significantly less than that observed in the control, with a decrease of 44.18-66.27%. These findings support an RNAi-based pest control strategy and are also important for the management of rice insect pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xinping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yongkang Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Honggang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhanqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Shouheng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Na Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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