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Huang Z, Liu Z, Ma H, Zhou Y, Zhao P, Zhu H, Liu J, Man Y, Zhou X. RNAi-mediated knockdown of fruitless in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) disrupts female sex pheromone biosynthesis and male courtship behavior. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2025:toaf076. [PMID: 40329518 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaf076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2025] [Revised: 03/02/2025] [Accepted: 03/08/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025]
Abstract
Strong fecundity is an important reason why the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), has become one of the most serious pests of cruciferous vegetables worldwide. Disrupting with courtship and mating behaviors has emerged as an important strategy for insect management. The fruitless (fru) gene encodes a transcription factor that contains a BTB (Broad-Complex, Tramtrack and Bric a brac) and a zinc finger pair related to the C2H2 class. It plays a crucial role in regulating insect courtship behavior. In this study, the fru gene of P. xylostella (Pxfru) was cloned, revealing 7 alternative splicing forms (Pxfru-1 to Pxfru-7). Pxfru-1 to Pxfru-3 were non-sex-specific transcripts, while the remaining forms were male-specific. Subcellular localization experiments demonstrated that the transcripts encoding proteins containing BTB and zinc finger domains (Pxfru-1 to Pxfru-3) localized to the cell nucleus, whereas Pxfru-4 and Pxfru-5, which contain only one BTB domain, were localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. Knockdown the expression of fru in male moths delayed occurrence of mating and reduced their preference to female sex pheromones. Meanwhile, suppression of fru expression in female P. xylostella decreased their attractiveness to males. The results of GC-MS and Y-tube olfaction experiments indicated that this change may be attributed to alterations in the proportion of sex pheromones. This study represents the first report of the fru gene influencing pheromone ratios in female insects, and provides a new perspective for understanding the function of fru in the courtship behavior of non-model insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhou Huang
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Zheming Liu
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Haihao Ma
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Yong Zhou
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Piao Zhao
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Hang Zhu
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Yilong Man
- Hunan Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Xiaomao Zhou
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, 410125, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pesticide Biology and Precise Use Technology, Changsha, 410125, China
- Key laboratory of Pesticide Assessment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China
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Mofed D, Sabet S, Baiomy AA, Salem TZ. The Transgene Expression of the Immature Form of the HCV Core Protein (C191) and the LncRNA MEG3 Increases Apoptosis in HepG2 Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:3632-3647. [PMID: 36005145 PMCID: PMC9406719 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44080249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulated in cancer cells, including lncRNA MEG3, which is downregulated in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). In addition, hepatitis C virus (HCV) core proteins are known to dysregulate important cellular pathways that are linked to HCC development. In this study, we were interested in evaluating the overexpression of lncRNA MEG3, either alone or in combination with two forms of HCV core protein (C173 and C191) in HepG2 cells. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Transcripts' levels of key genes known to be regulated in HCC, such as p53, DNMT1, miRNA152, TGF-b, and BCL-2, were measured by qRT-PCR. Protein expression levels of caspase-3 and MKI67 were determined by immunocytochemistry and apoptosis assays. The co-expression of lncRNA MEG3 and C191 resulted in a marked increase and accumulation of dead cells and a reduction in cell viability. In addition, a marked increase in the expression of tumor suppressor genes (p53 and miRNA152), as well as a marked decrease in the expression of oncogenes (DNMT1, BCL2, and TGF-b), were detected. Moreover, apoptosis assay results revealed a significant increase in total apoptosis (early and late). Finally, immunocytochemistry results detected a significant increase in apoptotic marker caspase-3 and a decrease in tumor marker MKI67. In this study, transgene expression of C191 and lncRNA MEG3 showed induction in apoptosis in HepG2 cells greater than the expression of each one alone. These results suggest potential anticancer characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Mofed
- Molecular Biology and Virology Lab, Biomedical Sciences Program, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt
- Zoology Graduate Program, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Salwa Sabet
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A. Baiomy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Tamer Z. Salem
- Molecular Biology and Virology Lab, Biomedical Sciences Program, Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza 12578, Egypt
- Department of Microbial Genetics, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERl), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza 12619, Egypt
- National Biotechnology Network of Expertise (NBNE), Academy of Science Research and Technology (ASRT), Cairo 11334, Egypt
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +20-1014114122
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Balabanova L, Seitkalieva A, Yugay Y, Rusapetova T, Slepchenko L, Podvolotskaya A, Yatsunskaya M, Vasyutkina E, Son O, Tekutyeva L, Shkryl Y. Engineered Fungus Thermothelomyces thermophilus Producing Plant Storage Proteins. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020119. [PMID: 35205873 PMCID: PMC8877005 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation based on the plant binary vector pPZP-RCS2 was carried out for the multiple heterologous protein production in filamentous fungus Thermothelomyces thermophilus F-859 (formerly Myceliophthora thermophila F-859). The engineered fungus Th. thermophilus was able to produce plant storage proteins of Zea mays (α-zein Z19) and Amaranthus hypochondriacus (albumin A1) to enrich fungal biomass by valuable nutritional proteins and improved amino acid content. The mRNA levels of z19 and a1 genes were significantly dependent on their driving promoters: the promoter of tryptophan synthase (PtrpC) was more efficient to express a1, while the promoter of translation elongation factor (Ptef) provided much higher levels of z19 transcript abundance. In general, the total recombinant proteins and amino acid contents were higher in the Ptef-containing clones. This work describes a new strategy to improve mycoprotein nutritive value by overexpression of plant storage proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Balabanova
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (L.B.); (A.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Aleksandra Seitkalieva
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (L.B.); (A.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Yulia Yugay
- Federal Scientific Centre of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (Y.Y.); (T.R.); (M.Y.); (E.V.)
| | - Tatiana Rusapetova
- Federal Scientific Centre of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (Y.Y.); (T.R.); (M.Y.); (E.V.)
| | - Lubov Slepchenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (L.B.); (A.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Anna Podvolotskaya
- Department of Bioeconomy and Food Security, Far Eastern Federal University, B417 Office, Bldg. 20, Ajax St., Russky Island, 690950 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.P.); (O.S.); (L.T.)
- ARNIKA, Territory of PDA Nadezhdinskaya, Centralnay St. 42, 692481 Volno-Nadezhdinskoye, Primorsky Krai, Russia
| | - Margarita Yatsunskaya
- Federal Scientific Centre of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (Y.Y.); (T.R.); (M.Y.); (E.V.)
| | - Elena Vasyutkina
- Federal Scientific Centre of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (Y.Y.); (T.R.); (M.Y.); (E.V.)
| | - Oksana Son
- Department of Bioeconomy and Food Security, Far Eastern Federal University, B417 Office, Bldg. 20, Ajax St., Russky Island, 690950 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.P.); (O.S.); (L.T.)
- ARNIKA, Territory of PDA Nadezhdinskaya, Centralnay St. 42, 692481 Volno-Nadezhdinskoye, Primorsky Krai, Russia
| | - Liudmila Tekutyeva
- Department of Bioeconomy and Food Security, Far Eastern Federal University, B417 Office, Bldg. 20, Ajax St., Russky Island, 690950 Vladivostok, Russia; (A.P.); (O.S.); (L.T.)
- ARNIKA, Territory of PDA Nadezhdinskaya, Centralnay St. 42, 692481 Volno-Nadezhdinskoye, Primorsky Krai, Russia
| | - Yury Shkryl
- Federal Scientific Centre of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect 100-letya Vladivostoka 159, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia; (Y.Y.); (T.R.); (M.Y.); (E.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-4232-312-129; Fax: +7-4232-310-193
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