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de Fouchier A, Fruitet E, Lievers R, Kuperus P, Emerson J, Gould F, Heckel DG, Groot AT. Lipases and carboxylesterases affect moth sex pheromone compounds involved in interspecific mate recognition. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7505. [PMID: 37980401 PMCID: PMC10657362 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43100-w] [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: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Moth sex pheromones are a classical model for studying sexual selection. Females typically produce a species-specific pheromone blend that attracts males. Revealing the enzymes involved in the interspecific variation in blend composition is key for understanding the evolution of these sexual communication systems. The nature of the enzymes involved in the variation of acetate esters, which are prominent compounds in moth pheromone blends, remains unclear. We identify enzymes involved in acetate degradation using two closely related moth species: Heliothis (Chloridea) subflexa and H. (C.) virescens, which have different quantities of acetate esters in their sex pheromone. Through comparative transcriptomic analyses and CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts, we show that two lipases and two esterases from H. virescens reduce the levels of pheromone acetate esters when expressed in H. subflexa females. Together, our results show that lipases and carboxylesterases are involved in tuning Lepidoptera pheromones composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur de Fouchier
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, Jena, Germany.
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, Sorbonne Université, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Elise Fruitet
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, Jena, Germany
| | - Rik Lievers
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Kuperus
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Emerson
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Fred Gould
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - David G Heckel
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, Jena, Germany
| | - Astrid T Groot
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, Jena, Germany
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2
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Cicconardi F, Milanetti E, Pinheiro de Castro EC, Mazo-Vargas A, Van Belleghem SM, Ruggieri AA, Rastas P, Hanly J, Evans E, Jiggins CD, Owen McMillan W, Papa R, Di Marino D, Martin A, Montgomery SH. Evolutionary dynamics of genome size and content during the adaptive radiation of Heliconiini butterflies. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5620. [PMID: 37699868 PMCID: PMC10497600 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41412-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Heliconius butterflies, a speciose genus of Müllerian mimics, represent a classic example of an adaptive radiation that includes a range of derived dietary, life history, physiological and neural traits. However, key lineages within the genus, and across the broader Heliconiini tribe, lack genomic resources, limiting our understanding of how adaptive and neutral processes shaped genome evolution during their radiation. Here, we generate highly contiguous genome assemblies for nine Heliconiini, 29 additional reference-assembled genomes, and improve 10 existing assemblies. Altogether, we provide a dataset of annotated genomes for a total of 63 species, including 58 species within the Heliconiini tribe. We use this extensive dataset to generate a robust and dated heliconiine phylogeny, describe major patterns of introgression, explore the evolution of genome architecture, and the genomic basis of key innovations in this enigmatic group, including an assessment of the evolution of putative regulatory regions at the Heliconius stem. Our work illustrates how the increased resolution provided by such dense genomic sampling improves our power to generate and test gene-phenotype hypotheses, and precisely characterize how genomes evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Cicconardi
- School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Edoardo Milanetti
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Italian Institute of Technology, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anyi Mazo-Vargas
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Steven M Van Belleghem
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR, Puerto Rico
- Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, Biology Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Pasi Rastas
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joseph Hanly
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington DC, WA, 20052, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Elizabeth Evans
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR, Puerto Rico
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama
| | - Riccardo Papa
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR, Puerto Rico
- Molecular Sciences and Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, Puerto Rico
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, Puerto Rico
| | - Daniele Di Marino
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, New York-Marche Structural Biology Center (NY-MaSBiC), Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
- Neuronal Death and Neuroprotection Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research-IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milano, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Arnaud Martin
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington DC, WA, 20052, USA
| | - Stephen H Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, Bristol University, Bristol, United Kingdom.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama.
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3
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Yao X, Duan Y, Deng Z, Zhao W, Wei J, Li X, An S. ATP Synthase Subunit α from Helicoverpa armigera Acts as a Receptor of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac and Synergizes Cry1Ac Toxicity. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 37036055 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins has led to an urgent need to explore the insecticidal mechanisms of Bt. Previous studies indicated that Helicoverpa armigera ATP synthase subunit α (HaATPs-α) is involved in Cry1Ac resistance. In this study, a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed that HaATPs-α expression was significantly reduced in the Cry1Ac-resistant strain (BtR). Cry1Ac feeding induced the downregulated expression of HaATPs-α in the susceptible strain, but not in the BtR strain. Furthermore, the interaction between HaATPs-α and Cry1Ac was verified by ligand blotting and homologous competition experiments. The in vitro gain and loss of function analyses showed HaATPs-α involved in Cry1Ac toxicity by expressing endogenous HaATPs-α and HaATPs-α double-stranded RNAs in Sf9 and midgut cells, respectively. Importantly, purified HaATPs-α synergized Cry1Ac toxicity to H. armigera larvae. These findings provide the first evidence that HaATPs-α is a potential receptor of Cry1Ac, it shows downregulated participation in Cry1Ac resistance, and it exhibits higher enhancement of Cry1Ac toxicity to H. armigera larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yunpeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Zhongyuan Deng
- College of Life Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan450000, China
| | - Wenli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Jizhen Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xianchun Li
- Department of Entomology and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Shiheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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Wang QH, Gao X, Yu HS, Zhang Z, Yu QY. Exploring the Terminal Pathway of Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis and Metabolism in the Silkworm. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12121062. [PMID: 34940150 PMCID: PMC8706005 DOI: 10.3390/insects12121062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Insect sex pheromone biosynthesis has received widespread attention, while the terminal pathway related to aldehyde synthesis and metabolism is still poorly understood at a molecular level. Previous studies found that the silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera, Bombycidae), has two pheromone compounds, bombykol and bombykal, with a ratio of 11:1, while its closest wild relative, B. mandarina, only uses bombykol as a pheromone. In this study, sex pheromone gland transcriptomes were compared between the domestic and wild silkworms. All the candidate gene families were identified. Then we used the differentially expressed information, tissue and developmental expression profiles, and phylogenetic analysis to identify the putative causal genes involved in the terminal pathway. Our findings provide insights into the aldehyde synthesis and metabolism pathways and evolutionary conservation in moths. Abstract Sex pheromones are vital to sexual communication and reproduction in insects. Although some key enzymes in pheromone production have been well studied, information on genes involved in the terminal pathway is limited. The domestic silkworm employs a pheromone blend containing (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol (bombykol) and analogous (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal (bombykal); whereas, its wild ancestor B. mandarina uses only bombykol. The two closely related moths might be a good model for exploring the genes involved in aldehyde pheromone synthesis and metabolism. By deep sequencing and analyzing the sex pheromone gland (PG) transcriptomes; we identified 116 candidate genes that may be related to pheromone biosynthesis, metabolism, and chemoreception. Spatiotemporal expression profiles and differentially expressed analysis revealed that four alcohol oxidases (BmorAO1; 2; 3; and 4); one aldehyde reductase (BmorAR1); and one aldehyde oxidase (BmorAOX5) might be involved in the terminal pathway. Phylogenetic analysis showed that, except for BmorAO3 and MsexAO3, AOs did not show a conversed orthologous relationship among moths; whereas, ARs and AOXs were phylogenetically conserved. This study provides crucial candidates for further functional elucidation, and which may be utilized as potential targets to disrupt sexual communication in other moth pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hai Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; (Q.-H.W.); (X.G.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Xing Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; (Q.-H.W.); (X.G.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Hong-Song Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China;
| | - Ze Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; (Q.-H.W.); (X.G.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Quan-You Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; (Q.-H.W.); (X.G.); (Z.Z.)
- Correspondence:
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5
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Xing Y, Thanasirungkul W, Aslam A, Niu F, Guo HR, Chi DF. Genes involved in the Type I pheromone biosynthesis pathway and chemoreception from the sex pheromone gland transcriptome of Dioryctria abietella. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2021; 40:100892. [PMID: 34428712 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Dioryctria abietella is a coniferous seed orchard pest that can damage a series of host plants and cause huge losses to the forest economy. Sex pheromones play an important role in lepidopteran sex communication for reproduction and can be used as biological control agents to monitor and trap pests. However, the genes involved in the biosynthesis, transportation, and degradation of D. abietella sex pheromones have not been studied extensively. Transcriptome analysis of female D. abietella sex pheromone glands (PGs) revealed that 210 candidate genes might be involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis (139 genes) and chemoreception systems (71 genes). The gene expression patterns exhibited four desaturase genes (DabiDES4-7) and one fatty acid reductase gene (DabiFAR6), which were more highly expressed in sex pheromone glands than in other tissues, suggesting that these enzymes play an important role in D. abietella sex pheromone synthesis. In addition, most DabiOBPs showed high expression in antennae, but only DabiOBP4 exhibited specific expression in sex pheromone glands, suggesting that they may play many physiological roles in D. abietella. We put forth a reasonable hypothesis about type I pheromone biosynthesis pathways based on these genes identified in the D. abietella sex pheromone gland transcriptome. Our findings lay a foundation for population monitoring, mating disruption, mass trapping, and the development of ecologically acceptable management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Xing
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wariya Thanasirungkul
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Asad Aslam
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Niu
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Ru Guo
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Fu Chi
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Yao S, Zhang Y, Chang Y, Li X, Zhao W, An S. Pyruvate Kinase Is Required for Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera. Front Physiol 2021; 12:707389. [PMID: 34421647 PMCID: PMC8371337 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.707389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyruvate kinase (PYK) is a speed-limited enzyme of glycolysis that catalyzes the formation of pyruvate, and plays an important role in acetyl-CoA synthesis. The acetyl-CoA is the precursor of sex pheromone biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera. However, the role of PYK in sex pheromone biosynthesis remains elusive. Here, PYK in H. armigera (HaPYK) was found to be highly expressed in the pheromone glands (PGs). The developmental expression profile of HaPYK was consistent with the fluctuation of sex pheromone release. Function analysis revealed that the knockdown of HaPYK led to a decrease in the levels of pyruvic acid and acetyl-CoA in PGs, which in turn caused a significant decrease in cis-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16: Ald) production, female capability to attract males, and mating frequency. Further study demonstrated that sugar feeding (5% sugar) increased the transcription and enzyme activity of HaPYK, thereby facilitating sex pheromone biosynthesis. Moreover, pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) upregulated HaPYK activity through protein kinase C (PKC), as shown by PKC-specific inhibitor analysis. Altogether, our results revealed that PBAN activated HaPYK by Ca2+/PKC, thereby regulating the synthesis of pyruvate and subsequent acetyl-CoA, ensuring the supply of sex pheromone precursor, and finally facilitating sex pheromone biosynthesis and mating behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yunhui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanpeng Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shiheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yao S, Wang G, Wei J, Du M, An S, Yin X. Supplemental Sugar Is Required for Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Mythimna separata. Front Physiol 2020; 11:605145. [PMID: 33391019 PMCID: PMC7775516 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.605145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplemental nutrients of adult moths maximize moth fitness and contribute to the pollination of many plants. Previous reports have revealed that sugar feeding promotes to sex pheromone biosynthesis by increasing the haemolymph trehalose concentration in mating moths. Here, Mythimna separata adults were employed as a model to investigate the effect of sugar feeding on sex pheromone biosynthesis. Results showed that in virgin females, sugar feeding markedly increased the concentrations of trehalose, pyruvic acid, and acyl-CoA in pheromone glands (PGs), which in turn led to an increase in sex pheromone titer, female ability to attract males and successfully mating frequency in sugar-fed females. Consistently, sugar-fed females laid more eggs than water-fed females. Furthermore, the refeeding of starved females also caused significantly increase in the concentrations of trehalose, pyruvic acid, and acyl-CoA in PGs, thus facilitating a significant increase in sex pheromone production. Most importantly, RNAi-mediated knockdown of trehalase (leading to PG starvation) resulted in an increase in trehalose content, and decrease in the concentrations of pyruvic acid, and acyl-CoA in PGs, which in turn led to a decrease of sex pheromone titer, female ability to attract males and successful mating efficacy. Altogether, results revealed a mechanism by which sugar feeding contributed to trehalose utilization in PGs, promoted to significantly increased sex pheromone precursor by increasing the concentrations of pyruvic acid and acyl-CoA, and facilitated to sex pheromone biosynthesis and successful mating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuanchen Zhang
- College of Biology and Food Engineering, Innovation and Practice Base for Postdoctors, Anyang Institute of Technology, Anyang, China
| | - Shuangyan Yao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Gaoping Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jizhen Wei
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengfang Du
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shiheng An
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinming Yin
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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8
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Wang QH, Gong Q, Fang SM, Liu YQ, Zhang Z, Yu QY. Identification of genes involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis and metabolic pathway in the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 163:1487-1497. [PMID: 32755713 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi, has not only been semi-domesticated as an important economical insect but also used for genetic research. The female moths of A. pernyi employ a pheromone blend containing (E,Z)-6,11-hexadecadienal (E6,Z11-16:Ald), (E,Z)-6,11-hexadecadienyl acetate (E6,Z11-16:OAc), and (E,Z)-4,9-tetradecadienyl acetate (E4,Z9-14:OAc). While its biosynthesis pathway is largely unknown. By deep sequencing and de novo assembly of sex pheromone gland (PG) transcriptome, we identified 141 candidate genes that are putatively related to pheromone biosynthesis, degradation, and chemoreception in A. pernyi. Gene expression patterns and phylogenetic analysis revealed that two desaturases (AperDES1 and 2), two fatty acid reductase (AperFAR1 and 2), and three acetyltransferase genes (AperACT1, 2 and 3) showed PG-biased or specific expression and were phylogenetically related to genes known to be involved in pheromone synthesis in other species. Furthermore, two carboxylesterases (AperCOE6 and 11) and two chemosensory protein (AperCSP1 and 6) were also expressed specifically or predominantly in the PGs, which might be related to sex pheromone degradation and transportation, respectively. Based on these results, the sex pheromone biosynthesis and metabolic pathway was proposed in A. pernyi. This study provides some crucial candidates for further functional elucidation, and may be used for interfering sexual communication in other Saturniidae pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hai Wang
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Qian Gong
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Shou-Min Fang
- College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637002, China
| | - Yan-Qun Liu
- Department of Sericulture, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, 120 Dongling Road, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Quan-You Yu
- Laboratory of Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China.
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9
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Liu G, Xuan N, Rajashekar B, Arnaud P, Offmann B, Picimbon JF. Comprehensive History of CSP Genes: Evolution, Phylogenetic Distribution and Functions. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11040413. [PMID: 32290210 PMCID: PMC7230875 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review we present the developmental, histological, evolutionary and functional properties of insect chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in insect species. CSPs are small globular proteins folded like a prism and notoriously known for their complex and arguably obscure function(s), particularly in pheromone olfaction. Here, we focus on direct functional consequences on protein function depending on duplication, expression and RNA editing. The result of our analysis is important for understanding the significance of RNA-editing on functionality of CSP genes, particularly in the brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxia Liu
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (G.L.); (N.X.)
| | - Ning Xuan
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (G.L.); (N.X.)
| | - Balaji Rajashekar
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu 50090, Estonia;
| | - Philippe Arnaud
- Protein Engineering and Functionality Unit, University of Nantes, 44322 Nantes, France; (P.A.); (B.O.)
| | - Bernard Offmann
- Protein Engineering and Functionality Unit, University of Nantes, 44322 Nantes, France; (P.A.); (B.O.)
| | - Jean-François Picimbon
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China; (G.L.); (N.X.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan 250353, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-531-89631190
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10
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Guo S, Tian Z, Quan WL, Sun D, Liu W, Wang XP. Comparative transcriptomics of the pheromone glands provides new insights into the differentiation of sex pheromone between two host populations of Chilo suppressalis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3499. [PMID: 32103103 PMCID: PMC7044216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60529-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive isolation between different host populations is often based on intraspecific sex pheromone differences. The mechanisms underlying these differences have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. Previous studies suggested that Chilo suppressalis has differentiated into rice and water-oat host populations, and these two populations manifest clear differences in sex pheromone titer and mating rhythm. Hence, this moth is an ideal model to investigate the endogenous mechanisms of intraspecific reproductive isolation. Here, we identified a series of putative genes associated with sex pheromone biosynthesis based on the C. suppressalis pheromone gland transcriptome data. Transcripts of most genes were at higher level in the rice population. Then we obtained 11 pivotal differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The expression levels of these DEGs exhibited a distinct increase in the rice population. Moreover, we also observed the expression rhythm of these DEGs is discrepant between two host populations. Our study offers a new understanding to elucidate the mechanisms of intraspecific reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Zhong Tian
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Wei-Li Quan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Dan Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Wen Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Xiao-Ping Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
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11
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Zhao W, Li L, Zhang Y, Liu X, Wei J, Xie Y, Du M, An S. Calcineurin is required for male sex pheromone biosynthesis and female acceptance. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 27:373-382. [PMID: 29465818 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Lepidoptera sex pheromone biosynthesis is regulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). PBAN regulates not only female sex pheromone biosynthesis but also male sex pheromone biosynthesis. Previous research has confirmed that PBAN regulates sex pheromone biosynthesis using Ca2+ as a secondary messenger in all examined species to date. However, the downstream signal of Ca2+ has remained elusive. In the present study, calcineurin A (CNA), a downstream signal of Ca2+ , was discovered in Helicoverpa armigera male hairpencil and named HaCNA. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the open reading frame of HaCNA contains 1488 nucleotides encoding 495 amino acid residues. A homology search revealed that HaCNA shares a high amino acid identity with the CNA of other insects. Developmental and spatial expression analyses revealed that the mRNA levels of HaCNA peaked at 24 h after emergence and that HaCNA expression was ubiquitous in all examined tissues. Activity analysis revealed that PBAN activates HaCNA, and a Ca2+ inhibitor, Lacl3 , attenuated the effect of PBAN by decreasing HaCNA activity. Pharmacological inhibitor and RNA interference-mediated knockdown assays revealed that both activity inhibition and decreased mRNA levels of HaCNA led to a significant decrease in the production of the male sex pheromone components [octadecanol and (Z)-11 hexadecanol)] and in the efficacy of female mating acceptance. Our results demonstrate that HaCNA acts as downstream signal of PBAN/Ca2+ and plays an important role in PBAN-induced male sex pheromone biosynthesis and female mating acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - L Li
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Y Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - X Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - J Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Y Xie
- High & New Technology Research Centre, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - M Du
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - S An
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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12
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Tupec M, Buček A, Valterová I, Pichová I. Biotechnological potential of insect fatty acid-modifying enzymes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 72:387-403. [PMID: 28742527 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2017-0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
There are more than one million described insect species. This species richness is reflected in the diversity of insect metabolic processes. In particular, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, such as defensive compounds and chemical signals, encompasses an extraordinarily wide range of chemicals that are generally unparalleled among natural products from other organisms. Insect genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes thus offer a valuable resource for discovery of novel enzymes with potential for biotechnological applications. Here, we focus on fatty acid (FA) metabolism-related enzymes, notably the fatty acyl desaturases and fatty acyl reductases involved in the biosynthesis of FA-derived pheromones. Research on insect pheromone-biosynthetic enzymes, which exhibit diverse enzymatic properties, has the potential to broaden the understanding of enzyme specificity determinants and contribute to engineering of enzymes with desired properties for biotechnological production of FA derivatives. Additionally, the application of such pheromone-biosynthetic enzymes represents an environmentally friendly and economic alternative to the chemical synthesis of pheromones that are used in insect pest management strategies.
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13
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Jurenka R. Regulation of pheromone biosynthesis in moths. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 24:29-35. [PMID: 29208220 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Female moths release sex pheromones for attracting males from a distance. Most moths are nocturnal so there is a periodicity to the release of sex pheromone. The temporal release of sex pheromone in most moths is regulated by calling behavior and by the biosynthesis of sex pheromone. In most moths, biosynthesis occurs in the pheromone gland and is controlled by the neuropeptide PBAN (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide). PBAN is produced in the subesophageal ganglion and released into circulation where it travels to the pheromone gland to activate pheromone biosynthesis. The G-protein coupled receptor that binds PBAN has been identified as well as aspects of signal transduction to activate the biosynthetic pathway. This review will highlight recent advances in the study of regulation of pheromone biosynthesis in moths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Jurenka
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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14
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Du M, Liu X, Ma N, Liu X, Wei J, Yin X, Zhou S, Rafaeli A, Song Q, An S. Calcineurin-mediated Dephosphorylation of Acetyl-coA Carboxylase is Required for Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN)-induced Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera. Mol Cell Proteomics 2017; 16:2138-2152. [PMID: 28978618 PMCID: PMC5724177 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical signaling plays a critical role in the behavior and physiology of many animals. Female insects, as many other animals, release sex pheromones to attract males for mating. The evolutionary and ecological success of insects therefore hinges on their ability to precisely mediate (including initiation and termination) pheromone biosynthesis. Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) acts directly on pheromone glands to regulate sex pheromone production using Ca2+ and cyclic-AMP as secondary messengers in the majority of species. However, the molecular mechanism downstream of the secondary messengers has not yet been elucidated in heliothine species. The present study shows that calcineurin, protein kinase A (PKA) and acetyl-coA carboxylase (ACC) are key components involved in PBAN-induced sex pheromone biosynthesis in Helicoverpa armigera using PBAN-dependent phosphoproteomics in combination with transcriptomics. RNAi-mediated knockdown and inhibitor assay demonstrated that calcineurin A is required for PBAN-induced ACC activation and sex pheromone production. Calcineurin-dependent phosphoproteomics and in vitro calcineurin phosphorylation assay further revealed that calcineurin regulated ACC activity by dephosphorylating ser84 and ser92. In addition, PKA-dependent phosphoproteomics and activity analysis revealed that PKA reduces the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a negative regulator of ACC by phosphorylating the conserved ser92. Taken together, our findings indicate that calcineurin acts as the downstream signal of PBAN/G-protein receptor/Ca2+ to activate ACC through dephosphorylation while inactivating AMPK via PKA to reduce ACC phosphorylation, thus facilitating calcineurin activation of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Nana Ma
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jizheng Wei
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xinming Yin
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Shutang Zhou
- §Institute of Plant Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, China
| | - Ada Rafaeli
- ¶Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel
| | - Qisheng Song
- ‖Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Shiheng An
- From the ‡State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China;
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15
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Du M, Zhao W, Jurenka R, Liu X, Yin X, Song Q, An S. Transcriptome analysis of Helicoverpa armigera male hairpencils: Alcohol biosynthesis and requirement for mating success. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 87:154-164. [PMID: 28705633 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Many female animals use different strategies to assess male quality to increase their own reproductive fitness. In moths, females usually use chemical signals (sex pheromones) to attract males from a distance. Once males approach a female, they release close range pheromones from hairpencils to facilitate female acceptance. However, detailed mechanisms involved in male sex pheromone biosynthesis and its action in promoting female acceptance have not yet been fully characterized. This study screened a series of candidate genes via a transcriptome analysis of the male hairpencil of Helicoverpa armigera. Using pharmacological inhibitor and RNAi-mediated knockdown assays, we demonstrated that Ca2+ and cyclic-AMP were involved in pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN)-induced male sex pheromone biosynthesis. The functional analysis of candidate enzymes involved in the male sex pheromone biosynthesis pathway demonstrated that a decreased mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, Δ11-desaturase, and fatty-acyl reductase 2 by RNAi-mediated knockdown led to a significant decrease in the production of fatty acyl alcohols and the efficacy of female acceptance. Our results demonstrated the important role of the fatty acyl alcohol biosynthetic pathway in a PBAN-induced male sex pheromone biosynthesis and the importance of hairpencil compounds in female mating acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Wenhui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Russell Jurenka
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Xinming Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Shiheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
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16
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Foster SP, Anderson KG, Casas J. Sex pheromone in the moth Heliothis virescens is produced as a mixture of two pools: de novo and via precursor storage in glycerolipids. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 87:26-34. [PMID: 28619669 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Most species of moths use a female-produced volatile sex pheromone, typically produced via de novo fatty acid synthesis in a specialized gland, for communication among mates. While de novo biosynthesis of pheromone (DNP) is rapid, suggesting transient precursor acids, substantial amounts of pheromone precursor (and other) acids are stored, predominantly in triacylglycerols in the pheromone gland. Whether these stored acids are converted to pheromone later or not has been the subject of some debate. Using a tracer/tracee approach, in which we fed female Heliothis virescens U-13C-glucose, we were able to distinguish two pools of pheromone, in which precursors were temporally separated (after and before feeding on labeled glucose): DNP synthesized from a mixed tracer/tracee acetyl CoA pool after feeding, and pheromone made from precursor acids primarily synthesized before feeding, which we call recycled precursor fat pheromone (RPP). DNP titer varied from high (during scotophase) to low (photophase) and with presence/absence of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), in accord with native pheromone titer previously observed. By contrast, RPP was constant throughout the photoperiod and did not change with PBAN presence/absence. The amount of RPP (6.3-10.3 ng/female) was typically much lower than that of DNP, especially during the scotophase (peak DNP, 105 ng/female). We propose an integral role for stored fats in pheromone biosynthesis, in which they are hydrolyzed and re-esterified throughout the photoperiod, with a small proportion of liberated precursor acyl CoAs being converted to pheromone. During the sexually active period, release of PBAN results in increased flux of glucose (from trehalose) and hydrolyzed acids entering the mitochondria, producing acetyl CoA precursor for de novo fat and pheromone biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Foster
- Entomology Department, North Dakota State University, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA.
| | - Karin G Anderson
- Entomology Department, North Dakota State University, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - Jérôme Casas
- Université de Tours, Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, UMR CNRS 7261, 37200 Tours, France
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17
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Buček A, Brabcová J, Vogel H, Prchalová D, Kindl J, Valterová I, Pichová I. Exploring complex pheromone biosynthetic processes in the bumblebee male labial gland by RNA sequencing. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:295-314. [PMID: 26945888 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Male marking pheromones (MPs) are used by the majority of bumblebee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae), including a commercially important greenhouse pollinator, the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), to attract conspecific females. MP biosynthetic processes in the cephalic part of the bumblebee male labial gland (LG) are of extraordinary complexity, involving enzymes of fatty acid and isoprenoid biosynthesis, which jointly produce more than 50 compounds. We employed a differential transcriptomic approach to identify candidate genes involved in MP biosynthesis by sequencing Bombus terrestris LG and fat body (FB) transcriptomes. We identified 12 454 abundantly expressed gene products (reads per kilobase of exon model per million mapped reads value > 1) that had significant hits in the GenBank nonredundant database. Of these, 876 were upregulated in the LG (> 4-fold difference). We identified more than 140 candidate genes potentially involved in MP biosynthesis, including esterases, fatty acid reductases, lipases, enzymes involved in limited fatty acid chain shortening, neuropeptide receptors and enzymes involved in biosynthesis of triacylglycerols, isoprenoids and fatty acids. For selected candidates, we confirmed their abundant expression in LG using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Our study shows that the Bombus terrestris LG transcriptome reflects both fatty acid and isoprenoid MP biosynthetic processes and identifies rational gene targets for future studies to disentangle the molecular basis of MP biosynthesis. Additionally, LG and FB transcriptomes enrich the available transcriptomic resources for Bombus terrestris.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Buček
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Brabcová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - H Vogel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - D Prchalová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Kindl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - I Valterová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - I Pichová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
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18
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Liu X, Sun C, Liu X, Yin X, Wang B, Du M, An S. Multicopper oxidase-1 is required for iron homeostasis in Malpighian tubules of Helicoverpa armigera. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14784. [PMID: 26437857 PMCID: PMC4593997 DOI: 10.1038/srep14784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicopper oxidases (MCOs) are enzymes that contain 10 conserved histidine residues and 1 cysteine residue. MCO1 has been extensively investigated in the midgut because this MCO is implicated in ascorbate oxidation, iron homeostasis and immune responses. However, information regarding the action of MCO1 in Malpighian tubules is limited. In this study, Helicoverpa armigera was used as a model to investigate the function of MCO1 in Malpighian tubules. Sequence analysis results revealed that HaMCO1 exhibits typical MCO characteristics, with 10 histidine and 1 cysteine residues for copper ion binding. HaMCO1 was also found to be highly abundant in Malpighian tubules. Temporal expression patterns indicated that HaMCO1 is mainly expressed during larval molting stages. Hormone treatments [the molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH)] revealed that 20E inhibits HaMCO1 transcript expression via its heterodimer receptor, which consists of ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and that JH counteracts the action of 20E to activate HaMCO1 transcript expression via its intracellular receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met). HaMCO1 knockdown caused a significant decrease in iron accumulation and also significantly reduced transferrin and ferritin transcript expression. Therefore, HaMCO1 is coordinately regulated by 20E and JH and is required for iron homeostasis in Malpighian tubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Liu
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Chengxian Sun
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xinming Yin
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China.,Department of Agronomy, Xinyang College of Agriculture and Forestry, Xinyang 464000 P.R. China
| | - Baohai Wang
- Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Tibet Lhasa 850000 P.R. China
| | - Mengfang Du
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Shiheng An
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
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19
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Yang P, Chen XM, Liu WW, Feng Y, Sun T. Transcriptome analysis of sexually dimorphic Chinese white wax scale insects reveals key differences in developmental programs and transcription factor expression. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8141. [PMID: 25634031 PMCID: PMC4311254 DOI: 10.1038/srep08141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Chinese white wax scale insect, Ericerus pela, represents one of the most dramatic examples of sexual dimorphism in any insect species. In this study, we showed that although E. pela males display complete metamorphosis similar to holometabolous insects, the species forms the sister group to Acyrthosiphon pisum and cluster with hemimetabolous insects. The gene expression profile and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses revealed that the two sexes engaged in distinct developmental programs. In particular, female development appeared to prioritize the expression of genes related to cellular, metabolic, and developmental processes and to anatomical structure formation in nymphs. By contrast, male nymphal development is characterized by the significant down-regulation of genes involved in chitin, the respiratory system, and neurons. The wing and appendage morphogenesis, anatomical and tissue structure morphogenesis programs activated after male nymphal development. Transcription factors (that convey juvenile hormone or ecdysone signals, and Hox genes) and DNA methyltransferase were also differentially expressed between females and males. These results may indicate the roles that these differentially expressed genes play in regulating sexual dimorphism through orchestrating complex genetic programs. This differential expression was particularly prominent for processes linked to female development and wing development in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Yang
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Chen
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Wei-Wei Liu
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Ying Feng
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, 650224, China
| | - Tao Sun
- Research Institute of Resources Insects, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Cultivating and Utilization of Resources Insects of State Forestry Administration, Kunming, 650224, China
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20
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Du M, Liu X, Liu X, Yin X, Han S, Song Q, An S. Glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase is required for PBAN-induced sex pheromone biosynthesis in Bombyx mori. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8110. [PMID: 25630665 PMCID: PMC5389035 DOI: 10.1038/srep08110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Female moths employ their own pheromone blends as a communicational medium in mating behavior. The biosynthesis and release of sex pheromone in female moths are regulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and the corresponding action of PBAN has been well elucidated in Bombyx mori. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanism regarding the biosynthesis of sex pheromone precursor. In this study, quantitative proteomics was utilized to comprehensively elucidate the expression dynamics of pheromone glands (PGs) during development. Proteomic analysis revealed a serial of differentially expressed sex pheromone biosynthesis-associated proteins at the different time points of B. mori development. Most interestingly B. mori glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase (BmGPAT) was found to be expressed during the key periods of sex pheromone biosynthesis. RNAi knockdown of BmGPAT confirmed the important function of this protein in the biosynthesis of sex pheromone precursor, triacylglcerol (TAG), and subsequently PBAN-induced production of sex pheromone, bombykol. Behavioral analysis showed that RNAi knockdown of GPAT significantly impaired the ability of females to attract males. Our findings indicate that GPAT acts to regulate the biosynthesis of sex pheromone precursor, TAG, thus influencing PBAN-induced sex pheromone production and subsequent mating behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfang Du
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Xinming Yin
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
| | - Shuangyin Han
- Translational Research Center, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003 P.R. China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shiheng An
- State key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science/College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002 P.R. China
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21
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De novo analysis of the Adelphocoris suturalis Jakovlev metathoracic scent glands transcriptome and expression patterns of pheromone biosynthesis-related genes. Gene 2014; 551:271-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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22
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Zhang S, Liu X, Zhu B, Yin X, Du M, Song Q, An S. Identification of differentially expressed genes in the pheromone glands of mated and virgin Bombyx mori by digital gene expression profiling. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111003. [PMID: 25330197 PMCID: PMC4203833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mating decreases female receptivity and terminates sex pheromone production in moths. Although significant progress has been made in elucidating the mating-regulated inactivation of pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) secretion, little is known about the mating induced gene expression profiles in pheromone glands (PGs). In this study, the associated genes involved in Bombyx mori mating were identified through digital gene expression (DGE) profiling and subsequent RNA interference (RNAi) to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the mating-regulated gene expression in PGs. Results Eight DGE libraries were constructed from the PGs of mated and virgin females: 1 h mating (M1)/virgin (V1) PGs, 3 h mating (M3)/virgin (V3) PGs, 24 h mating (M24)/virgin (V24) PGs and 48 h mating (M48)/virgin (V48) PGs (M48 and V48). These libraries were used to investigate the gene expression profiles affected by mating. DGE profiling revealed a series of genes showing differential expression in each set of mated and virgin female samples, including immune-associated genes, sex pheromone synthesis-associated genes, juvenile hormone (JH) signal-associated genes, etc. Most interestingly, JH signal was found to be activated by mating. Application of the JH mimics, methoprene to the newly-emerged virgin females leaded to the significant reduction of sex pheromone production. RNAi-mediated knockdown of putative JH receptor gene, Methoprene tolerant 1 (Met1), in female pupa resulted in a significant decrease in sex pheromone production in mature females, suggesting the importance of JH in sex pheromone synthesis. Conclusion A series of differentially expressed genes in PGs in response to mating was identified. This study improves our understanding of the role of JH signaling on the mating-elicited termination of sex pheromone production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songdou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science (College of Plant Protection), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science (College of Plant Protection), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science (College of Plant Protection), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Xinming Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science (College of Plant Protection), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Mengfang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science (College of Plant Protection), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Divisions of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Shiheng An
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science (College of Plant Protection), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China
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Zhang SD, Li X, Bin Z, Du MF, Yin XM, An SH. Molecular identification of a pancreatic lipase-like gene involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis of Bombyx mori. INSECT SCIENCE 2014; 21:459-468. [PMID: 23955937 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Cytoplasmic lipid droplet (LD) lipolysis is regulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) in Bombyx mori. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of cytoplasm LD lipolysis, the pancreatic lipase-like gene in B. mori pheromone glands (PGs), designated as B. mori pancreatic lipase-like gene (BmPLLG), was identified in this study. Spatial expression analysis revealed that BmPLLG is a ubiquitous gene present in all studied tissues, such as PGs, brain, epidermis, egg, midgut, flight muscle and fat body. Temporal expression analysis showed that the BmPLLG transcript begins to express 96 h before eclosion (-96 h), continues to increase, peaks in newly emerged females and steadily decreases after eclosion. Translational expression analysis of BmPLLG using a prepared antiserum demonstrated that BmPLLG was expressed in an age-dependent pattern at different development stages in B. mori. This finding was similar to the transcript expression pattern. Further RNA interference-mediated knockdown of BmPLLG significantly inhibited bombykol production. Overall, these results demonstrated that BmPLLG is involved in PBAN-induced sex pheromone biosynthesis and release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Dou Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University
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Cheng Y, Wang XY, Du C, Gao J, Xu JP. Expression analysis of several antiviral related genes to BmNPV in different resistant strains of silkworm, Bombyx mori. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2014; 14:76. [PMID: 25373223 PMCID: PMC4212868 DOI: 10.1093/jis/14.1.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/06/2013] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a highly pathogenic virus in the sericultural industry, often causing severe damage leading to large economic losses. The immune mechanisms of B. mori against this virus remain obscure. Previous studies had demonstrated Bmlipase-1, BmNox and Bmserine protease-2 showing antiviral activity in vitro, but data on the transcription levels of these proteins in different resistant strains were not reported. In order to determine the resistance level of the four different strains (P50, A35, A40, A53) and gain a better understanding of the mechanism of resistance to BmNPV in B. mori, the relative expression level of the genes coding the three antiviral proteins in larval haemolymph and midgut of different B. mori strains resistant to BmNPV was determined. The results showed that these genes expressed significantly higher in the resistant strains compared to the susceptible strain, and the differential expression levels were consistent with the LC50 values in different strains. The transcription level of the target genes almost all up-regulated in the larvae midgut and down-regulated in the haemolymph. The results indicate the correlation of these genes to BmNPV resistance in B. mori.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Cheng
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xue-yang Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Chang Du
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Juan Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Jia-ping Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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Hou C, Qin G, Liu T, Geng T, Gao K, Pan Z, Qian H, Guo X. Transcriptome analysis of silkworm, Bombyx mori, during early response to Beauveria bassiana challenges. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91189. [PMID: 24618587 PMCID: PMC3949756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Host–pathogen interactions are complex processes and it is a central challenge to reveal these interactions. Fungal infection of silkworm, Bombyx mori, may induce a variety of responsive reaction. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of silkworm immune response against the fungal infection. To obtain an overview of the interaction between silkworm and an entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, Digital Gene Expression profiling, a tag based high-throughput transcriptome sequencing method, was employed to screen and identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs, FDR≤0.001, ∣log2ratio∣≥1) of silkworm larvae during early response against B. bassiana infection. Total 1430 DEGs including 960 up-regulated and 470 down-regulated ones were identified, of which 627 DEGs can be classified into GO categories by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. KEGG pathways analysis of these DEGs suggested that many biological processes, such as defense and response, signal transduction, phagocytosis, regulation of gene expression, RNA splicing, biosynthesis and metabolism, protein transport etc. were involved in the interaction between the silkworm and B. bassiana. A number of differentially expressed fungal genes were also identified by mapping the sequencing tags to B. bassiana genome. These results provided new insights to the molecular mechanism of silkworm immune response to B. bassiana infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxiang Hou
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guangxing Qin
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Geng
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kun Gao
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhonghua Pan
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Heying Qian
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xijie Guo
- Sericultural Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
- * E-mail:
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Gu SH, Wu KM, Guo YY, Pickett JA, Field LM, Zhou JJ, Zhang YJ. Identification of genes expressed in the sex pheromone gland of the black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon with putative roles in sex pheromone biosynthesis and transport. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:636. [PMID: 24053512 PMCID: PMC3849270 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the challenges in insect chemical ecology is to understand how insect pheromones are synthesised, detected and degraded. Genome wide survey by comparative sequencing and gene specific expression profiling provide rich resources for this challenge. A. ipsilon is a destructive pest of many crops and further characterization of the genes involved in pheromone biosynthesis and transport could offer potential targets for disruption of their chemical communication and for crop protection. Results Here we report 454 next-generation sequencing of the A. ipsilon pheromone gland transcriptome, identification and expression profiling of genes putatively involved in pheromone production, transport and degradation. A total of 23473 unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome analysis, 86% of which were A. ipsilon specific. 42 transcripts encoded enzymes putatively involved in pheromone biosynthesis, of which 15 were specifically, or mainly, expressed in the pheromone glands at 5 to 120-fold higher levels than in the body. Two transcripts encoding for a fatty acid synthase and a desaturase were highly abundant in the transcriptome and expressed more than 40-fold higher in the glands than in the body. The transcripts encoding for 2 acetyl-CoA carboxylases, 1 fatty acid synthase, 2 desaturases, 3 acyl-CoA reductases, 2 alcohol oxidases, 2 aldehyde reductases and 3 acetyltransferases were expressed at a significantly higher level in the pheromone glands than in the body. 17 esterase transcripts were not gland-specific and 7 of these were expressed highly in the antennae. Seven transcripts encoding odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and 8 encoding chemosensory proteins (CSPs) were identified. Two CSP transcripts (AipsCSP2, AipsCSP8) were highly abundant in the pheromone gland transcriptome and this was confirmed by qRT-PCR. One OBP (AipsOBP6) were pheromone gland-enriched and three OBPs (AipsOBP1, AipsOBP2 and AipsOBP4) were antennal-enriched. Based on these studies we proposed possible A. ipsilon biosynthesis pathways for major and minor sex pheromone components. Conclusions Our study identified genes potentially involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis and transport in A. ipsilon. The identified genes are likely to play essential roles in sex pheromone production, transport and degradation and could serve as targets to interfere with pheromone release. The identification of highly expressed CSPs and OBPs in the pheromone gland suggests that they may play a role in the binding, transport and release of sex pheromones during sex pheromone production in A. ipsilon and other Lepidoptera insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Hua Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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Foster SP, Anderson KG. Synthetic rates of key stored fatty acids in the biosynthesis of sex pheromone in the moth Heliothis virescens. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 42:865-872. [PMID: 22982110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Revised: 08/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Using a tracer-tracee approach, we fed 1-d-old virgin Heliothis virescens U-(13)C-glucose and analyzed the key labeled fatty acids, (Z)-11-hexadecenoate, hexadecanoate and octadecanoate, known to be intermediates in pheromone biosynthesis, by mass isotopomer distribution analysis. This method allowed determination of enrichment, and fractional (FSR) and absolute (ASR) synthetic rates. As expected, FSRs and ASRs for all three moieties were greater in the scotophase than photophase. However, in whole gland extracts, FSRs and ASRs of (Z)-11-hexadecenoate and hexadecanoate were much lower than those of the major pheromone component, (Z)-11-hexadecenal, determined previously. Since pheromone is made via these acids, we postulated that pheromone was produced directly and very rapidly via a small pool of acyl CoA thioesters of these acids and that the pool of acids we analyzed in our whole gland extract was largely a 'dead end' pool of excess acids (i.e., not converted directly to pheromone) stored in glycerolipids. We tested this by fractionating the whole glandular extract and analyzing the glycerolipid fraction. FSRs and ASRs for the two acids in the glycerolipid fraction were similar to those for the whole gland extract, confirming our postulate. Thus, most acetate produced in the pheromone gland is converted rapidly and directly to pheromone, while excess fatty acids are stored in glycerolipids and remain relatively inaccessible for pheromone production, at least over the two periods studied. Precursor enrichment of octadecanoate was substantially lower than that determined for the two 16-carbon acids and pheromone component. This suggests that hexadecanoate is the principal product of the multi-enzyme complex fatty acid synthase in the gland, and that octadecanoate is formed by subsequent chain elongation of hexadecanoate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Foster
- Entomology Department, North Dakota State University, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA.
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