A Detailed Spatial Expression Analysis of Wing Phenotypes Reveals Novel Patterns of Odorant Binding Proteins in the Soybean Aphid, Aphis glycines

Spatial Expression Analysis of Odorant Binding Proteins in Both Sexes of the Aphid Parasitoid Aphidius gifuensis and Their Ligand Binding Properties

In China, Aphidius gifuensis is one of the most common endoparasitoids of the green peach aphid Myzus persicae and grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi in the field. Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) play vital roles in odor perception during feeding, host searching, mating and oviposition. In addition, some OBPs are involved in other physiological processes such as gustation and reproduction. In the present study, a comparative antennal transcriptomic analysis was applied between male and female A. gifuensis. The spatial expression patterns among antennae, heads, thoraxes, abdomens and legs of OBPs in both sexes were further profiled. Fifteen AgifOBPs were predicted, and 14 of them were identified by gene cloning, including 12 classic OBPs and 2 min-C OBPs. As expected, all OBPs were mainly expressed at high levels in antennae, heads or legs which are sensory organs and tissues. Finally, ligand binding properties of 2 OBPs (AgifOBP7 and AgifOBP9) were further evaluated. Female leg specifically expressed AgifOBP9 displays a broad and high binding property to aphid alarm pheromones, plant green volatiles and aphid sex pheromones (Ki < 10 μΜ). However, female leg specifically expressed AgifOBP7 displays poor affinity for all tested ligands except CAU-II-11 ((E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate), a reported (E)-β-farnesene (EBF) analog with an exceptionally high binding affinity (Ki = 1.07 ± 0.08 μΜ). In summary, we reported the spatial expression pattern of the OBP repertoire in A. gifuensis, and further studied the binding properties of OBP7 and OBP9, which are mainly expressed in female legs, laying the foundation for the dissection of the contribution of OBPs to chemosensation in A. gifuensis.

Novel Temporal Expression Patterns of EBF-Binding Proteins in Wing Morphs of The Grain Aphid Sitobion miscanthi

High chemosensitivity of insects to volatile organic compounds (VOC) stimuli is mediated by odorant binding proteins (OBPs). In aphids, three OBPs (OBP3, OBP7 and OBP9) are E-β-farnesene (EBF)-binding proteins. Winged aphids are generally more sensitive than wingless aphids to VOCs, thus, wing presence is a phenotypic correlate of olfaction sensitivity. Here, we investigate the detailed temporal expression of these EBF-binding proteins and two other OBPs (OBP6 and OBP10), in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi 0 h, 2 h, 1 day, 3 days, 10 days, and 20 days after adult emergence. Both winged and wingless aphids were examined to further uncover phenotypic specification. Then, the expression patterns before and after EBF induction were analyzed. Throughout adulthood, only OBP7 had significantly higher antennal expression in winged aphids; however, there was no significant difference in the antennal expression of OBP3 between wing morphs at most time points. Except it was lower in newly emerged winged aphids but increased rapidly to the same level in wingless aphids at 1 day. OBP9 did not differ in expression between the morphs and was the only OBP that did not exhibit an expression trough at the beginning of the adult stage (0 h). The expression of OBP9 remained relatively stable and high throughout the adult stage in both phenotypes, showing the highest level among the three EBF-binding proteins. After EBF induction, its expression was further up-regulated in both morphs. Therefore, this protein may be an important molecule for EBF recognition in aphids. OBP7 strongly responded to EBF but only in winged aphids, suggesting that this protein is important in the more sensitive EBF recognition process of winged aphids. In addition, the antennal expression level of OBP3 did not respond to EBF induction. These findings revealed a temporal expression pattern of OBPs in aphids and showed that figuring out the pattern is critical for correctly selecting morphs and sampling times, which will support the discovery of reliable findings and allow solid conclusions to be drawn. Our findings also inspire on the interaction mode of the three EBF-binding proteins in relation to EBF perception in aphids.