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Xia G, Yang L, Li B, Wang Q, Huang L, Tian X, Zhang G. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of Odorant-Binding Protein Genes in the Bean Flower Thrips Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). INSECTS 2025; 16:212. [PMID: 40003841 PMCID: PMC11856683 DOI: 10.3390/insects16020212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2025] [Revised: 02/10/2025] [Accepted: 02/13/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025]
Abstract
Megalurothrips usitatus is an economically important vegetable pest. Because of the growing demand for reducing pesticide use on vegetables, new environmentally friendly strategies for controlling M. usitatus are urgently needed. Insect odorant-binding proteins are prospective targets for screening environmentally friendly odorant attractants for pest control. However, very little is known about OBP genes in M. usitatus. Here, we identified 14 OBPs in the M. usitatus genome using HMMER and BLAST. The chromosomal location showed that these OBPs were widely distributed across eight chromosomes. The analysis of the gene and protein structure characteristics of OBPs in M. usitatus revealed substantial diversity within the OBP gene family. The spatiotemporal expression profiles showed that ten out of 14 MusiOBPs displayed male biased expression, which were highly expressed in antennae, suggesting that they may play a crucial role in the recognition of host plant volatiles and thrips aggregation pheromones. Notably, only MusiOBP8 was significantly higher expressed in female adults, indicating a potential involvement in reproduction. Moreover, MusiOBP7 and MusiOBP13 were highly expressed in the pupae, indicating their possible role in immune responses. These results provide an important foundation for further exploration of the functions of the OBPs in M. usitatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen Xia
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China; (G.X.); (Q.W.)
| | - Lang Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biology for Crop Diseases and Insect Pests, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanning 530007, China; (L.Y.); (L.H.)
| | - Boliao Li
- Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Jujube, College of Life Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China;
| | - Qinli Wang
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China; (G.X.); (Q.W.)
| | - Lifei Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Biology for Crop Diseases and Insect Pests, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control on Fruits and Vegetables in South China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Science, Nanning 530007, China; (L.Y.); (L.H.)
| | - Xiaoli Tian
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China;
| | - Guohui Zhang
- College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China; (G.X.); (Q.W.)
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Gouda MNR, Subramanian S. Variations in the expression of odorant binding and chemosensory proteins in the developmental stages of whitefly Bemisia tabaci Asia II-1. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15046. [PMID: 38951601 PMCID: PMC11217293 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65785-9] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is considered as a species complex with 46 cryptic species, with Asia II-1 being predominant in Asia. This study addresses a significant knowledge gap in the characterization of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in Asia II-1. We explored the expression patterns of OBPs and CSPs throughout their developmental stages and compared the motif patterns of these proteins. Significant differences in expression patterns were observed for the 14 OBPs and 14 CSPs of B. tabaci Asia II-1, with OBP8 and CSP4 showing higher expression across the developmental stages. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that OBP8 and CSP4 form distinct clades, with OBP8 appearing to be an ancestral gene, giving rise to the evolution of other odorant-binding proteins in B. tabaci. The genomic distribution of OBPs and CSPs highlights gene clustering on the chromosomes, suggesting functional conservation and evolutionary events following the birth-and-death model. Molecular docking studies indicate strong binding affinities of OBP8 and CSP4 with various odour compounds like β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene, reinforcing their roles in host recognition and reproductive functions. This study elaborates on our understanding of the putative roles of different OBPs and CSPs in B. tabaci Asia II-1, hitherto unexplored. The dynamics of the expression of OBPs and CSPs and their interactions with odour compounds offer scope for developing innovative methods for controlling this global invasive pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Rudra Gouda
- Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - S Subramanian
- Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Xiao G, Lu J, Yang Z, Fu H, Hu P. A Study of Adult Olfactory Proteins of Primitive Ghost Moth, Endoclita signifer (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae). Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2264. [PMID: 38137865 PMCID: PMC10744962 DOI: 10.3390/life13122264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Endoclita signifer is a prominent wood-boring insect species in eucalyptus plantations in Guangxi, China, causing significant ecological and economic damage. A novel approach to controlling the challenging wood-boring pest involves disrupting the olfactory communication between insects and the volatile compounds emitted by plants. To identify the olfactory proteins contributing to host selection based on 11 GC-EAD-active volatiles from eucalyptus leaves and to discover the highly expressed olfactory proteins, we conducted a study on the antennal transcriptomes of adult E. signifer and screened key olfactory proteins in the antennae. We identified a total of 69 olfactory proteins. When compared to the larval transcriptomes, the antennal transcriptome of adult E. signifer revealed the presence of 17 new odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), including 2 pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs), 7 previously unreported chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 17 new odorant receptors (ORs), 4 new gustatory receptors (GRs), 11 novel ionotropic receptors (IRs), and 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Through the phylogenetic tree of OBPs and ORs, we identified EsigPBP2 and EsigPBP3 as two of the three PBPs, designated EsigOR13 as EsigOrco, and recognized EsigOR10 and EsigOR22 as the newly discovered EsigPRs in E. signifer. In the adult antennae, the expression levels of EsigGOBP14, EsigGOBP13, EsigOBP14, EsigOBP17, EsigCSP14, and EsigOR16 were notably high, indicating that these proteins could be pivotal in binding to plant volatiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guipeng Xiao
- Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Jintao Lu
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory for Cultivation and Utilization of Subtropical Forest Plantation, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China (Z.Y.)
| | - Zhende Yang
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory for Cultivation and Utilization of Subtropical Forest Plantation, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China (Z.Y.)
| | - Hengfei Fu
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory for Cultivation and Utilization of Subtropical Forest Plantation, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China (Z.Y.)
| | - Ping Hu
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory for Cultivation and Utilization of Subtropical Forest Plantation, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China (Z.Y.)
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Zhang Z, Bao J, Chen Q, He J, Li X, Zhang J, Liu Z, Wu Y, Wang Y, Lu Y. The Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Bean Blossom Thrips ( Megalurothrips usitatus) Reveals an Expansion of Protein Digestion-Related Genes in Adaption to High-Protein Host Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11268. [PMID: 37511029 PMCID: PMC10379191 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) is a destructive pest of legumes, such as cowpea. The biology, population dynamics and control strategies of this pest have been well studied. However, the lack of a high-quality reference genome for M. usitatus has hindered the understanding of key biological questions, such as the mechanism of adaptation to feed preferentially on high-protein host plants and the resistance to proteinase inhibitors (PIs). In this study, we generated a high-resolution chromosome-level reference genome assembly (247.82 Mb, 16 chromosomes) of M. usitatus by combining Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and Hi-C sequencing. The genome assembly showed higher proportions of GC and repeat content compared to other Thripinae species. Genome annotation revealed 18,624 protein-coding genes, including 4613 paralogs that were preferentially located in TE-rich regions. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the paralogs revealed significant enrichment in digestion-related genes. Genome-wide identification uncovered 506 putative digestion-related enzymes; of those, proteases, especially their subgroup serine proteases (SPs), are significantly enriched in paralogs. We hypothesized that the diversity and expansion of the digestion-related genes, especially SPs, could be driven by mobile elements (TEs), which promote the adaptive evolution of M. usitatus to high-protein host plants with high serine protease inhibitors (SPIs). The current study provides a valuable genomic resource for understanding the genetic variation among different pest species adapting to different plant hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jiandong Bao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Qizhang Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jianyun He
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Jiahui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Zhixing Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Yixuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Yunsheng Wang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Yaobin Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
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