Insect Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Antibacterial mechanism and structure–activity relationships of Bombyx mori cecropin A","authors":"Yuyuan Tian,&nbsp;Hongxian Wei,&nbsp;Fuping Lu,&nbsp;Huazhou Wu,&nbsp;Dezhao Lou,&nbsp;Shuchang Wang,&nbsp;Tao Geng","doi":"10.1111/imb.12934","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12934","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Bombyx mori</i> cecropin A (Bmcecropin A) has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-filamentous fungal and tumour cell inhibition activities and is considered a potential succedaneum for antibiotics. We clarified the antibacterial mechanism and structure–activity relationships and then directed the structure–activity optimization of Bmcecropin A. Firstly, we found Bmcecropin A shows a strong binding force and permeability to cell membranes like a detergent; Bmcecropin A could competitively bind to the cell membrane with the cell membrane-specific dye DiI, then damaged the membrane for the access of DiI into the cytoplasm and leading to the leakage of electrolyte and proteins. Secondly, we found Bmcopropin A could also bind to and degrade DNA; furthermore, DNA library polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results indicated that Bmcecropin A inhibited DNA replication by non-specific binding. In addition, we have identified C-terminus amidation and serine-lysine- glycine (SLG) amino acids of Bmcecropin A played critical roles in the membrane damage and DNA degradation. Based on the above results, we designed a mutant of Bmcecropin A (E⁹ to H, D¹⁷ to K, K³³ to A), which showed higher antibacterial activity, thermostability and pH stability than ampicillin but no haemolytic activity. Finally, we speculated that Bmcecropin A damaged the cell membrane through a carpet model and drew the schematic diagram of its antibacterial mechanism, based on the antibacterial mechanism and the three-dimensional configuration. These findings yield insights into the mechanism of antimicrobial peptide–pathogen interaction and beneficial for the development of new antibiotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141426803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The genome-wide response of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus to cystatin A, a peptidase inhibitor from human skin, sheds light on its digestive physiology and allergenicity","authors":"José Cristian Vidal-Quist,&nbsp;Félix Ortego,&nbsp;Stephane Rombauts,&nbsp;Pedro Hernández-Crespo","doi":"10.1111/imb.12931","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12931","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The digestive physiology of house dust mites (HDMs) is particularly relevant for their allergenicity since many of their allergens participate in digestion and are excreted into faecal pellets, a main source of exposure for allergic subjects. To gain insight into the mite dietary digestion, the genome of the HDM <i>Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</i> was screened for genes encoding peptidases (<i>n</i> = 320), glycosylases (<i>n</i> = 77), lipases and esterases (<i>n</i> = 320), peptidase inhibitors (<i>n</i> = 65) and allergen-related proteins (<i>n</i> = 52). Basal gene expression and transcriptional responses of mites to dietary cystatin A, a cysteine endopeptidase inhibitor with previously shown antinutritional effect on mites, were analysed by RNAseq. The ingestion of cystatin A resulted in significant regulation of different cysteine endopeptidase and glycosylase genes. One Der p 1-like and two cathepsin B-like cysteine endopeptidase genes of high basal expression were induced, which suggests their prominent role in proteolytic digestion together with major allergen Der p 1. A number of genes putatively participating in the interaction of mites with their microbiota and acquired by horizontal gene transfer were repressed, including genes encoding the peptidase Der p 38, two 1,3-beta-glucanases, a lysozyme and a GH19 chitinase. Finally, the disruption of mite digestion resulted in the regulation of up to 17 allergen and isoallergen genes. Altogether, our results shed light on the putative role of specific genes in digestion and illustrate the connection between the digestive physiology of HDM and allergy.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12931","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141327491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A role of epigenetic mechanisms in regulating female reproductive responses to temperature in a pest beetle","authors":"Beth A. McCaw,&nbsp;Aoife M. Leonard,&nbsp;Tyler J. Stevenson,&nbsp;Lesley T. Lancaster","doi":"10.1111/imb.12933","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12933","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Many species are threatened by climate change and must rapidly respond to survive in changing environments. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, can facilitate plastic responses by regulating gene expression in response to environmental cues. Understanding epigenetic responses is therefore essential for predicting species' ability to rapidly adapt in the context of global environmental change. Here, we investigated the functional significance of different methylation-associated cellular processes on temperature-dependent life history in seed beetles, <i>Callosobruchus maculatus</i> Fabricius 1775 (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). We assessed changes under thermal stress in (1) DNA methyltransferase (<i>Dnmt1</i> and <i>Dnmt2</i>) expression levels, (2) genome-wide methylation and (3) reproductive performance, with (2) and (3) following treatment with 3-aminobenzamide (3AB) and zebularine (Zeb) over two generations. These drugs are well-documented to alter DNA methylation across the tree of life. We found that <i>Dnmt1</i> and <i>Dnmt2</i> were expressed throughout the body in males and females, but were highly expressed in females compared with males and exhibited temperature dependence. However, whole-genome methylation did not significantly vary with temperature, and only marginally or inconclusively with drug treatment. Both 3AB and Zeb led to profound temperature-dependent shifts in female reproductive life history trade-off allocation, often increasing fitness compared with control beetles. Mismatch between magnitude of treatment effects on DNA methylation versus life history effects suggest potential of 3AB and Zeb to alter reproductive trade-offs via changes in DNA repair and recycling processes, rather than or in addition to (subtle) changes in DNA methylation. Together, our results suggest that epigenetic mechanisms relating to <i>Dnmt</i> expression, DNA repair and recycling pathways, and possibly DNA methylation, are strongly implicated in modulating insect life history trade-offs in response to temperature change.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12933","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141305860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The RNA interference response to alphanodavirus replication in Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly cells","authors":"Akira J. T. Alexander,&nbsp;Rhys H. Parry,&nbsp;Maxime Ratinier,&nbsp;Frédérick Arnaud,&nbsp;Alain Kohl","doi":"10.1111/imb.12932","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12932","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this study, we identified and assembled a strain of American nodavirus (ANV) in the <i>Phlebotomus papatasi</i>-derived PP9ad cell line. This strain most closely resembles Flock House virus and ANV identified in the <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> S2/S2R cell line. Through small RNA sequencing and analysis, we demonstrate that ANV replication in PP9ad cells is primarily targeted by the exogenous small interfering RNA (exo-siRNA) pathway, with minimal engagement from the PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway. In mosquitoes such as <i>Aedes</i> and <i>Culex</i>, the PIWI pathway is expanded and specialised, which actively limits virus replication. This is unlike in <i>Drosophila</i> spp., where the piRNA pathway does not restrict viral replication. In <i>Lutzomyia</i> sandflies (family <i>Psychodidae</i>), close relatives of <i>Phlebotomus</i> species and <i>Drosophila</i>, there appears to be an absence of virus-derived piRNAs. To investigate whether this absence is due to a lack of PIWI pathway proteins, we analysed the piRNA and siRNA diversity and repertoire in PP9ad cells. Previous assemblies of <i>P. papatasi</i> genome (Ppap_1.0) have revealed a patchy repertoire of the siRNA and piRNA pathways. Our analysis of the updated <i>P. papatasi</i> genome (Ppap_2.1) has shown no PIWI protein expansion in sandflies. We found that both siRNA and piRNA pathways are transcriptionally active in PP9ad cells, with genomic mapping of small RNAs generating typical piRNA signatures. Our results suggest that the piRNA pathway may not respond to virus replication in these cells, but an antiviral response is mounted via the exo-siRNA pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12932","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141283650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 7 in reproduction and limb pigmentation of Aedes aegypti","authors":"Yu Tang,&nbsp;Linlong Jiang,&nbsp;Yuqi Huang,&nbsp;Zhaohui Chen,&nbsp;David J. Merkler,&nbsp;Lei Zhang,&nbsp;Qian Han","doi":"10.1111/imb.12930","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12930","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Arylalkylamine <i>N</i>-acetyltransferase (aaNAT) is a crucial enzyme that catalyses the transfer of acetyl groups from acetyl coenzyme A to arylalkylamines and arylamines. Evolutionary studies have identified a distinct class of aaNATs specific to mosquitoes, yet their functions remain elusive. This study focuses on <i>Ae-aaNAT7</i>, a mosquito-unique gene in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> (Diptera:Culicidae), to explore its functionality. Temporal and spatial expression analysis of Ae-aaNAT7 mRNA revealed high expression during embryonic development and in first-instar larvae, with notable expression in the limbs of adult mosquitoes based on tissue expression profiling. By further employing CRISPR/Cas9 technology for loss-of-function studies, our investigation revealed a reduction in the area of white spotting in the limbs of <i>Ae-aaNAT7</i> mutant adult mosquitoes. Further investigation revealed a significant decrease in the fecundity and hatchability of the mutants. Dissection of the ovaries from <i>Ae-aaNAT7</i> heterozygous mutants showed a noticeable reduction in the oocyte area compared with wild type. Dissection of the exochorion of the eggs from <i>Ae-aaNAT7</i> homozygous mutants consistently revealed a striking absence of mature embryos. In addition, RNA interference experiments targeting <i>Ae-aaNAT7</i> in males resulted in a reduction in fecundity, but no effect on hatchability was observed. These collective insights underscore the substantial impact of <i>Ae-aaNAT7</i> on reproduction and its pivotal contribution to adult limb pigmentation in <i>Ae. aegypti</i>. These revelations offer insights pivotal for the strategic design of future insecticide targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141179320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DNA methylase 1 influences temperature responses and development in the invasive pest Tuta absoluta","authors":"Yanhong Tang,&nbsp;Huifang Zhang,&nbsp;Huanqing Zhu,&nbsp;Siyan Bi,&nbsp;Xiaodi Wang,&nbsp;Shunxia Ji,&nbsp;Jianhang Ji,&nbsp;Dongfang Ma,&nbsp;Cong Huang,&nbsp;Guifen Zhang,&nbsp;Nianwan Yang,&nbsp;Fanghao Wan,&nbsp;Zhichuang Lü,&nbsp;Wanxue Liu","doi":"10.1111/imb.12919","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12919","url":null,"abstract":"<p>DNA methylase 1 (<i>Dnmt1</i>) is an important regulatory factor associated with biochemical signals required for insect development. It responds to changes in the environment and triggers phenotypic plasticity. Meanwhile, <i>Tuta absoluta</i> Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)<i>—</i>a destructive invasive pest<i>—</i>can rapidly invade and adapt to different habitats; however, the role of <i>Dnmt1</i> in this organism has not been elucidated. Accordingly, this study investigates the mechanism(s) underlying the rapid adaptation of <i>Tuta absoluta</i> to temperature stress. Potential regulatory genes were screened via RNAi (RNA interference), and the DNA methylase in <i>Tuta absoluta</i> was cloned by RACE (Rapid amplification of cDNA ends). <i>TaDnmt1</i> was identified as a potential regulatory gene via bioinformatics; its expression was evaluated in response to temperature stress and during different development stages using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results revealed that <i>TaDnmt1</i> participates in hot/cold tolerance, temperature preference and larval development. The full-length cDNA sequence of <i>TaDnmt1</i> is 3765 bp and encodes a 1254 kDa protein with typical Dnmt1 node-conserved structural features and six conserved DNA-binding active motifs. Moreover, <i>TaDnmt1</i> expression is significantly altered by temperature stress treatments and within different development stages. Hence, <i>TaDnmt1</i> likely contributes to temperature responses and organismal development. Furthermore, after treating with double-stranded RNA and exposing <i>Tuta absoluta</i> to 35°C heat shock or −12°C cold shock for 1 h, the survival rate significantly decreases; the preferred temperature is 2°C lower than that of the control group. In addition, the epidermal segments become enlarged and irregularly folded while the surface dries up. This results in a significant increase in larval mortality (57%) and a decrease in pupation (49.3%) and eclosion (50.9%) rates. Hence, <i>TaDnmt1</i> contributes to temperature stress responses and temperature perception, as well as organismal growth and development, via DNA methylation regulation. These findings suggest that the rapid geographic expansion of <i>T absoluta</i> has been closely associated with <i>TaDnmt1-</i>mediated temperature tolerance. This study advances the research on ‘thermos Dnmt’ and provides a potential target for RNAi-driven regulation of <i>Tuta absoluta</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12919","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141161149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bombyx mori RPL13 participates in UV-induced DNA damage repair of B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus through interaction with Bm65","authors":"Qi Tang,&nbsp;Jingjing Tang,&nbsp;Ceru Chen,&nbsp;Feifei Zhu,&nbsp;Qian Yu,&nbsp;Huiqing Chen,&nbsp;Liang Chen,&nbsp;Shangshang Ma,&nbsp;Keping Chen,&nbsp;Guohui Li","doi":"10.1111/imb.12928","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12928","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ribosomal protein L13 (RPL13) is highly conserved in evolution. At present, the properties and functions of RPL13 have not been characterised in insects. In this study, <i>Bombyx mori</i> RPL13 (BmRPL13) was first found to be specifically recruited to the sites of ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage and contributed to UV damage repair. <i>Escherichia coli</i> expressing BmRPL13 showed better resistance to UV radiation. After knocking down the expression of BmRPL13 in BmN cells, the repair speed of UV-damaged DNA slowed down. The further results showed that BmRPL13 interacted with <i>B. mori</i> nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) ORF65 (Bm65) protein to locate at the UV-induced DNA damage sites of BmNPV and helped repair UV-damaged viral DNA.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141154648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A critical role for the nuclear protein Akirin in larval development in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata","authors":"Ahmad Ali Anjum,&nbsp;Meng-Jiao Lin,&nbsp;Lin Jin,&nbsp;Guo-Qing Li","doi":"10.1111/imb.12929","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12929","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Akirin is a nuclear protein that controls development in vertebrates and invertebrates. The function of Akirin has not been assessed in any Coleopteran insects. We found that high levels of <i>akirin</i> transcripts in <i>Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata</i>, a serious Coleopteran potato defoliator (hereafter <i>Hvakirin</i>), were present at prepupal, pupal and adult stages, especially in larval foregut and fat body. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting <i>Hvakirin</i> impaired larval development. The <i>Hvakirin</i> RNAi larvae arrested development at the final larval instar stage. They remained as stunted larvae, gradually blackened and finally died. Moreover, the remodelling of gut and fat body was inhibited in the <i>Hvakirin</i> depleted larvae. Two layers of cuticles, old and newly formed, were noted in the ds<i>egfp</i>-injected animals. In contrast, only a layer of cuticle was found in the ds<i>akirin</i>-injected beetles, indicating the arrest of larval development. Furthermore, the expression of three transforming growth factor-β cascade genes (<i>Hvsmox</i>, <i>Hvmyo</i> and <i>Hvbabo</i>), a 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor gene (<i>HvEcR</i>) and six 20E response genes (<i>HvHR3</i>, <i>HvHR4</i>, <i>HvE75</i>, <i>HvBrC</i>, <i>HvE93</i> and <i>Hvftz-f1</i>) was significantly repressed, consistent with decreased 20E signalling. Conversely, the transcription of a juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis gene (<i>Hvjhamt</i>), a JH receptor gene (<i>HvMet</i>) and two JH response genes (<i>HvKr-h1</i> and <i>HvHairy</i>) was greatly enhanced. Our findings suggest a critical role of Akirin in larval development in <i>H. vigintioctopunctata</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141086746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ame-miR-1-3p of bee venom reduced cell viability through the AZIN1/OAZ1-ODC1-polyamines pathway and enhanced the defense ability of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.)","authors":"Haifeng Liu,&nbsp;Xue Tian,&nbsp;Jie Wen,&nbsp;Jie Liu,&nbsp;Yunfei Huo,&nbsp;Kangqi Yuan,&nbsp;Jiazhong Guo,&nbsp;Xun Wang,&nbsp;Mingxian Yang,&nbsp;Anan Jiang,&nbsp;Quanquan Cao,&nbsp;Jun Jiang","doi":"10.1111/imb.12899","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12899","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bee venom serves as an essential defensive weapon for bees and also finds application as a medicinal drug. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as critical regulators and have been demonstrated to perform a variety of biological functions. However, the presence of miRNAs in bee venom needs to be confirmed. Therefore, we conducted small RNA sequencing and identified 158 known miRNAs, 15 conserved miRNAs and 4 novel miRNAs. It is noteworthy that ame-miR-1-3p, the most abundant among them, accounted for over a quarter of all miRNA reads. To validate the function of ame-miR-1-3p, we screened 28 candidate target genes using transcriptome sequencing and three target gene prediction software (miRanda, PITA and TargetScan) for ame-miR-1-3p. Subsequently, we employed real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot and other technologies to confirm that ame-miR-1-3p inhibits the relative expression of antizyme inhibitor 1 (AZIN1) by targeting the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of AZIN1. This, in turn, caused ODC antizyme 1 (OAZ1) to bind to ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1) and mark ODC1 for proteolytic destruction. The reduction in functional ODC1 ultimately resulted in a decrease in polyamine biosynthesis. Furthermore, we determined that ame-miR-1-3p accelerates cell death through the AZIN1/OAZ1-ODC1-polyamines pathway. Our studies demonstrate that ame-miR-1-3p diminishes cell viability and it may collaborate with sPLA2 to enhance the defence capabilities of honeybees (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.). Collectively, these data further elucidate the defence mechanism of bee venom and expand the potential applications of bee venom in medical treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141065265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GASZ is indispensable for gametogenesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori","authors":"Peilin Guo,&nbsp;Ye Yu,&nbsp;Hongxia Kang,&nbsp;Yutong Liu,&nbsp;Dalin Zhu,&nbsp;Chenxin Sun,&nbsp;Zhiping Xing,&nbsp;Ziyue Tang,&nbsp;Kai Chen,&nbsp;Anjiang Tan","doi":"10.1111/imb.12921","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12921","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The prominent role of the P-element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway in animals is to silence transposable elements and maintain genome stability, ensuring proper gametogenesis in gonads. GASZ (Germ cell protein with Ankyrin repeats, Sterile alpha motif, and leucine Zipper) is an evolutionarily conserved protein located on the outer mitochondrial membrane of germ cells and plays vital roles in the piRNA pathway and spermatogenesis in mammals. In the model insect <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>, GASZ is essential for piRNA biogenesis and oogenesis, whereas its biological functions in non-drosophilid insects are still unknown. Here, we describe a comprehensive investigation of GASZ functions in the silkworm, <i>Bombyx mori</i>, a lepidopteran model insect, by using a binary transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 system. The <i>BmGASZ</i> mutation did not affect growth and development, but led to sterility in both males and females. Eupyrene sperm bundles of mutant males exhibited developmental defects, while the apyrene sperm bundles were normal, which were further confirmed through double copulation experiments with <i>sex-lethal</i> mutants, which males possess functional eupyrene sperm and abnormal apyrene sperm. In female mutant moths, ovarioles were severely degenerated and the eggs in ovarioles were deformed compared with that of wild type (WT). Further RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analysis revealed that amounts of piRNAs and transposon expression were dysregulated in gonads of mutants. In summary, this study has demonstrated vital roles of <i>BmGASZ</i> in gametogenesis through regulating the piRNA pathway in <i>B. mori</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140904122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}