Insect Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Transcriptome-wide analysis uncovers regulatory elements of the antennal transcriptome repertoire of bumblebee at different life stages","authors":"Fatih Dikmen,&nbsp;Tunç Dabak,&nbsp;Burcu Daşer Özgişi,&nbsp;Çiğdem Özenirler,&nbsp;Selim Can Kuralay,&nbsp;Selahattin Barış Çay,&nbsp;Yusuf Ulaş Çınar,&nbsp;Onur Obut,&nbsp;Mehmet Ali Balcı,&nbsp;Pınar Akbaba,&nbsp;Esma Gamze Aksel,&nbsp;Gökmen Zararsız,&nbsp;Edwin Solares,&nbsp;Vahap Eldem","doi":"10.1111/imb.12914","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12914","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bumblebees are crucial pollinators, providing essential ecosystem services and global food production. The success of pollination services relies on the interaction between sensory organs and the environment. The antenna functions as a versatile multi-sensory organ, pivotal in mediating chemosensory/olfactory information, and governs adaptive responses to environmental changes. Despite an increasing number of RNA-sequencing studies on insect antenna, comprehensive antennal transcriptome studies at the different life stages were not elucidated systematically. Here, we quantified the expression profile and dynamics of coding/microRNA genes of larval head and antennal tissues from early- and late-stage pupa to the adult of <i>Bombus terrestris</i> as suitable model organism among pollinators. We further performed Pearson correlation analyses on the gene expression profiles of the antennal transcriptome from larval head tissue to adult stages, exploring both positive and negative expression trends. The positively correlated coding genes were primarily enriched in sensory perception of chemical stimuli, ion transport, transmembrane transport processes and olfactory receptor activity. Negatively correlated genes were mainly enriched in organic substance biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms underlying larval body patterning and the formation of juvenile antennal structures. As post-transcriptional regulators, miR-1000-5p, miR-13b-3p, miR-263-5p and miR-252-5p showed positive correlations, whereas miR-315-5p, miR-92b-3p, miR-137-3p, miR-11-3p and miR-10-3p exhibited negative correlations in antennal tissue. Notably, based on the inverse expression relationship, positively and negatively correlated microRNA (miRNA)–mRNA target pairs revealed that differentially expressed miRNAs predictively targeted genes involved in antennal development, shaping antennal structures and regulating antenna-specific functions. Our data serve as a foundation for understanding stage-specific antennal transcriptomes and large-scale comparative analysis of transcriptomes in different insects.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 6","pages":"571-588"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12914","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140810809","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":"Non-CG DNA methylation marks the transition from pupa to adult in Helicoverpa armigera","authors":"Jack W. Royle,&nbsp;David Hurwood,&nbsp;Pawel Sadowski,&nbsp;Kevin J. Dudley","doi":"10.1111/imb.12917","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12917","url":null,"abstract":"<p>DNA methylation in insects is generally low in abundance, and its role is not well understood. It is often localised in protein coding regions and associated with the expression of ‘housekeeping’ genes. Few studies have explored DNA methylation dynamics during lifecycle stage transitions in holometabolous (metamorphosing) insects. Using targeted mass spectrometry, we have found a significant difference in global DNA methylation levels between larvae, pupae and adults of <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Hübner, a polyphagous pest of agricultural importance. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing confirmed these observations and pointed to non-CG context being the primary explanation for the difference observed between pupa and adult. Non-CG methylation was enriched in genes specific to various signalling pathways (Hippo signalling, Hedgehog signalling and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling) and ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling. Understanding the function of this epigenetic mark could be a target in future studies focusing on integrated pest management.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 5","pages":"493-502"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12917","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140653014","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 expression of Catsup in the hindgut is essential for zinc homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster","authors":"Li Jin,&nbsp;Xueke Tian,&nbsp;Xiaowen Ji,&nbsp;Guiran Xiao","doi":"10.1111/imb.12916","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12916","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Zinc excretion is crucial for zinc homeostasis. However, the mechanism of zinc excretion has not been well characterized. Zinc homeostasis in <i>Drosophila</i> seems well conserved to mammals. In this study, we screened all members of the zinc transporters ZnT (SLC30) and Zip (SLC39) for their potential roles in <i>Drosophila</i> hindgut, an insect organ that belongs to the excretory system. The results indicated that Catecholamines up (Catsup, CG10449), a ZIP member localized to the Golgi, is responsible for zinc homeostasis in the hindgut of <i>Drosophila</i> hindgut-specific knockdown of <i>Catsup</i> leads to a developmental arrest in the larval stage, which could be rescued well by human ZIP7. Further study suggested that <i>Catsup</i> RNAi in the hindgut reduced zinc levels in the excretory system (containing the Malpighian tubule and hindgut) but exhibited systemic zinc overload. Besides, more calculi were observed in the Malpighian tubules of <i>Catsup</i> RNAi flies. The developmental arrest and calculi in the Malpighian tubules of hindgut-specific <i>Catsup</i> RNAi flies could be rescued by dietary zinc restriction but hypersensitivity to zinc. These results will help us understand the fundamental process of zinc excretion in higher eukaryotes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 6","pages":"601-612"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140656376","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":"Agricultural insect pests as models for studying stress-induced evolutionary processes","authors":"Joe C. Gunn,&nbsp;Blair M. Christensen,&nbsp;Erika M. Bueno,&nbsp;Zachary P. Cohen,&nbsp;Alexander S. Kissonergis,&nbsp;Yolanda H. Chen","doi":"10.1111/imb.12915","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12915","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Agricultural insect pests (AIPs) are widely successful in adapting to natural and anthropogenic stressors, repeatedly overcoming population bottlenecks and acquiring resistance to intensive management practices. Although they have been largely overlooked in evolutionary studies, AIPs are ideal systems for understanding rapid adaptation under novel environmental conditions. Researchers have identified several genomic mechanisms that likely contribute to adaptive stress responses, including positive selection on de novo mutations, polygenic selection on standing allelic variation and phenotypic plasticity (e.g., hormesis). However, new theory suggests that stress itself may induce epigenetic modifications, which may confer heritable physiological changes (i.e., stress-resistant phenotypes). In this perspective, we discuss how environmental stress from agricultural management generates the epigenetic and genetic modifications that are associated with rapid adaptation in AIPs. We summarise existing evidence for stress-induced evolutionary processes in the context of insecticide resistance. Ultimately, we propose that studying AIPs offers new opportunities and resources for advancing our knowledge of stress-induced evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 5","pages":"432-443"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12915","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140664663","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":"Uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferase is vital for fenpropathrin resistance in Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera)","authors":"Kai-yi Zheng,&nbsp;Xiao-ying Zhang,&nbsp;Fasihul Lisan,&nbsp;Wen-Qin Lai,&nbsp;Qiang Zhang,&nbsp;Jun-li Lv,&nbsp;Zhan-peng Lu,&nbsp;Sheng Qin,&nbsp;Xia Sun,&nbsp;Shang-zhi Zhang,&nbsp;Xue-yang Wang,&nbsp;Li-shang Dai,&nbsp;Mu-wang Li","doi":"10.1111/imb.12912","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12912","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>) is an important model lepidopteran insect and can be used to identify pesticide resistance-related genes of great significance for biological control of pests. Uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferases (UGTs), found in all organisms, are the main secondary enzymes involved in the metabolism of heterologous substances. However, it remains uncertain if silkworm resistance to fenpropathrin involves UGT. This study observes significant variations in <i>BmUGT</i> expression among <i>B. mori</i> strains with variable fenpropathrin resistance post-feeding, indicating <i>BmUGT</i>'s role in fenpropathrin detoxification. Knockdown of <i>BmUGT</i> with RNA interference and overexpression of <i>BmUGT</i> significantly decreased and increased BmN cell activity, respectively, indicating that <i>BmUGT</i> plays an important role in the resistance of silkworms to fenpropathrin. In addition, fenpropathrin residues were significantly reduced after incubation for 12 h with different concentrations of a recombinant BmUGT fusion protein. Finally, we verified the conservation of UGT to detoxify fenpropathrin in <i>Spodoptera exigua</i>: Its resistance to fenpropathrin decreased significantly after knocking down <i>SeUGT</i>. In a word, UGT plays an important role in silkworm resistance to fenpropathrin by directly degrading the compound, a function seen across other insects. The results of this study are of great significance for breeding silkworm varieties with high resistance and for biological control of pests.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 6","pages":"560-570"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140571355","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":"RNAi-mediated knockdown of exportin 1 negatively affected ovary development, survival and maize mosaic virus accumulation in its insect vector Peregrinus maidis","authors":"Cesar A. D. Xavier,&nbsp;Clara Tyson,&nbsp;Leo M. Kerner,&nbsp;Anna E. Whitfield","doi":"10.1111/imb.12910","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12910","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Exportin 1 (XPO1) is the major karyopherin-β nuclear receptor mediating the nuclear export of hundreds of proteins and some classes of RNA and regulates several critical processes in the cell, including cell-cycle progression, transcription and translation. Viruses have co-opted XPO1 to promote nucleocytoplasmic transport of viral proteins and RNA. Maize mosaic virus (MMV) is a plant-infecting rhabdovirus transmitted in a circulative propagative manner by the corn planthopper, <i>Peregrinus maidis</i>. MMV replicates in the nucleus of plant and insect hosts, and it remains unknown whether MMV co-opts <i>P. maidis XPO1</i> (<i>PmXPO1</i>) to complete its life cycle. Because XPO1 plays multiple regulatory roles in cell functions and virus infection, we hypothesized that RNAi-mediated silencing of <i>XPO1</i> would negatively affect MMV accumulation and insect physiology. Although <i>PmXPO1</i> expression was not modulated during MMV infection, <i>PmXPO1</i> knockdown negatively affected MMV accumulation in <i>P. maidis</i> at 12 and 15 days after microinjection. Likewise, <i>PmXPO1</i> knockdown negatively affected <i>P. maidis</i> survival and reproduction. <i>PmXPO1</i> exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns with higher expression in the ovaries compared with the guts of adult females. Survival rate was significantly lower for <i>PmXPO1</i> knockdown females, compared with controls, but no effect was observed for males. <i>PmXPO1</i> knockdown experiments revealed a role for <i>PmXPO1</i> in ovary function and egg production. Oviposition and egg hatch on plants were dramatically reduced in females treated with dsRNA <i>PmXPO1</i>. These results suggest that <i>PmXPO1</i> is a positive regulator of <i>P. maidis</i> reproduction and that it plays a proviral role in the insect vector supporting MMV infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 4","pages":"295-311"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/imb.12910","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140318192","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":"SfREPAT38, a pathogen response gene (REPAT), is involved in immune response of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae through mediating Toll signalling pathway","authors":"Yuxue Wang,&nbsp;Natasha Isabel Tanatsiwa Mbiza,&nbsp;Ting Liu,&nbsp;Yi Wang,&nbsp;Yi Zhang,&nbsp;Xincheng Luo,&nbsp;Longyan Chu,&nbsp;Jianping Li,&nbsp;Yazhen Yang,&nbsp;Xiangping Wang,&nbsp;Jianmin Zhang,&nbsp;Yonghao Yu","doi":"10.1111/imb.12909","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12909","url":null,"abstract":"<p>REPAT (response to pathogen) is an immune-associated gene family that plays important roles in insect immune response to pathogens. Although nine REPAT genes have been identified in <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) currently, their functions and mechanisms in the immune response to pathogens still remain unclear. Therefore, <i>SfREPAT38</i>, a pathogen response gene (REPAT) of <i>S. frugiperda</i>, was characterised and its function was analysed. The results showed that <i>SfREPAT38</i> contains a signal peptide and a transcription activator MBF2 (multi-protein bridging factor 2) domain. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that <i>SfREPAT38</i> was highly expressed in the sixth-instar larvae (L6) and was the highest in expression in the midgut of L6. We found that the expression of <i>SfREPAT38</i> could be activated by challenge with four microbial pathogens (<i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i>, <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i>, <i>Spodoptera exigua</i> nuclearpolyhedrosis and <i>Escherichia coli</i>), except 12 h after <i>E. coli</i> infection. Furthermore, the <i>SfREPAT38</i> expression levels significantly decreased at 24, 48 and 72 h after <i>SfREPAT38</i> dsRNA injection or feeding. Feeding with <i>SfREPAT38</i> dsRNA significantly decreased the weight gain of <i>S. frugiperda</i>, and continuous feeding led to the death of <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae from the fourth day. Moreover, <i>SfREPAT3</i>8 dsRNA injection resulted in a significant decrease of weight gain on the fifth day. Silencing <i>SfREPAT38</i> gene down-regulated the expression levels of immune genes belonging to the Toll pathway, including <i>SPZ</i>, <i>Myd88</i>, <i>DIF</i>, <i>Cactus</i>, <i>Pell</i> and <i>Toll18W.</i> After treatment with <i>SfREPAT3</i>8 dsRNA, <i>S. frugiperda</i> became extremely sensitive to the <i>B. thuringiensis</i> infection, and the survival rate dramatically increased, with 100% mortality by the eighth day. The weight of <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae was also significantly lower than that of the control groups from the second day onwards. In addition, the genes involved in the Toll signalling pathway and a few antibacterial peptide related genes were down-regulated after treatment. These results showed that <i>SfREPAT38</i> is involved in the immune response of <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae through mediating Toll signalling pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 4","pages":"417-426"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140318204","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":"Mechanism of programmed cell death in the posterior silk gland of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, during pupation based on Ca2+ homeostasis","authors":"Haoyi Gu,&nbsp;Hongbin Zou,&nbsp;Jialu Cheng,&nbsp;Xiaohan Liu,&nbsp;Zhe Jiang,&nbsp;Peilin Peng,&nbsp;Fanchi Li,&nbsp;Bing Li","doi":"10.1111/imb.12911","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12911","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The silkworm, <i>Bombyx mori</i>, is a complete metamorphosed economic insect, and the silk gland is a significant organ for silk protein synthesis and secretion. The silk gland completely degenerates during pupation, but the regulatory mechanism of programmed cell death (PCD) has not yet been understood. In the present study, we investigated the non-genetic pathway of 20E-induced PCD in the posterior silk gland (PSG) based on intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. Silk gland morphology and silk gland index indicated rapid degeneration of silk gland during metamorphosis from mature silkworm (MS) to pupal day 1 (P1), and Ca²⁺ levels within the PSG were found to peak during the pre-pupal day 1 (PP1) stage. Moreover, the results of autophagy and apoptosis levels within the PSG showed that autophagy was significantly increased in MS-PP1 periods, and significantly decreased in PP2 and P1 periods. Apoptosis was almost absent in MS-PP1 periods and significantly increased in PP2 and P1 periods. Additionally, western blotting results showed that autophagy preceded apoptosis, and the autophagy-promoting ATG5 was cleaved by calpain to the autophagy-inhibiting and apoptosis-promoting NtATG5 since PP1 period, while decreased autophagy was accompanied by increased apoptosis. Collectively, these findings suggest that Ca²⁺ is a key factor in the shift from autophagy to apoptosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 6","pages":"551-559"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140305512","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":"Polygenic adaptation of a cosmopolitan pest to a novel thermal environment","authors":"Gaoke Lei,&nbsp;Jieling Huang,&nbsp;Huiling Zhou,&nbsp;Yanting Chen,&nbsp;Jun Song,&nbsp;Xuefeng Xie,&nbsp;Liette Vasseur,&nbsp;Minsheng You,&nbsp;Shijun You","doi":"10.1111/imb.12908","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12908","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The fluctuation in temperature poses a significant challenge for poikilothermic organisms, notably insects, particularly in the context of changing climatic conditions. In insects, temperature adaptation has been driven by polygenes. In addition to genes that directly affect traits (core genes), other genes (peripheral genes) may also play a role in insect temperature adaptation. This study focuses on two peripheral genes, the GRIP and coiled-coil domain containing 2 (GCC2) and karyopherin subunit beta 1 (KPNB1). These genes are differentially expressed at different temperatures in the cosmopolitan pest, <i>Plutella xylostella</i>. GCC2 and KPNB1 in <i>P. xylostella</i> were cloned, and their relative expression patterns were identified. Reduced capacity for thermal adaptation (development, reproduction and response to temperature extremes) in the GCC2-deficient and KPNB1-deficient <i>P. xylostella</i> strains, which were constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Deletion of the <i>PxGCC2</i> or <i>PxKPNB1</i> genes in <i>P. xylostella</i> also had a differential effect on gene expression for many traits including stress resistance, resistance to pesticides, involved in immunity, trehalose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and so forth. The ability of the moth to adapt to temperature via different pathways is likely to be key to its ability to remain an important pest species under predicted climate change conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 4","pages":"387-404"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140131357","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":"Ligand binding properties of three odorant-binding proteins in striped flea beetle Phyllotreta striolata towards two phthalate esters","authors":"Yong Xiao,&nbsp;Yuhong Wu,&nbsp;Chunmei Lei,&nbsp;Fei Yin,&nbsp;Zhengke Peng,&nbsp;Xiangfeng Jing,&nbsp;Yongjun Zhang,&nbsp;Zhenyu Li","doi":"10.1111/imb.12907","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.12907","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) initiate insect olfactory perception and mediate specific binding and selection of odorants via uncertain binding mechanisms. We characterized the binding characteristics of four OBPs from the striped flea beetle <i>Phyllotreta striolata</i> (SFB), a major cruciferous crop pest. Tissue expression analysis revealed that the two ABPII OBPs (PstrOBP12 and PstrOBP19) were highly expressed mainly in the antenna, whereas the two minus-C OBPs (PstrOBP13 and PstrOBP16) showed a broad expression pattern. Competitive binding assays of cruciferous plant volatiles showed that PstrOBP12, PstrOBP16 and PstrOBP19 had very strong binding capacities for only two phthalate esters (<i>K</i>_i &lt; 20 μM), and PstrOBP13 specifically bound to four aromatic volatiles (<i>K</i>_i &lt; 11 μM). Fluorescence quenching assays displayed that two phthalate esters bound to three PstrOBPs via different quenching mechanisms. PstrOBP12/PstrOBP16–diisobutyl phthalate and PstrOBP19–bis(6-methylheptyl) phthalate followed static quenching, while PstrOBP12/PstrOBP16–bis(6-methylheptyl) phthalate and PstrOBP19–diisobutyl phthalate followed dynamic quenching. Homology modelling and molecular docking displayed that PstrOBP12–diisobutyl phthalate was driven by H-bonding and van der Waals interactions, while PstrOBP16–diisobutyl phthalate and PstrOBP19–bis(6-methylheptyl) phthalate followed hydrophobic interactions. Finally, behavioural activity analysis demonstrated that phthalate esters exhibited different behavioural activities of SFB at different doses, with low doses attracting and high doses repelling. Overall, we thus revealed the different binding properties of the three PstrOBPs to two phthalate esters, which was beneficial in shedding light on the ligand-binding mechanisms of OBPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"33 4","pages":"405-416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140119376","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}