Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Molecular mechanisms based on peripheral level of vanillin recognition in Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)","authors":"Ting-Ting Yang ,&nbsp;Yu Ma ,&nbsp;Zheng Dai ,&nbsp;Ying Li ,&nbsp;Ji-Xiang Wang ,&nbsp;Teng-Fei Bai ,&nbsp;Merid Negash Getahun ,&nbsp;George F.O. Obiero ,&nbsp;Shuang-Lin Dong ,&nbsp;Jin Zhang ,&nbsp;Qi Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Orthaga achatina</em> (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) is a specialist pest of the camphor tree <em>Cinnamomum camphora</em>. Vanillin is a volatile compound found in many plants, and its effects on insects can be either attractive or repellent, depending on the species. However, the behavioral response of <em>Orthaga achatina</em> to vanillin, a volatile compound emitted by camphor trees, remains unexplored. In this study, we found that vanillin attracts both male and female <em>O. achatina</em> adults. Fluorescence competitive binding assays further revealed that among the five odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) highly expressed in both male and female antennae, OachOBP7 exhibited the most prominent binding affinity with vanillin. Furthermore, by employing the Xenopus oocyte expression and two-electrode voltage clamp recording system (XOE-TEVC) to conduct a functional characterization of 40 ORs, vanillin was the optimal ligand for OachOR7 among all tested ligands. In addition, with the 3D structure modeling and molecular docking techniques, it was revealed that OachOR7 displayed a relatively high binding affinity (−5.5 kcal/mol), and Gln84 and Asn189 were predicted to be key amino acid residues for binding vanillin. Finally, the two amino acids were verified by site-specific mutagenesis followed by XOE-TEVC, showing that the binding ability of OR7 to vanillin was significantly reduced to 9.23 × 10⁻² μM after the mutation of two amino acids. This study demonstrate vanillin's behavioral attraction to <em>O. achatina</em> and reveal its molecular basis, offering new possibilities for targeted pest management using this compound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104317"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891843","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":"Role of histone methylation in insect development: KMT5A regulates ecdysteroid biosynthesis during metamorphosis of Tribolium castaneum","authors":"Yaoyu Jiao ,&nbsp;Karthi Sengodan,&nbsp;Jiasheng Chen ,&nbsp;Subba Reddy Palli","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Methylation levels of core histones play important roles in the regulation of gene expression and impact animal development. However, the methyltransferases and demethylases that determine histone methylation levels remain largely unexplored in insects. Most of our current understanding of histone methylation comes from mammalian studies. In this study, we first identified potential histone methyltransferases and demethylases encoded in the genome of the red flour beetle <em>Tribolium castaneum</em>. The function of these histone methylation enzymes in the metamorphosis was investigated by knocking down genes coding for these enzymes using RNA interference (RNAi). Our results showed that a lysine methyltransferase, KMT5A, plays a critical role in <em>T. castaneum</em> metamorphosis by regulating the biosynthesis of ecdysteroids. Treating <em>KMT5A</em>-knockdown larvae with 20 hydroxyecdysone can partially rescue <em>T. castaneum</em> pupation. Western blot analysis showed that KMT5A catalyzes H4K20 mono-methylation. However, further studies suggest that KMT5A may regulate <em>T. castaneum</em> pupation through mechanisms independent of H4K20 methylation. These data uncovered the roles of histone methylation enzymes in <em>T. castaneum</em> metamorphosis and KMT5A as a critical regulator of ecdysteroid biosynthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104316"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143881836","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 synthesis of nitric oxide regulated by JNK pathway in the pea aphid to defend against bacterial infection","authors":"Li Ma ,&nbsp;Yaya Liu ,&nbsp;Jing Sun ,&nbsp;Xiaorong Yang ,&nbsp;Yingying He ,&nbsp;Tingting Zhang ,&nbsp;Jingyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Lu ,&nbsp;Xizhong Yan ,&nbsp;Xingtao Qie","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Compared to other insects, the pea aphid <em>Acyrthosiphon pisum</em> exhibits limited immune responses, particularly due to the absence of many immune genes, including those encoding antimicrobial peptides and key components of the IMD pathway. Prior studies proved that the conserved signaling, Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, plays a critical role in the immune system of the pea aphid, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is required for the pea aphid's defense against infections. Herein, using <em>in vitro</em> biochemical assays and <em>in vivo</em> bioassays, we demonstrated that the JNK pathway directly regulates the expression of <em>NOS</em> and that the JNK pathway-NOS-NO signal axis is efficient in defending against bacterial infections. The Toll pathway is instrumental for combating bacterial infections, and NO can activate the Toll pathway. The Toll pathway induced by NO regulates the expressions of ROS metabolism, lysosome, and phagocytosis-related genes. NO was identified as a crucial signaling molecule that facilitates communication between the JNK and Toll pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104315"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868438","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":"Molecular and pharmacological characterization of the dopamine receptors in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis","authors":"Shiyan Liu ,&nbsp;Xuefeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Xin Gong ,&nbsp;Jinxin Yu ,&nbsp;Tao Lin ,&nbsp;Qian Xiang ,&nbsp;Xinnian Zeng ,&nbsp;Jiali Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dopamine (DA) is a critical molecule within the insect nervous system, known to regulate a myriad of physiological functions and instigate behavioral shifts in insects. It exerts its effects by interacting with specific dopamine receptors (DARs). In this study, three DARs cDNAs from <em>Bactrocera dorsalis</em> (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) (<em>BdDOP1</em>, <em>BdDOP2</em> and <em>BdDOP3</em>) were cloned using molecular biology techniques. These receptors exhibited high sequence identity with their orthologous DARs, and phylogenetic analyses also clustered these receptors within their respective receptor subtype. Additionally, the high expression levels of these DARs in the head suggest their prominent role in the central nervous system of <em>B. dorsalis</em>. To investigate the pharmacological properties of these receptors, expression vectors for <em>BdDOP1</em>, <em>BdDOP2</em> and <em>BdDOP3</em> were constructed and expressed in HEK-293T cells. Our results demonstrated that DA and synthetic agonists activated these receptors in a dose-dependent manner, and DA activation can be competitively inhibited by various antagonists, exhibiting distinct potencies for each dopamine receptor type. Among the tested antagonists, SCH-23390, methiothepin, and metoclopramide were identified as the most potent inhibitors of <em>BdDOP1</em>, <em>BdDOP2</em> and <em>BdDOP3</em>, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular and pharmacological characteristics of DARs in <em>B. dorsalis</em>, offering a theoretical foundation for the development of novel behavioral modulators targeting these receptors. The findings also serve as a reference for the functional analyses of DARs in other insect species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143850635","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 synergism between metabolic and target-site resistance enhances the intensity of resistance to pyrethroids in Spodoptera exigua","authors":"Yayun Zuo ,&nbsp;Yakun Pei ,&nbsp;Yuan Li ,&nbsp;Shuang Wen ,&nbsp;Xuan Ren ,&nbsp;Lin Li ,&nbsp;Yidong Wu ,&nbsp;Zhaonong Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread application of insecticides imposes intense selective pressure on pest populations, driving the evolution of high-level resistance and leading to frequent control failures of pest. Insecticide resistance is primarily mediated through two primary mechanisms: target-site insensitivity and enhanced metabolic detoxification. However, the potential interactions and synergistic effects between these mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate a striking cooperative interaction between these two major resistance mechanisms in a field-derived strain of <em>Spodoptera exigua</em> exhibiting extreme resistance (631-fold) to the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin. Through genetic mapping and linkage analysis, we identified that this resistance phenotype is conferred by the combined effects of overexpression of the P450 <em>CYP9A9</em> (two copies: <em>CYP9A9a</em> and <em>CYP9A9b</em>) and a target-site mutation (L1014F, <em>kdr</em>) in the voltage-gated sodium channel. Using an introgression approach, we generated two near-isogenic strains: WH-kdr, carrying only the target-site resistance allele (6.2-fold resistance), and WH-CYP9A, harboring only the metabolic resistance genes (79-fold resistance), both compared to the susceptible WH-S strain. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of both <em>CYP9A9</em> copies in the QP19 strain dramatically reduced resistance from 631-fold to 19-fold, while transgenic expression of the <em>CYP9A9a</em> variant (containing three amino acid substitutions) from QP19 strain in <em>Helicoverpa armigera</em> conferred 39-fold resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin. These findings provide compelling evidence that target-site resistance can significantly potentiate metabolic resistance, resulting in substantially higher resistance levels than either mechanism alone in <em>S. exigua</em>. These findings enhance the understanding of higher level resistance mechanisms mediated by interactions between resistance genes and provide theoretical basis for devising management strategies of insecticide resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104313"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843036","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":"Calcofluor disrupts binding of Bt toxin Cry1Ac to midgut receptors in Trichoplusia ni","authors":"Rey O. Cotto-Rivera ,&nbsp;Noelia Joya ,&nbsp;Wei Guo ,&nbsp;Patricia Hernández-Martínez ,&nbsp;Juan Ferré ,&nbsp;Ping Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The parasporal crystal proteins (Cry proteins) from the soil bacterium <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> (Bt) are major insecticidal toxins in formulated Bt sprays and in current transgenic Bt crops widely used in agriculture. To understand the modes of action of Cry proteins and mechanisms of Cry resistance in insects, it is important to understand the specific interaction of Cry proteins with the specific receptors in the insect midgut. Previous studies have found that the fluorescent brightener Calcofluor could significantly reduce the insecticidal activity of Cry1Ac in the cabbage looper, <em>Trichoplusia ni</em>. In this study, the effects of Calcofluor in <em>T. ni</em> larvae on the structure of the midgut, the composition and abundance of midgut brush border membrane proteins, and the binding of midgut brush border membranes with Cry1Ac were examined. Finally, the inhibiting activity of Calcofluor on the binding of Cry1Ac to midgut binding sites was determined. The results from this study indicated that Calcofluor blocks the binding of Cry1Ac to the midgut binding sites by competitively binding the carbohydrate moieties that are involved in the specific binding of Cry1Ac to the midgut, which consequently inhibits the toxicity of Cry1Ac in larvae. Therefore, this study revealed that carbohydrate moieties on insect midgut brush border membranes play crucially important roles in the functional specific binding of Cry1Ac to the midgut receptors in the pathway of toxicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104311"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843034","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":"Sec61β, a subunit of the Sec61 complex at the endoplasmic reticulum, coordinates with Ocnus in regulating Drosophila spermatogenesis","authors":"Qian Wang,&nbsp;Xin Chen,&nbsp;Yu-Feng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>sec61β</em> encodes a subunit of the Sec61 translocon which is a highly conserved heterotrimer responsible for translocating the nascent polypeptides into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or onto the ER membrane. In this study, we show that knockdown of <em>sec61β</em> in the early germline leads to male sterility in <em>Drosophila melanogaster.</em> These males exhibit testes that are dramatically reduced in size and devoid of germ cells. However, the somatic cells with hub markers extend abnormally beyond the stem cell niche region. Stat92E-positive cells are also expanded into the posterior region of the small testes and primarily in the nuclei. Through tracking the developmental processes of germ cells, we find that the loss of germ cells occurs during the 3rd instar larval stage. Additionally, studies in <em>Drosophila</em> S2 cells reveal that Sec61β can directly interact with Ocnus (Ocn), likely at the nuclear membrane. Genetically, we show that overexpression of <em>ocn</em> partially restores fertility in <em>sec61β</em> knockdown males, while overexpression of <em>sec61β</em> fails to compensate for the defects in male fertility induced by <em>ocn</em> knockdown. These findings suggest that <em>Sec61β</em> might play a critical role in testis development and spermatogenesis, potentially coordinating with Ocn and involving in the JAK/STAT pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104310"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799807","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":"Germline transformation of the West Nile virus and avian malaria vector Culex quinquefasciatus Say using the piggyBac transposon system","authors":"Katherine Nevard ,&nbsp;Rajdeep Kaur ,&nbsp;Tim Harvey-Samuel","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> Say is a mosquito which acts as a vector for numerous diseases including West Nile virus, lymphatic filariasis and avian malaria, over a broad geographical range. As the effectiveness of insecticidal mosquito control methods declines, the need has grown to develop genetic control methods to curb the spread of disease. The piggyBac transposon system - the most widely used genetic transformation tool in insects, including mosquitoes - generates quasi-random insertions of donor DNA into the host genome. However, despite the broad reported species range of piggyBac, previous attempts to use this tool to transform <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> mosquitoes have failed. Here we report the first successful transformation of <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> with the piggyBac transposon system. Using commercially synthesised piggyBac mRNA as a transposase source, we were able to generate three independent insertions of a <em>ZsGreen</em> fluorescent marker gene, with transformation efficiencies of up to 5 %. Through this work, we have expanded the genetic toolkit available for the genetic manipulation of <em>Culex</em> mosquitoes and thus removed a barrier to developing novel genetic control methods in this important disease vector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143770992","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":"Reciprocal roles of two trehalose transporters in aestivating cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala)","authors":"Gözde Güney ,&nbsp;Doga Cedden ,&nbsp;Stefan Scholten ,&nbsp;Michael Rostás","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cabbage stem flea beetle (<em>Psylliodes chrysocephala</em>, CSFB) is a significant pest of winter oilseed rape crops in northern Europe. CSFB adults aestivate during the summer to protect themselves from heat and desiccation stress. Trehalose, the primary hemolymph sugar, has been linked to energy homeostasis and stress resilience, but its regulation and function during aestivation remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the roles of two trehalose transporters, <em>Tret-1</em> and <em>Tret-2</em>, in modulating trehalose dynamics across different adult stages in CSFB. Through spatiotemporal transcript profiling, we found that <em>Tret-1</em> was predominantly expressed in the fat body, where it facilitates trehalose export to the hemolymph, whereas <em>Tret-2</em> expression was higher in the Malpighian tubules, mediating trehalose uptake from the hemolymph. RNA interference experiments revealed that <em>Tret-1</em> is involved in transporting trehalose from the fat body into the hemolymph, while <em>Tret-2</em> works reciprocally to transport trehalose from the hemolymph into the Malpighian tubules. The disruption of trehalose transportation resulted in excess glucose, glycogen, and triglyceride levels, mainly in pre-aestivation beetles. Furthermore, the knockdown of either trehalose transporter caused a compensatory increase in feeding activity in pre-aestivation beetles, while the knockdown of <em>Tret-2</em> compromised resilience to heat stress. Our findings uncover the reciprocal functions of <em>Tret-1</em> and <em>Tret-2</em> in regulating trehalose distribution and maintaining metabolic stability during aestivation, offering insights into the physiological strategies underpinning insect survival during aestivation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104308"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747685","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":"Sex pheromone biosynthesis in the Oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta involves Δ8 desaturation","authors":"Marie Inger Dam ,&nbsp;Bao-Jian Ding ,&nbsp;Kristina Brauburger ,&nbsp;Hong-Lei Wang ,&nbsp;Daniel Powell ,&nbsp;Astrid T. Groot ,&nbsp;David G. Heckel ,&nbsp;Christer Löfstedt","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Oriental fruit moth <em>Grapholita molesta</em> is distributed throughout temperate regions and considered to be a pest in peach production and other high-value fruit crops in the rose family. Insecticide treatment has led to resistance development, but the use of sex pheromones in pest management has shown great promise. We investigated the pheromone biosynthesis pathway in <em>G. molesta</em> with the aim of elucidating pheromone evolution in the Olethreutinae subfamily of moths and harnessing pathway genes in biotechnological production of sex pheromone for use in pest management. <em>In vivo</em> labelling experiments suggested that an uncommon Δ8 fatty acyl desaturase is involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis. CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out of the highly expressed candidate desaturase gene <em>Gmol_CPRQ</em> almost completely blocked the production of Δ8 pheromone components <em>in vivo</em>. Heterologous expression of Gmol_CPRQ protein in yeast- or Sf9 insect cells, however, failed to demonstrate the expected Δ8 desaturase activity. Instead, Δ9 desaturase activity was observed. Co-expression in the yeast system of the electron donor, cytochrome <em>b</em>5, from <em>G. molesta</em> still produced only Δ9 desaturase activity. We suggest that <em>Gmol_CPRQ</em> is intimately involved in pheromone production <em>in vivo</em>, via an unknown reaction mechanism that may possibly involve another co-factor that is absent in the yeast and Sf9 expression systems, or depend on its subcellular site of activity. Solving this puzzle will shed further light on pheromone biosynthesis in the family Tortricidae and will be required for successful biotechnological production of fatty acids and pheromones requiring Δ8 desaturation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"180 ","pages":"Article 104307"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143762675","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}