Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Ion transport peptide and ion transport peptide-like regulate ecdysis behavior and water transport during ecdysis in Gryllus bimaculatus","authors":"Zhen Zhu,&nbsp;Shinji Nagata","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ion transport peptide (ITP) and ITP-like (ITPLs) are pleiotropic bioactive peptides in insects. Although the contribution of these peptides to ecdysis has been studied, the precise regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized the functions of <em>itp</em> and <em>itpl</em> variants in the two-spotted cricket, <em>Gryllus bimaculatus</em>. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and whole-mount <em>in situ</em> hybridization revealed that <em>itp</em> was expressed in the brain and terminal abdominal ganglion, whereas <em>itpl</em> variants were expressed in all ganglia of the central nervous system. Simultaneous knockdown of <em>itp</em> and <em>itpls</em> disrupted ecdysis behavior and water transport from the gut into the hemolymph during molting. Nevertheless, knockdown of <em>itpls</em> without influencing <em>itp</em> expression did not significantly affect ecdysis behavior but caused a reduction in hemolymph mass. Although water transport into the hemolymph is considered necessary for the swelling required to split the old cuticle layers during molting, a rescue experiment by injection of water or cricket Ringer's solution into the hemolymph of knockdown crickets did not recover the normal phenotype. Therefore, we propose that ITP/ITPL control ecdysis behavior probably not by regulating water transport from the gut into the hemolymph in crickets.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104178"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174824001097/pdfft?md5=05eb373a08d09f2ceb6cce49d1146f88&pid=1-s2.0-S0965174824001097-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142071589","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":"Notch signaling promotes differentiation, cell death and autophagy in Drosophila hematopoietic system","authors":"Fangzhou Luo,&nbsp;Chengcheng Zhang,&nbsp;Zhengqi Shi,&nbsp;Tong Mao,&nbsp;Li Hua Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Notch signaling is a highly conserved pathway between mammals and <em>Drosophila</em> and plays a key role in various biological processes. <em>Drosophila</em> has emerged as a powerful model for studying hematopoiesis and leukemia. In exception to crystal cells, the strength of Notch signaling in <em>Drosophila</em> lymph gland cortical zone (CZ)/intermediate zone (IZ) cells is weak. However, the influence of Notch activation in the lymph gland CZ/IZ cells and circulating hemocytes on hematopoietic homeostasis maintenance is unclear. Here, we showed that Notch activation in lymph gland CZ/IZ cells induced overdifferentiation of progenitors. Moreover, Notch activation promoted lamellocyte generation via NFκB/Toll signaling activation and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, we found that Notch activation in lymph gland CZ/IZ cells and circulating hemocytes caused caspase-independent and nonautophagic cell death. However, crystal cell autophagy was activated by upregulation of the expression of the target gene of the Hippo/Yki pathway Diap1. Moreover, we showed that Notch activation could alleviate cytokine storms and improve the survival of Ras^v12 leukemia model flies. Our study revealed the various mechanisms of hematopoietic dysregulation induced by Notch activation in healthy flies and the therapeutic effect of Notch activation on leukemia model flies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104176"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142015902","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":"Binding characteristics and structural dynamics of two general odorant-binding proteins with plant volatiles in the olfactory recognition of Glyphodes pyloalis","authors":"Yijiangcheng Li ,&nbsp;Wenmiao Song ,&nbsp;Shanshan Wang ,&nbsp;Wanglong Miao ,&nbsp;Zhixiang Liu ,&nbsp;Fuan Wu ,&nbsp;Jun Wang ,&nbsp;Sheng Sheng","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><em>Glyphodes pyloalis</em> Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most destructive pest, causing severe damage to mulberry production in China's sericulture industry. The insecticide application in mulberry orchards poses a significant risk of poisoning to <em>Bombyx mori</em>. Shifting from insecticides to odor attractants is a beneficial alternative, but not much data is available on the olfactory system of <em>G</em>. <em>pyloalis</em>. We identified 114 chemosensory genes from the antennal transcriptome database of <em>G</em>. <em>pyloalis</em>, with 18 <em>odorant-binding protein</em> (<em>OBP</em>) and 17 <em>chemosensory protein</em> (<em>CSP</em>) genes significantly expressed in the antennae. Ligand-binding assays for two antennae-biased expressed general odorant-binding proteins (GOBPs) showed high binding affinities of GOBP1 to hexadecanal, <em>β</em>-ionone, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, while GOBP2 exhibited binding to 4-tert-octylphenol, benzyl benzoate, <em>β</em>-ionone, and farnesol. Computational simulations indicated that van der Waal forces predominantly contributed to the binding free energy in the binding processes of complexes. Among them, Phe12 of GOBP1 and Phe19 of GOBP2 were demonstrated to play crucial roles in their bindings to plant volatiles using site-directed mutagenesis experiments. Moreover, hexadecanal and <em>β</em>-ionone attracted <em>G</em>. <em>pyloalis</em> male moths in the behavioral assays, while none of the candidate plant volatiles significantly affected female moths. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying olfactory recognition in <em>G</em>. <em>pyloalis</em>, setting the groundwork for novel mulberry pests control strategies based on insect olfaction.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104177"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142034790","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":"Insights into the activation mechanism of Bm-CPA: Implications for insect molting regulation","authors":"Lingzhen Yang ,&nbsp;Yuejing Cheng ,&nbsp;Qinglang Wang,&nbsp;Jianing Hou,&nbsp;Qingyu Rong,&nbsp;Chunxia Xiao,&nbsp;Yuhao Zhang,&nbsp;Jiamin Yan,&nbsp;Qingyou Xia,&nbsp;Yong Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Carboxypeptidase A has been found across various animal species, yet its activation mechanism during the insect molting process remains elusive. Our study specifically delved into the activation mechanism of carboxypeptidase A (Bm-CPA), identified in <em>Bombyx mori</em>'s molting fluid during metamorphosis. Initially, western blotting identified two forms of Bm-CPA, 65 kDa and 54 kDa, in the epidermis of silkworms during the molting stage. Expressing the complete Bm-CPA sequence in <em>Pichia pastoris</em> allowed the identification, via mass spectrometry analysis, of a 75-amino-acid propeptide for the initial hydrolysis process. Subsequently, a 35 kDa form of Bm-CPA emerged in the molting fluid, confirmed as the active form through <em>in vitro</em> assays, demonstrating potent carboxypeptidase A activity and faint carboxypeptidase B activity. Four potential activation sites (including Lys158/Arg159 and Arg177/Arg178) were identified through mass spectrometry and amino acid mutation analysis. RNAi of Bm-CPA indicates its critical role in molting. Finally, the carboxypeptidase inhibitor (Bm-CPI) from silkworm molting fluid was expressed to explore its role in regulating Bm-CPA activity, demonstrating a direct interaction with the 35 kDa Bm-CPA. Our research implies Bm-CPA's potential involvement in the silkworm molting process, suggesting diverse regulatory roles. These findings highlight intricate protein regulation patterns during insect metamorphosis and development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104175"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141970301","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":"Physiological and transcriptional changes associated with obligate aestivation in the cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala)","authors":"Gözde Güney ,&nbsp;Doga Cedden ,&nbsp;Johannes Körnig ,&nbsp;Bernd Ulber ,&nbsp;Franziska Beran ,&nbsp;Stefan Scholten ,&nbsp;Michael Rostás","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Aestivation is a form of seasonal dormancy observed in various insect species, usually coinciding with the summer season. The cabbage stem flea beetle, <em>Psylliodes chrysocephala</em> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a key pest of oilseed rape that obligatorily aestivates as adult in late summer. Since the physiological and transcriptional processes linked to aestivation in <em>P. chrysocephala</em> are still little understood, we analyzed relevant physiological parameters and performed RNA-seq analyses on laboratory-reared beetles in their pre-aestivation, aestivation, and post-aestivation stages. We found that the beetles reached aestivation at 15 days post-eclosion, showing strongly reduced metabolic activity, with less than 50% CO₂ production, compared to pre-aestivating individuals. Under constant laboratory conditions, the beetles aestivated for about 25 days. Female beetles reached reproductive maturity at a median of 52 days post-eclosion. Furthermore, aestivating beetles had significantly reduced carbohydrate reserves and increased lipid reserves compared with pre-aestivating beetles, indicating that aestivation is associated with drastic changes in energy metabolism. Aestivating beetles contained 30% less water and their survival rates under high-temperature conditions (30 °C) were 40% higher compared to pre-aestivating beetles. RNA-seq studies showed that, in particular, gene ontology terms related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, digestion, and mitochondrial activity were enriched, with clear differences in transcript abundance between beetles in aestivation compared to pre- or post-aestivation. Specifically, mitochondrial transcripts, such as <em>respiratory chain I subunits</em>, and digestion-related transcripts, such as <em>trypsin</em>, were less abundant during aestivation, which supports the idea that aestivation is associated with decreased metabolic activity. This study represents the first exploration of the transcriptomic and physiological processes linked to aestivation in <em>P. chrysocephala</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104165"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174824000961/pdfft?md5=963650cd4c04111177d7e25bad2f6498&pid=1-s2.0-S0965174824000961-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141873777","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":"In vivo RNAi screening identifies multiple deubiquitinases required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis in Drosophila","authors":"Boyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Jing Luo ,&nbsp;Hui Wang ,&nbsp;Yuanxin Li ,&nbsp;Dong Li ,&nbsp;Xiaolin Bi","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Deubiquitinases (DUBs) are essential for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and assembly of proteins into functional complexes. Despite growing interest in DUBs biological functions, the roles of DUBs in regulating intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and gut homeostasis remain largely unknown. Here, we perform an <em>in vivo</em> RNAi screen through induced knock-down of DUBs expression in adult midgut ISCs and enteroblasts (EBs) to identify DUB regulators of intestinal homeostasis in <em>Drosophila</em>. We screen 43 DUBs and identify 8 DUBs that are required for ISCs homeostasis. Knocking-down of <em>usp1</em>, <em>CG7857</em>, <em>usp5</em>, <em>rpn8, usp10</em> and <em>csn5</em> decreases the number of ISCs/EBs, while knocking-down of <em>CG4968</em> and <em>usp8</em> increases the number of ISCs/EBs. Moreover, knock-down of <em>usp1</em>, <em>CG4968</em>, <em>CG7857</em>, or <em>rpn8</em> in ISCs/EBs disrupts the intestinal barrier integrity and shortens the lifespan, indicating the requirement of these DUBs for the maintenance of gut homeostasis. Furthermore, we provide evidences that USP1 mediates ISC lineage differentiation via modulating the Notch signaling activity. Our study identifies, for the first time, the deubiquitinases required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis in <em>Drosophila</em>, and provide new insights into the functional links between the DUBs and intestinal homeostasis.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 104162"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141786837","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":"JAK and STAT5B mediate olfactory response of migratory locusts to their own volatiles","authors":"Zongyuan Ma ,&nbsp;Jipeng Liu ,&nbsp;Lichen Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104164","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104164","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling affect social aggregation, mood and psychiatric disorders, nociceptive and depressive behaviors. Olfactory dysfunction is one of the distinct symptoms of these behaviors, but function and mechanism of JAK and STAT in modulating olfaction remain largely unknown. Migratory locusts show olfactory preference for their own volatiles. We thus use this animal model to explore functions and mechanisms of JAK and STAT5B in mediating olfaction response to their own volatiles. Tissue distribution study shows that JAK and STAT5B express in antennae and brains, especially in antennal lobes and mushroom bodies in locust brains, and knockdown of these two genes by RNA interference (RNAi) in antennae and brains results in the loss of olfactory preference for locust volatiles, including chemical odorants indole and β-ionone. RNA-seq analysis reveals that <em>JAK</em> and <em>STAT5B</em> RNAi knockdown downregulates a functional class of transcripts in nucleoprotein complex, including heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNPC) and small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide F (SNRPF). <em>HnRNPC</em> and <em>SNRPF</em> mRNAs and proteins are also expressed in antennae and brains, and RNAi knockdown of these two genes reduces the percentage of locusts preferring volatiles, including chemical odorants indole and β-ionone. Furthermore, RNAi knockdown of dopamine receptor 1 (DopR1) results in the decrease of <em>JAK</em> mRNA level in antennae, and JAK/STAT5B, hnRNPC and SNRPF are required for dopamine receptor 1 (DopR1) to modulate olfactory preference for their own volatiles. This study confirms that JAK/STAT5B signaling modulates olfaction by affecting expression levels of <em>hnRNPC</em> and <em>SNRPF</em>, and this pathway is also required for DopR1 to modulate olfactory preference for their own volatiles. These findings highlight novel roles of JAK and STAT5B in modulating olfactory preference. This study provides novel insights into functional links among JAK/STAT5B signaling, RNA binding proteins and DopR1 underlying the modulation of olfactory behaviors.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104164"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141786838","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":"Identification of a gene promoter active in Lucilia sericata larval salivary glands using a rapid transient expression assay","authors":"Esther J. Belikoff ,&nbsp;Rebecca J. Davis ,&nbsp;Megan E. Williamson,&nbsp;John W. Britt,&nbsp;Maxwell J. Scott","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Tissue-specific gene promoters are desired as they provide the specificity needed for control of gene expression in transgenic animals. Here we describe a relatively rapid two-component transient expression assay that was used to identify a gene promoter active in the larval salivary glands of the green blow fly, <em>Lucilia sericata</em>. Sterile <em>L.</em> <em>sericata</em> maggots are widely used for wound debridement. A larval salivary gland gene promoter could be used to make maggots that secrete factors for enhanced wound therapy. Embryos from a line that carry a tetracycline transactivator (tTA)-activated red fluorescent protein gene were injected with plasmid DNA with the tTA gene driven by a constitutive or tissue-specific gene promoter. The hatched larvae were reared on diet and then examined for red fluorescence. A promoter from the <em>LsCG30371</em> gene was active in the larval salivary glands. The tissue-specificity of the promoter was subsequently confirmed with stable transgenic lines that carried the <em>LsCG3</em>0371-tTA gene. The relatively rapid transient expression assay could potentially be used to determine the tissue-specificity of other gene promoters. Further, the stable <em>LsCG3</em>0371-tTA lines could be used to make sterile maggots that secrete factors from the salivary glands for enhanced wound healing.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 104163"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141786836","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":"Functional redundancy of the three insulin receptors of cockroaches","authors":"David Pujal ,&nbsp;Jorge Escudero ,&nbsp;Pol Cabrera,&nbsp;Laura Bos,&nbsp;Carlos Vargas-Chávez,&nbsp;Rosa Fernández,&nbsp;Xavier Bellés,&nbsp;José Luis Maestro","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104161","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104161","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Gene duplication is a fundamental evolutionary process which provides opportunities to acquire new gene functions. In the case of the insulin receptors (InRs) in cockroaches and close-related insects, two successive duplications determined the occurrence of three InR genes: <em>InR2</em>, <em>InR1</em> and <em>InR3</em>, the last two forming a sister cluster to <em>InR2</em>. The biological role of each of the gene duplicates and whether they resulted from neofunctionalization or subfunctionalization is still unclear. The analysis of the sequences from different lineages did not detect positive selection as driving the divergence of <em>InR1</em> and <em>InR3</em>, discarding neofunctionalization, and suggesting that there is no functional divergence between both gene copies. Using the cockroach <em>Blattella germanica</em> as a model, we have determined that <em>BgInR2</em> is the gene with the highest expression levels in all the tissues analyzed, both in adult females and males, as well as in nymphs and embryos. <em>BgInR3</em> is second in expression levels while <em>BgInR1</em> is expressed at lower levels and only in some tissues. The selective depletion by RNAi of each of the three InRs, analyzed in terms of phenotype and fat body transcriptomic profiles, resulted in essentially redundant effects, with a magnitude approximately proportional to the level of expression of the respective InR. Therefore, the results indicate that the InR duplicates likely experienced a subfunctionalization process, by which the three InRs maintained similar functions but contributing to those functions proportionally to their expression levels.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 104161"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174824000924/pdfft?md5=42b67627581a12efb6d2590b6d799a36&pid=1-s2.0-S0965174824000924-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141764663","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 mlpt smORF gene is essential for digestive physiology and molting during nymphal stages in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Chagas disease affects around 8 million people globally, with Latin America bearing approximately 10,000 deaths each year. Combatting the disease relies heavily on vector control methods, necessitating the identification of new targets. Within insect genomes, genes harboring small open reading frames (smORFs - &lt; 100 amino acids) present numerous potential candidates. In our investigation, we elucidate the pivotal role of the archetypal smORF-containing gene, <em>mille-pattes/polished-rice/tarsalless</em> (<em>mlpt/pri/tal</em>), in the post-embryonic development of the kissing bug <em>Rhodnius prolixus</em>. Injection of double-stranded RNA targeting <em>mlpt</em> (ds<em>mlpt</em>) during nymphal stages yields a spectrum of phenotypes hindering post-embryonic growth. Notably, fourth or fifth stage nymphs subjected to ds<em>mlpt</em> do not undergo molting. These ds<em>mlpt</em> nymphs display heightened mRNA levels of JHAMT-like and EPOX-like, enzymes putatively involved in the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway, alongside increased expression of the transcription factor Kr-h1, indicating changes in the hormonal control. Histological examination reveals structural alterations in the hindgut and external cuticle of ds<em>mlpt</em> nymphs compared to control (ds<em>GFP</em>) counterparts. Furthermore, significant changes in the vector's digestive physiology were observed, with elevated hemozoin and glucose levels in the posterior midgut of ds<em>mlpt</em> nymphs. Importantly, ds<em>mlpt</em> nymphs exhibit impaired metacyclogenesis of <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>, the causative agent of Chagas disease, underscoring the crucial role of proper gut organization in parasite differentiation. Thus, our findings constitute the first evidence of a smORF-containing gene's regulatory influence on vector physiology, parasitic cycle, and disease transmission.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 104154"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141553878","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}