Rui-Nan Yang , Dong-Zhen Li , Ao Liu , Yi Wei , Rui-Lin Zhang , Hazem Abdelnabby , Man-Qun Wang
{"title":"BarH1 regulates the expression of conserved odorant-binding protein 22 from Dastarcus helophoroides","authors":"Rui-Nan Yang , Dong-Zhen Li , Ao Liu , Yi Wei , Rui-Lin Zhang , Hazem Abdelnabby , Man-Qun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chemical signals are pivotal in establishing tritrophic interactions among host plants, herbivorous insects, and natural enemies. Previous studies have shown that evolutionarily conserved MaltOBPs in <em>Monochamus alternatus</em> and DhelOBPs in <em>Dastarcus helophoroides</em> contribute to the establishment of pine -pest - natural enemy tritrophic interactions by recognizing the same volatile emitted by the host during crucial developmental stages. We hypothesized that the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of evolutionarily conserved OBPs respectively from pests and enemies are similar. In this study, we identified the promoter region of <em>DhelOBP22</em> through chromosome walking and discovered that transcription factor BarH1, which have been proved to regulate the expression of MaltOBP19 in <em>M. alternatus</em>, regulates the expression of DhelOBP22 by binding to its promoter region, as evidenced by dual-luciferase assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). When the BarH1 gene was silenced using RNAi, the expression of DhelOBP22 was inhibited, leading to the disappearance of the attracted behavior of mated female <em>D. helophoroides</em> adults towards camphene. This study underscores that conserved transcriptional regulation mechanisms play a role in regulating the expression of evolutionarily conserved OBPs respectively from herbivores and natural enemies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"178 ","pages":"Article 104263"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143062713","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":"Lipophorin receptor knockdown reduces hatchability of kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus eggs","authors":"Alessa Macedo-Silva , Thamara Rios , Isabela Ramos , David Majerowicz","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lipophorin is the primary lipoprotein present in the hemolymph of insects, responsible for the lipids' transport between organs. It interacts with specific sites on cell membranes in an essential process for transferring lipids. The lipophorin receptor is the protein responsible for the interaction between lipophorin and cell membranes. In the kissing bug <em>Rhodnius prolixus</em>, much information on the interaction of lipophorin with organs is available. However, molecular data on the lipophorin receptor and its functions is still needed. Here, we explored lipophorin receptor gene expression and functions using a functional genomics approach. The <em>R. prolixus</em> genome encodes seven genes from the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, including a single ortholog of the lipophorin receptor. All organs analyzed (anterior and posterior midguts, fat body, ovaries, and flight muscle) expressed this gene. In the fat body, blood-feeding strongly reduced lipophorin receptor gene expression. Lipophorin receptor knockdown by RNA interference delayed egg laying and reduced the triacylglycerol in laid eggs without altering lipid stores in the fat body or lipid levels in the hemolymph. In the ovaries, lipophorin receptor knockdown reduces the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and a fatty acid synthase while altered the gene expression profile in the fat body, causing an increase in the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and a reduction in Brummer lipase and vitellogenin 2. RNA interference treatment reduced the hatching of the eggs, causing the collapse and darkening of the laid eggs, in addition to the hatching of deformed first-stage nymphs. Furthermore, the structure of the chorion showed distortions in patterns and cracks and reduced hydrocarbon levels. These results show that the lipophorin receptor alone is not essential for lipid physiology in <em>R. prolixus</em>. However, this protein plays a fundamental role in the viability of eggs and, consequently, in insect reproduction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 104221"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142715097","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}
Jia-Bao Lu , Peng-Peng Ren , Ying Tian , Yan-Yan Yang , Qing-Kai Feng , Xiao-Ya Zhang , Fang He , Hai-Jian Huang , Jian-Ping Chen , Jun-Min Li , Chuan-Xi Zhang
{"title":"Structural characterization and proteomic profiling of oviposition secretions across three rice planthopper species","authors":"Jia-Bao Lu , Peng-Peng Ren , Ying Tian , Yan-Yan Yang , Qing-Kai Feng , Xiao-Ya Zhang , Fang He , Hai-Jian Huang , Jian-Ping Chen , Jun-Min Li , Chuan-Xi Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insect oviposition secretions play crucial roles during the reproductive process, yet systematic studies on their structural characterization and protein compositions remain limited. This study investigated the oviposition secretions of three major rice pests: the brown planthopper (<em>Nilaparvata lugens</em>, BPH), small brown planthopper (<em>Laodelphax striatella</em>, SBPH), and white-backed planthopper (<em>Sogatella furcifera</em>, WBPH). Ultrastructural observation revealed differences in the oviposition secretions of them. The eggs of BPH and SBPH were adhered to rice tissue by abundant secretions, while WBPH eggs were embedded deeper within the leaf sheath with less secretions. Proteomic analysis identified 111, 98, and 66 oviposition secretion proteins (OSPs) in BPH, SBPH, and WBPH, respectively. 4 common protein subgroups were shared among them, along with varying numbers of shared subgroups between species pairs. Notably, the majority of OSPs were exclusively found in one species, indicating the existence of both similar and specialized functions unique to each planthopper species. The functions of 4 uncharacterized OSPs (Nl.chr07.0363, Nl.chr12.078, Nl.chr11.716, Nl.scaffold.0714) that were uniquely identified in the BPH were studied by maternal RNAi. Downregulation of each of these 4 protein-coding genes led to a significant decrease in egg production and hatchability. Moreover, knockdown of <em>Nl.chr12.078</em> or <em>Nl.chr07.0363</em> also disrupt the secretory function of the lateral oviduct. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the structural characteristics and protein components of the oviposition secretions of BPH, SBPH, and WBPH, which could serve as potential targets for RNAi-based pest control and lay a foundation for future studies on insect-plant interactions mediated by oviposition secretions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 104220"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142699016","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}
Qianqian Zhang , Xia Zhou , Tingting Feng , Hao Tong , Jun Wang , Jianfeng Dai
{"title":"The immune function of thioester-containing proteins in typical invertebrate disease vectors","authors":"Qianqian Zhang , Xia Zhou , Tingting Feng , Hao Tong , Jun Wang , Jianfeng Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Disease vectors, such as arthropods, primarily rely on innate immunity to counteract pathogen invasions, typically through the recognition and binding of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by the host's pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). As a conserved immune effector gene family from insects to mammals, the complement system may play an essential role in combating pathogenic microorganisms. In arthropods, the complement proteins are often referred to as thioester-containing proteins (TEPs) because thioester motifs are one of the essential functional domains of the first proteins characterized within the C3 and A<sub>2</sub>M family. TEPs mainly function as specialized PRRs in sensing and binding to pathogens or their components. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the common domain and functions of TEPs in major disease vectors, in particular the specific decision-making ones expressed by <em>Arthropoda</em> (medical arthropods) and <em>Mollusca</em> (<em>Biomphalaria glabrata</em>) after pathogen infections. The relationship between the structure and antibacterial/antiviral activities of TEPs would further our understandings on the mechanisms governing the initiation of innate immune responses in typical disease vectors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 104218"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142694939","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":"Suppression of the H3K27me3 demethylase disrupts diapause formation in mosquito Culex pipiens","authors":"Xueyan Wei , Prabin Dhungana , Kaylah Callender , Berhanu Zewde , Fu Chen , Sung Joon Kim , Cheolho Sim","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diapause (D) is a hormonally controlled alternative developmental pathway that allows mosquitoes to survive harsh winter conditions. Key characteristics of mosquito diapause include elevated lipid storage, enhanced stress and cold endurance, and extended longevity. These phenotypic changes are often associated with dynamic alterations in the transcriptome and epigenome. In our previous study, we identified significantly lower H3K27me2 levels in the fat body (FB) of diapausing <em>Culex pipiens</em>. However, the specific roles of the repressive H3K27 methylation marks in mosquito diapause have not been investigated. In the present study, we employed the effective histone lysine demethylase inhibitor GSK-J4 to assess the functions of H3K27me3 levels in the fat body on diapause initiation and phenotypes in <em>Cx. pipiens</em>. Results from solid-state NMR (ssNMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and biochemical assays suggest that elevated H3K27me3 levels via GSK-J4 inhibition led to disrupted accumulation of lipids and glycogen in diapausing mosquitoes. GSK-J4 treatment also increased the mortality rate, resulting in lower survivability in treated mosquitoes. Together, these findings propose a crucial role for H3K27me3 in diapause formation, particularly related to energy metabolism. Our results provide a potential target for novel vector control strategies for this species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 104216"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142692272","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}
Tianxing Jing , Jin Yang , Jilong Pan , Xiaoning Liu , Xinyi Yang , Muhammad Farhan , Honghua Su , Xiaoyan Ma , Shuai Zhang
{"title":"A near-complete genome reveals the population evolution of the cotton-melon aphid Aphis gossypii","authors":"Tianxing Jing , Jin Yang , Jilong Pan , Xiaoning Liu , Xinyi Yang , Muhammad Farhan , Honghua Su , Xiaoyan Ma , Shuai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cotton-melon aphid <em>Aphis gossypii</em> Glover is a severe pest worldwide. Interhaplotype genomic variation can be used as a starting point to analyze the adaptability of <em>Ap. gossypii</em>. In this study, we utilized long-read PacBio HiFi sequencing and HiC scaffolding techniques to assemble a near telomere-to-telomere gap-free genome assembly of Hap4. The assembly had two gaps totaling 321.24 Mb. We characterized five telomeric repetitive regions (GGTTA)<sub>n</sub>, including the four found at the 3′ end of the chromosomes, and obtained new structural information about the telomeres. Due to the improved sequencing technology, we also identified more than 55.03 Mb of repetitive DNA in the genome assembly of Hap4, which contributed significantly to the increase in genome size compared to that of Hap1 and Hap3. Most of the additional repetitive DNA content was located on the X chromosome, and the tandem repeat sequence occupied 16.8% of the X chromosome length. The Hap4 assembly showed that the X chromosome exhibited a greater abundance of AT-rich satDNA arrays (11 satDNA arrays longer than 100 kb) than that observed in the autosomes (A1 and A2 harboured 3 and 1 satDNA arrays). We detected presence-absence variations, insertions, and deletions events between Hap1, Hap3, and Hap4 <em>Ap. gossypii</em>, which had significant effects on gene expression. Additionally, we identified a male-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of fungal origin in all strains of <em>Ap. gossypii</em>. This comprehensive genome assembly provides valuable insights into the structural characteristics of highly repetitive regions and allows comparative genomic analyses that facilitate our understanding of <em>Ap. gossypii</em>'s adaptation and diversification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 104215"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142685596","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}
Funmilayo Egunjobi , Felipe Andreazza , Boris S. Zhorov , Ke Dong
{"title":"A unique mechanism of transfluthrin action revealed by mapping its binding sites in the mosquito sodium channel","authors":"Funmilayo Egunjobi , Felipe Andreazza , Boris S. Zhorov , Ke Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pyrethroid insecticides exert their toxic action by prolonging the opening of insect voltage-gated sodium channels, resulting in the characteristic tail current during membrane repolarization in voltage clamp experiments. Permethrin (PMT) and deltamethrin (DMT), representative type I and type II pyrethroids, respectively, are predicted to bind to two lipid-exposed pyrethroid receptor sites, PyR1 and PyR2, at the lipid-exposed interfaces of repeats II/III and I/II, respectively. Transfluthrin (TF), a volatile type I pyrethroid and mosquito repellent, has received increased attention in the global combat of vector-borne human diseases. However, the electrophysiological and molecular bases of TF action on insect sodium channels remain unexplored. In this study we discovered that, unlike DMT and PMT, TF barely induces the characteristic tail current of the <em>Aedes aegypti</em> mosquito sodium channel (AaNa<sub>v</sub>1-1) expressed in <em>Xenopus</em> oocytes. Instead, TF induces a unique persistent current. We docked TF into the AlphaFold2 model of AaNa<sub>v</sub>1-1 and found that the tetrafluorophenyl ring of TF binds to alpha helices S5, P1, and S6, but not to the linker helices S4-S5 within either PyR1 or PyR2. In agreement with the model, functional examination of 15 AaNa<sub>v</sub>1-1 mutants demonstrated that substitutions of DMT/PMT-sensing residues in helices S5, P1, and S6, but not in the linker-helices S4-S5, altered channel sensitivity to TF. These results revealed the unique action of TF on channel gating and suggest a distinct subtype of type I pyrethroids with a previously uncharacterized pattern of interactions with residues at the dual pyrethroid receptor sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"175 ","pages":"Article 104214"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142680151","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 vital transcription factor of the alanine aminotransferase in the brown planthopper and its upstream regulatory pathways","authors":"Li-Qun Wang , Shi-Hui Li , Wen-Qing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104212","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The brown planthopper (<em>Nilaparvata lugens</em>) is an important insect pest of rice, and can rapidly adapt to insect-resistant rice varieties. In our previous studies, alanine aminotransferase in <em>N. lugens</em> (<em>Nl</em>ALT) was found to play an important role in the adaptation of the brown planthopper to resistant rice IR36. Here, we further identified CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (<em>Nl</em>C/EBP) as a vital transcription factor of <em>Nl</em>ALT. <em>Nl</em>p38b in the MAPKs pathway regulated the expression of <em>Nl</em>ALT by influencing the phosphorylation level of <em>Nl</em>C/EBP. In addition, we found that <em>Nl</em>GRL101, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), was significantly higher expressed in the <em>N. lugens</em> population adapted to IR36 (P-IR36). After knockdown of <em>NlGRL101</em> through RNAi in P-IR36 population, lower expressions of <em>Nlp38b</em> and <em>NlC/EBP</em>, along with reduced phosphorylation levels of <em>Nl</em>p38b and <em>Nl</em>C/EBP were observed; moreover, <em>Nl</em>ALT activity and honeydew amount were decreased by 15.68% and 76.08%, respectively. These results indicated that insect-resistant rice IR36 induced expression of <em>NlGRL101</em>, which enhanced expression of <em>Nl</em>ALT through <em>Nl</em>p38b and <em>Nl</em>C/EBP. These findings are helpful for better understanding of insect adaptation to resistant crop varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"175 ","pages":"Article 104212"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142638111","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}
Wenxu Yang, Chenxu Ye, Lu Wang, Jinjuan Nie, Xinyi Liu, Tiange Zhang, Wenxiu Zhang, Noor us Saba, Lingfang Yin, Lianxi Xing, Xiaohong Su
{"title":"Binding properties of olfactory proteins to host volatiles, free fatty acids and cuticular hydrocarbons in the termite Reticulitermes aculabialis","authors":"Wenxu Yang, Chenxu Ye, Lu Wang, Jinjuan Nie, Xinyi Liu, Tiange Zhang, Wenxiu Zhang, Noor us Saba, Lingfang Yin, Lianxi Xing, Xiaohong Su","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As eusocial insects prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, termites are characterized by highly organized behaviors and exceptional adaptability, rooted in caste differentiation and chemical communication. These traits make them excellent models for studying insect social structures and ecological interactions. Investigating how termites use chemical signals to perceive and respond to their environment provides insights into their coordination and adaptation within complex ecosystems. This study delved into the chemosensory mechanisms of <em>Reticulitermes aculabialis</em>, examining the interactions of four olfactory proteins with 70 ligands, including host volatiles, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), and free fatty acids (FFAs). Molecular docking simulations revealed varied affinities of the olfactory proteins for long-chain hydrocarbons (n-C<sub>23</sub> to n-C<sub>28</sub>), suggesting a nuanced chemical communication system through specific hydrocarbon detection. RacuCSP1 and RacuCSP2 exhibited specific binding to linoleic acid and undecanoic acid, respectively, highlighting the significance of FFAs in the physiological and behavioral processes of termites. The four olfactory proteins showed a strong affinity for longifolene in fluorescence competitive binding experiments. Notably, RacuOBPs exhibited unique affinities for terpenoid volatiles such as β-lonone and neocembrene, while RacuCSPs specifically bound with terpenoids like 3-carene, myrtenol, α-pinene oxide and β-pinene indicating their critical roles in host detection. Behavioral observations following gene silencing revealed that RacuOBP5 was essential for recognizing longifolene and α-lonone recognition, while RacuCSP1 was key for detecting α-pinene in termites. These findings enhance our understanding of the termite chemosensory system and offer insights for developing precise pest management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 104211"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142610931","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}