Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Identification of immunity-related genes distinctly regulated by Manduca sexta Spӓtzle-1/2 and Escherichia coli peptidoglycan","authors":"Zelong Miao,&nbsp;Chao Xiong,&nbsp;Yang Wang,&nbsp;Tisheng Shan,&nbsp;Haobo Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The immune system of <em>Manduca sexta</em> has been well studied to understand molecular mechanisms of insect antimicrobial responses. While evidence supports the existence of major immune signaling pathways in this species, it is unclear how induced production of defense proteins is specifically regulated by the Toll and Imd pathways. Our previous studies suggested that diaminopimelic acid-type peptidoglycans (DAP-PG) from Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria, more than Lys-type peptidoglycans (Lys-PG) from other Gram-positive bacteria, triggers both pathways through membrane-bound receptors orthologous to <em>Drosophila</em> Toll and PGRP-LC. In this study, we produced <em>M. sexta</em> proSpätzle-1 and proSpätzle-2 in Sf9 cells, identified their processing enzymes, and used prophenoloxidase activating protease-3 to activate the cytokine precursors. After Spätzle-1 and -2 were isolated from the reaction mixtures, we separately injected the purified cytokines into larval hemocoel to induce gene transcription in fat body through the Toll pathway solely. On the other hand, we treated a <em>M. sexta</em> cell line with <em>E. coli</em> DAP-PG to only induce the Imd pathway and target gene expression. RNA-Seq analysis of the fat body and cultured cells collected at 0, 6, and 24 h after treatment indicated that expression of diapausin-4, -10, -12, -13, cecropin-2, -4, -5, attacin-5, -11, and lebocin D is up-regulated predominantly via Toll signaling, whereas transcription of cecropin-6, gloverin, lysozyme-1, and gallerimycin-2 is mostly induced by DAP-PG via Imd signaling. Other antimicrobial peptides are expressed in response to both pathways. Transcripts of most Toll-specific genes (<em>e.g</em>., lebocin D) peaked at 6 h, contrasting the gradual increase and plateauing of drosomycin mRNA level at 24−48 h in <em>Drosophila</em>. We also used T (oll)-I (md) ratios to estimate relative contributions of the two pathways to transcriptional regulation of other components of the immune system. The differences in pathway specificity and time course of transcriptional regulation call for further investigations in <em>M. sexta</em> and other insects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104108"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140326161","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":"An optimized artificial blood feeding assay to study tick cuticle biology","authors":"Faith Kozisek ,&nbsp;Jonathon Cenovic ,&nbsp;Savannah Armendariz ,&nbsp;Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan ,&nbsp;Yoonseong Park ,&nbsp;Vinai C. Thomas ,&nbsp;Sujata S. Chaudhari","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ticks, ectoparasitic arachnids, are prominent disease vectors impacting both humans and animals. Their unique blood-feeding phase involves significant abdominal cuticle expansion, sharing certain similarities with insects. However, vital aspects, including the mechanisms of cuticle expansion, changes in cuticular protein composition, chitin synthesis, and cuticle function, remain poorly understood. Given that the cuticle expansion is crucial for complete engorgement of the ticks, addressing these knowledge gaps is essential. Traditional tick research involving live animal hosts has inherent limitations, such as ethical concerns and host response variability. Artificial membrane feeding systems provide an alternative approach, offering controlled experimental conditions and reduced ethical dilemmas. These systems enable precise monitoring of tick attachment, feeding parameters, and pathogen acquisition. Despite the existence of various methodologies for artificial tick-feeding systems, there is a pressing need to enhance their reproducibility and effectiveness. In this context, we introduce an improved tick-feeding system that incorporates adjustments related to factors like humidity, temperature, and blood-feeding duration. These refinements markedly boost tick engorgement rates, presenting a valuable tool for in-depth investigations into tick cuticle biology and facilitating studies on molting. This refined system allows for collecting feeding ticks at specific stages, supporting research on tick cuticle biology, and evaluating chemical agents' efficacy in the engorgement process.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104113"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140287884","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":"Transgenic black soldier flies for production of carotenoids","authors":"Derrick Gunther ,&nbsp;Robert Alford ,&nbsp;Jeff Johnson ,&nbsp;Paul Neilsen ,&nbsp;Liuyin Zhang ,&nbsp;Robert Harrell II ,&nbsp;Cameron Day","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The black soldier fly (BSF), <em>Hermetia illucens,</em> has gained traction recently as a means to achieve closed-loop production cycles. BSF can subsist off mammalian waste products and their consumption of such waste in turn generates compost that can be used in agricultural operations. Their environmental impact is minimal and BSF larvae are edible, with a nutritional profile high in protein and other essential vitamins. Therefore, it is conceivable to use BSF as a mechanism for both reducing organic waste and maintaining a low-impact food source for animal livestock or humans. The main drawback to BSF as a potential human food source is they are deficient in fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D, and E. While loading BSF with essential vitamins may be achieved via diet-based interventions, this undercuts the goal of a closed-loop as specialized diets would require additional supply chains. An alternative is to genetically engineer BSF that can synthesize these essential vitamins. Here we describe a BSF line that has been engineered with the two main carotenoid biosynthetic genes, CarRA and CarB for production of provitamin carotenoids within the Vitamin A family. Our data describe the manipulation of the BSF genome to insert transgenes for expression of functional protein products.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140206035","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":"Dynamics of cuticle-associated transcript profiles during moulting of the bed bug Cimex lectularius","authors":"Justin Flaven-Pouchon ,&nbsp;Christin Froschauer ,&nbsp;Bernard Moussian","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The bed bug <em>Cimex lectularius</em> is a worldwide human pest. The sequenced genome allows molecular analyses of all aspects of bed bug biology. The present work was conducted to contribute to bed bug cuticle biology. As in other insect species, the <em>C. lectularius</em> cuticle consists of the three horizontal layers procuticle, epicuticle and envelope. To analyse the genes needed for the establishment of the stratified cuticle, we studied the expression pattern of 42 key cuticle-related genes at the transition of the penultimate nymphal stage to adult animals when a new cuticle is formed. Based on gene expression dynamics, in simplified model, we distinguish two key events during cuticle renewal in <em>C. lectularius</em>. First, upon blood feeding, modulation of ecdysone signalling culminates in the transcriptional activation of the transcription factor Clec-Ftz-F1 that possibly controls the expression of 32 of the 42 genes tested. Second, timed expression of <em>Clec-Ftz-F1</em> seems to depend also on the insulin signalling pathway as RNA interference against transcripts of the insulin receptor delays <em>Clec-Ftz-F1</em> expression and stage transition. An important observation of our transcript survey is that genes needed for the construction of the three cuticle layers are largely expressed simultaneously. Based on these data, we hypothesise a considerable synchronous mechanism of layer formation rather than a strictly sequential one. Together, this work provides a basis for functional analyses of cuticle formation in <em>C. lectularius</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104112"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174824000432/pdfft?md5=52741942153c88d5fd2843ee65a8e5d4&pid=1-s2.0-S0965174824000432-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140183388","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":"Multicopper oxidase-2 mediated cuticle formation: Its contribution to evolution and success of insects as terrestrial organisms","authors":"Tsunaki Asano","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The insect cuticle is a non-cellular matrix composed of polysaccharide chitins and proteins. The cuticle covers most of the body surface, including the trachea, foregut, and hindgut, and it is the body structure that separates the intraluminal environment from the external environment. The cuticle is essential to sustain their lives, both as a physical barrier to maintain homeostasis and as an exoskeleton that mechanically supports body shape and movement. Previously, we proposed a theory about the possibility that the cuticle-forming system contributes to the \"evolution and success of insects.\" The main points of our theory are that 1) insects evolved an insect-specific system of cuticle formation and 2) the presence of this system may have provided insects with a competitive advantage in the early land ecosystems. The key to this theory is that insects utilize molecular oxygen abundant in the atmosphere, which differs from closely related crustaceans that form their cuticles with calcium ions. With newly obtained knowledge, this review revisits the significance of the insect-specific system for insects to adapt to terrestrial environments and also discusses the long-standing question in entomology as to why, despite their great success in terrestrial environments, they poorly adapt to marine environments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140178823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A conserved asparagine residue stabilizes iron binding in Manduca sexta transferrin-1","authors":"Jacob J. Weber,&nbsp;Brian V. Geisbrecht,&nbsp;Michael R. Kanost,&nbsp;Maureen J. Gorman","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Transferrin 1 (Tsf1) is an insect-specific iron-binding protein that is abundant in hemolymph and other extracellular fluids. It binds iron tightly at neutral pH and releases iron under acidic conditions. Tsf1 influences the distribution of iron in the body and protects against infection. Elucidating the mechanisms by which Tsf1 achieves these functions will require an understanding of how Tsf1 binds and releases iron. Previously, crystallized Tsf1 from <em>Manduca sexta</em> was shown to have a novel type of iron coordination that involves four iron-binding ligands: two tyrosine residues (Tyr90 and Tyr204), a buried carbonate anion, and a solvent-exposed carbonate anion. The solvent-exposed carbonate anion was bound by a single amino acid residue, a highly conserved asparagine at position 121 (Asn121); thus, we predicted that Asn121 would be essential for high-affinity iron binding. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the iron-binding and -release properties of five forms of recombinant Tsf1: wild-type, a Y90F/Y204F double mutant (negative control), and three Asn121 mutants (N121A, N121D and N121S). Each of the Asn121 mutants exhibited altered spectral properties, confirming that Asn121 contributes to iron coordination. The N121D and N121S mutations resulted in slightly lower affinity for iron, especially at acidic pH, while iron binding and release by the N121A mutant was indistinguishable from that of the wild-type protein. The surprisingly minor consequences of mutating Asn121, despite its high degree of conservation in diverse insect species, suggest that Asn121 may play a role that is essential in vivo but non-essential for high affinity iron binding in vitro.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104109"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140142514","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":"Insect immune resolution with EpOME/DiHOME and its dysregulation by their analogs leading to pathogen hypersensitivity","authors":"Md Tafim Hossain Hrithik ,&nbsp;Niayesh Shahmohammadi ,&nbsp;Gahyeon Jin ,&nbsp;Dong-Hee Lee ,&nbsp;Nalin Singh ,&nbsp;Anders Vik ,&nbsp;Bruce D. Hammock ,&nbsp;Yonggyun Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Upon immune challenge, recognition signals trigger insect immunity to remove the pathogens through cellular and humoral responses. Various immune mediators propagate the immune signals to nearby tissues, in which polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) derivatives play crucial roles. However, little was known on how the insects terminate the activated immune responses after pathogen neutralization. Interestingly, C20 PUFA was detected at the early infection stage and later C18 PUFAs were induced in a lepidopteran insect, <em>Spodoptera exigua</em>. This study showed the role of epoxyoctadecamonoenoic acids (EpOMEs) in the immune resolution at the late infection stage to quench the excessive and unnecessary immune responses. In contrast, dihydroxy-octadecamonoenoates (DiHOMEs) were the hydrolyzed and inactive forms of EpOMEs. The hydrolysis is catalyzed by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Inhibitors specific to sEH mimicked the immunosuppression induced by EpOMEs. Furthermore, the inhibitor treatments significantly enhanced the bacterial virulence of <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> against <em>S. exigua</em>. This study proposes a negative control of the immune responses using EpOME/DiHOME in insects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104104"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140142515","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":"Key role of the ryanodine receptor I4790K mutation in mediating diamide resistance in Plutella xylostella","authors":"Dong Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhenwu Yu ,&nbsp;Yingshi He ,&nbsp;Falong Wang ,&nbsp;Yucheng Gu ,&nbsp;T.G. Emyr Davies ,&nbsp;Zhijin Fan ,&nbsp;Xingliang Wang ,&nbsp;Yidong Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The diamondback moth <em>Plutella xylostella</em>, a global insect pest of cruciferous vegetables, has evolved resistance to many classes of insecticides including diamides. Three point mutations (I4790M, I4790K, and G4946E) in the ryanodine receptor of <em>P. xylostella</em> (PxRyR) have been identified to associate with varying levels of resistance. In this study, we generated a knockin strain (I4790K-KI) of <em>P. xylostella,</em> using CRISPR/Cas9 to introduce the I4790K mutation into PxRyR of the susceptible IPP-S strain. Compared to IPP-S, the edited I4790K-KI strain exhibited high levels of resistance to both anthranilic diamides (chlorantraniliprole 1857-fold, cyantraniliprole 1433-fold) and the phthalic acid diamide flubendiamide (&gt;2272-fold). Resistance to chlorantraniliprole in the I4790K-KI strain was inherited in an autosomal and recessive mode, and genetically linked with the I4790K knockin mutation. Computational modeling suggests the I4790K mutation reduces the binding of diamides to PxRyR by disrupting key hydrogen bonding interactions within the binding cavity. The approximate frequencies of the 4790M, 4790K, and 4946E alleles were assessed in ten geographical field populations of <em>P. xylostella</em> collected in China in 2021. The levels of chlorantraniliprole resistance (2.3- to 1444-fold) in these populations were significantly correlated with the frequencies (0.017–0.917) of the 4790K allele, but not with either 4790M (0–0.183) or 4946E (0.017–0.450) alleles. This demonstrates that the PxRyR I4790K mutation is currently the major contributing factor to chlorantraniliprole resistance in <em>P. xylostella</em> field populations within China. Our findings provide <em>in vivo</em> functional evidence for the causality of the I4790K mutation in PxRyR with high levels of diamide resistance in <em>P. xylostella</em>, and suggest that tracking the frequency of the I4790K allele is crucial for optimizing the monitoring and management of diamide resistance in this crop pest.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104107"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140139711","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":"Spatio-temporal distribution and genetic background of elastic proteins inside the chitin/chitosan matrix of insects including their functional significance for locomotion","authors":"Fritz-Olaf Lehmann ,&nbsp;Stanislav Gorb ,&nbsp;Bernard Moussian","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In insects, cuticle proteins interact with chitin and chitosan of the exoskeleton forming crystalline, amorphic or composite material structures. The biochemical and mechanical composition of the structure defines the cuticle's physical properties and thus how the insect cuticle behaves under mechanical stress. The tissue-specific ratio between chitin and chitosan and its pattern of deacetylation are recognized and interpreted by cuticle proteins depending on their local position in the body. Despite previous research, the assembly of the cuticle composites in time and space including its functional impact is widely unexplored. This review is devoted to the genetics underlying the temporal and spatial distribution of elastic proteins and the potential function of elastic proteins in insects with a focus on Resilin in the fruit fly <em>Drosophila</em>. The potential impact and function of localized patches of elastic proteins is discussed for movements in leg joints, locomotion and damage resistance of the cuticle. We conclude that an interdisciplinary research approach serves as an integral example for the molecular mechanisms of generation and interpretation of the chitin/chitosan matrix, not only in <em>Drosophila</em> but also in other arthropod species, and might help to synthesize artificial material composites.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"168 ","pages":"Article 104089"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174824000201/pdfft?md5=20a8e4629fea4614bb488329b6b19a5d&pid=1-s2.0-S0965174824000201-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140130444","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":"Structural and functional comparisons of salivary α-glucosidases from the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus","authors":"Adeline E. Williams ,&nbsp;Apostolos G. Gittis ,&nbsp;Karina Botello ,&nbsp;Phillip Cruz ,&nbsp;Ines Martin-Martin ,&nbsp;Paola Carolina Valenzuela Leon ,&nbsp;Benjamin Sumner ,&nbsp;Brian Bonilla ,&nbsp;Eric Calvo","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104097","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mosquito vectors of medical importance both blood and sugar feed, and their saliva contains bioactive molecules that aid in both processes. Although it has been shown that the salivary glands of several mosquito species exhibit α-glucosidase activities, the specific enzymes responsible for sugar digestion remain understudied. We therefore expressed and purified three recombinant salivary α-glucosidases from the mosquito vectors <em>Aedes aegypti</em>, <em>Anopheles gambiae</em>, and <em>Culex quinquefasciatus</em> and compared their functions and structures. We found that all three enzymes were expressed in the salivary glands of their respective vectors and were secreted into the saliva. The proteins, as well as mosquito salivary gland extracts, exhibited α-glucosidase activity, and the recombinant enzymes displayed preference for sucrose compared to <em>p</em>-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside. Finally, we solved the crystal structure of the <em>Ae. aegypti</em> α-glucosidase bound to two calcium ions at a 2.3 Ångstrom resolution. Molecular docking suggested that the <em>Ae. aegypti</em> α-glucosidase preferred di- or polysaccharides compared to monosaccharides, consistent with enzymatic activity assays. Comparing structural models between the three species revealed a high degree of similarity, suggesting similar functional properties. We conclude that the α-glucosidases studied herein are important enzymes for sugar digestion in three mosquito species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"167 ","pages":"Article 104097"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965174824000286/pdfft?md5=103b34966f473da96c8e7e414d3ea260&pid=1-s2.0-S0965174824000286-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140006735","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}