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15 pages, 3035 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antenna-Biased Odorant Receptor PstrOR17 Mediates Attraction of Phyllotreta striolata to (S)-Cis-Verbenol and (−)-Verbenone

by Zhanyi Xu, Peitong Chen, Ru Yan, Guoxing Chen, Jiali Qian, Guonian Zhu, Mengli Chen and Yirong Guo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084362 - 15 Apr 2024

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Abstract

Phyllotreta striolata, the striped flea beetle, is one of the most destructive pests in Brassicaceae plants worldwide. Given the drawbacks associated with long-term use of chemical insecticides, green strategies based on chemical ecology are an effective alternative for beetle control. However, the [...] Read more.

Phyllotreta striolata, the striped flea beetle, is one of the most destructive pests in Brassicaceae plants worldwide. Given the drawbacks associated with long-term use of chemical insecticides, green strategies based on chemical ecology are an effective alternative for beetle control. However, the lack of information on beetle ecology has hindered the development of effective biocontrol strategies. In this report, we identified two odorants, (S)-cis-verbenol and (−)-verbenone, which displayed significant attraction for P. striolata (p < 0.05), indicating their great potential for P. striolata management. Using the Drosophila “empty neuron” system, an antenna-biased odorant receptor, PstrOR17, was identified as responsible for the detection of (−)-verbenone and (S)-cis-verbenol. Furthermore, the interactions between PstrOR17 and (−)-verbenone or (S)-cis-verbenol were predicted via modeling and molecular docking. Finally, we used RNAi to confirm that PstrOR17 is essential for the detection of (−)-verbenone and (S)-cis-verbenol to elicit an attraction effect. Our results not only lay a foundation for the development of new and effective nonchemical insecticide strategies based on (S)-cis-verbenol and (−)-verbenone, but also provide new insight into the molecular basis of odorant recognition in P. striolata. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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11 pages, 2845 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microbial Community Changes in Silkworms Suspected of Septicemia and Identification of Serratia sp.

by Jong Woo Park, Seul Ki Park, Chan Young Jeong, Hyeok Gyu Kwon, Ji Hae Lee, Sang Kuk Kang, Seong-Wan Kim and Seong-Ryul Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 3957; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073957 - 02 Apr 2024

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Abstract

Diseases that occur in silkworms include soft rot, hardening disease, digestive diseases, and sepsis. However, research on the causes of bacterial diseases occurring in silkworms and the resulting changes in the microbial community is lacking. Therefore, we examined the morphological characteristics of sepsis [...] Read more.

Diseases that occur in silkworms include soft rot, hardening disease, digestive diseases, and sepsis. However, research on the causes of bacterial diseases occurring in silkworms and the resulting changes in the microbial community is lacking. Therefore, we examined the morphological characteristics of sepsis and changes in the microbial community between silkworms that exhibit a unique odor and healthy silkworms; thus, we established a relationship between disease-causing microorganisms and sepsis. After producing a 16S rRNA amplicon library for samples showing sepsis, we obtained information on the microbial community present in silkworms using next-generation sequencing. Compared to that in healthy silkworms, in silkworms with sepsis, the abundance of the Firmicutes phylum was significantly reduced, while that of Proteobacteria was increased. Serratia sp. was dominant in silkworms with sepsis. After bacterial isolation, identification, and reinfection through the oral cavity, we confirmed this organism as the disease-causing agent; its mortality rate was 1.8 times higher than that caused by Serratia marcescens. In summary, we identified a new causative bacterium of silkworm sepsis through microbial community analysis and confirmed that the microbial community balance was disrupted by the aberrant proliferation of certain bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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14 pages, 2414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Roles of DNA Methylation in Color Alternation of Eastern Honey Bees (Apis cerana) Induced by the Royal Jelly of Western Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)

by Amal Abdelmawla, Xin Li, Wenkai Shi, Yunlin Zheng, Zhijiang Zeng and Xujiang He

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3368; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063368 - 16 Mar 2024

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Abstract

Honey bees have a very interesting phenomenon where the larval diets of two different honey bee species are exchanged, resulting in altered phenotypes, namely, a honey bee nutritional crossbreed. This is a classical epigenetic process, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study [...] Read more.

Honey bees have a very interesting phenomenon where the larval diets of two different honey bee species are exchanged, resulting in altered phenotypes, namely, a honey bee nutritional crossbreed. This is a classical epigenetic process, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the contribution of DNA methylation to the phenotypic alternation of a Apis mellifera–Apis cerana nutritional crossbreed. We used a full nutritional crossbreed technique to rear A. cerana queens by feeding their larvae with A. mellifera royal-jelly-based diets in an incubator. Subsequently, we compared genome-wide methylation sequencing, body color, GC ratio, and the DMRs between the nutritional crossbreed, A. cerana queens (NQs), and control, A. cerana queens (CQs). Our results showed that the NQ’s body color shifted to yellow compared to the black control queens. Genome methylation sequencing revealed that NQs had a much higher ratio of mCG than that of CQs. A total of 1020 DMGs were identified, of which 20 DMGs were enriched into key pathways for melanin synthesis, including tryptophan, tyrosine, dopamine, and phenylalanine KEGG pathways. Three key differentially methylated genes [OGDH, ALDH(NAD+) and ALDH7] showed a clear, altered DNA methylation in multiple CpG islands in NQs compared to CQs. Consequently, these findings revealed that DNA methylation participates in A. cerana–A. mellifera nutritional crossbreeding as an important epigenetic modification. This study serves as a model of cross-kingdom epigenetic mechanisms in insect body color induced by environmental factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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24 pages, 5281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prolonged Heat Stress during Winter Diapause Alters the Expression of Stress-Response Genes in Ostrinia nubilalis (Hbn.)

by Iva Uzelac, Miloš Avramov, Teodora Knežić, Vanja Tatić, Snežana Gošić-Dondo and Željko D. Popović

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3100; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063100 - 07 Mar 2024

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Abstract

During diapause, a state of temporarily arrested development, insects require low winter temperatures to suppress their metabolism, conserve energy stores and acquire cold hardiness. A warmer winter could, thus, reduce diapause incidence and duration in many species, prematurely deplete their energy reserves and [...] Read more.

During diapause, a state of temporarily arrested development, insects require low winter temperatures to suppress their metabolism, conserve energy stores and acquire cold hardiness. A warmer winter could, thus, reduce diapause incidence and duration in many species, prematurely deplete their energy reserves and compromise post-diapause fitness. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of thermal stress and the diapause program on the expression of selected genes involved in antioxidant defense and heat shock response in the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis. By using qRT-PCR, it has been shown that response to chronic heat stress is characterized by raised mRNA levels of grx and trx, two important genes of the antioxidant defense system, as well as of hsp70 and, somewhat, of hsp90, two major heat shock response proteins. On the other hand, the expression of hsc70, hsp20.4 and hsp20.1 was discontinuous in the latter part of diapause, or was strongly controlled by the diapause program and refractory to heat stress, as was the case for mtn and fer, genes encoding two metal storage proteins crucial for metal ion homeostasis. This is the first time that the effects of high winter temperatures have been assessed on cold-hardy diapausing larvae and pupae of this important corn pest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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19 pages, 21492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developmental and Nutritional Dynamics of Malpighian Tubule Autofluorescence in the Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus

by Anna Cleta Croce, Anna Garbelli, Andrea Moyano, Sara Soldano, Carlos Tejeda-Guzmán, Fanis Missirlis and Francesca Scolari

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010245 - 23 Dec 2023

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Abstract

Malpighian tubules (MTs) are arthropod excretory organs crucial for the osmoregulation, detoxification and excretion of xenobiotics and metabolic wastes, which include tryptophan degradation products along the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Specifically, the toxic intermediate 3-hydroxy kynurenine (3-HK) is metabolized through transamination to xanthurenic acid [...] Read more.

Malpighian tubules (MTs) are arthropod excretory organs crucial for the osmoregulation, detoxification and excretion of xenobiotics and metabolic wastes, which include tryptophan degradation products along the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Specifically, the toxic intermediate 3-hydroxy kynurenine (3-HK) is metabolized through transamination to xanthurenic acid or in the synthesis of ommochrome pigments. Early investigations in Drosophila larval fat bodies revealed an intracellular autofluorescence (AF) that depended on tryptophan administration. Subsequent observations documented AF changes in the MTs of Drosophila eye-color mutants genetically affecting the conversion of tryptophan to KYN or 3-HK and the intracellular availability of zinc ions. In the present study, the AF properties of the MTs in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, were characterized in different stages of the insect’s life cycle, tryptophan-administered larvae and blood-fed adult females. Confocal imaging and microspectroscopy showed AF changes in the distribution of intracellular, brilliant granules and in the emission spectral shape and amplitude between the proximal and distal segments of MTs across the different samples. The findings suggest AF can serve as a promising marker for investigating the functional status of MTs in response to metabolic alterations, contributing to the use of MTs as a potential research model in biomedicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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14 pages, 3496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Functional Analysis of an Epsilon Class Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Associated with α-Pinene Adaptation in Monochamus alternatus

by Mingyu Xue, Xiaohong Xia, Yadi Deng, Fei Teng, Shiyue Zhao, Hui Li, Dejun Hao and Wei-Yi Chen

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17376; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417376 - 12 Dec 2023

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Abstract

Alpha-pinene is one of the main defensive components in conifers. Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a wood borer feeding on Pinaceae plants, relies on its detoxifying enzymes to resist the defensive terpenoids. Here, we assayed the peroxide level and GST activity of M. alternatus [...] Read more.

Alpha-pinene is one of the main defensive components in conifers. Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a wood borer feeding on Pinaceae plants, relies on its detoxifying enzymes to resist the defensive terpenoids. Here, we assayed the peroxide level and GST activity of M. alternatus larvae treated with different concentrations of α-pinene. Meanwhile, a gst gene (MaGSTe3) was isolated and analyzed. We determined its expression level and verified its function. The results showed that α-pinene treatment led to membrane lipid peroxidation and thus increased the GST activity. Expression of MaGSTe3 was significantly upregulated in guts following exposure to α-pinene, which has a similar pattern with the malonaldehyde level. In vitro expression and disk diffusion assay showed that the MaGSTe3 protein had high antioxidant capacity. However, RNAi treatment of MaGSTe3 did not reduce the hydrogen peroxide and malonaldehyde levels, while GST activity was significantly reduced. These results suggested MaGSTe3 takes part in α-pinene adaptation, but it does not play a great role in the resistance of M. alternatus larvae to α-pinene. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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16 pages, 8962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Untargeted Lipidomics Analysis Unravels the Different Metabolites in the Fat Body of Mated Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Queens

by Yueqin Guo, Fugang Liu, Yulong Guo, Yingping Qu, Zhengyi Zhang, Jun Yao, Jin Xu and Jilian Li

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015408 - 21 Oct 2023

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Abstract

The fat body has important functions in energy, fertility, and immunity. In female insects, mating stimulates physiological, behavioral, and gene expression changes. However, it remains unclear whether the metabolites in the fat body are affected after the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen [...] Read more.

The fat body has important functions in energy, fertility, and immunity. In female insects, mating stimulates physiological, behavioral, and gene expression changes. However, it remains unclear whether the metabolites in the fat body are affected after the bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen mates. Here, the ultrastructure and lipid metabolites in fat body of mated queens were compared with those of virgins. The fat body weight of mated bumblebee queens was significantly increased, and the adipocytes were filled with lipid droplets. Using LC-MS/MS-based untargeted lipidomics, 949 and 748 differential metabolites were identified in the fat body of virgin and mated bumblebee queens, respectively, in positive and negative ion modes. Most lipid metabolites were decreased, especially some biomembrane components. In order to explore the relationship between the structures of lipid droplets and metabolite accumulation, transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to observe the fat body ultrastructure. The size/area of lipid droplets was larger, and the fusion of lipid droplets was increased in the mated queen’s fat body. These enlarged lipid droplets may store more energy and nutrients. The observed differences in lipid metabolites in the fat body of queens contribute to understanding the regulatory network of bumblebees post mating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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Review

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27 pages, 976 KiB

Open AccessReview

Notch Signaling in Insect Development: A Simple Pathway with Diverse Functions

by Yao Chen, Haomiao Li, Tian-Ci Yi, Jie Shen and Junzheng Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14028; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814028 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1382

Abstract

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway which functions between adjacent cells to establish their distinct identities. Despite operating in a simple mechanism, Notch signaling plays remarkably diverse roles in development to regulate cell fate determination, organ growth and tissue patterning. While initially [...] Read more.

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway which functions between adjacent cells to establish their distinct identities. Despite operating in a simple mechanism, Notch signaling plays remarkably diverse roles in development to regulate cell fate determination, organ growth and tissue patterning. While initially discovered and characterized in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster, recent studies across various insect species have revealed the broad involvement of Notch signaling in shaping insect tissues. This review focuses on providing a comprehensive picture regarding the roles of the Notch pathway in insect development. The roles of Notch in the formation and patterning of the insect embryo, wing, leg, ovary and several specific structures, as well as in physiological responses, are summarized. These results are discussed within the developmental context, aiming to deepen our understanding of the diversified functions of the Notch signaling pathway in different insect species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Ecology, Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects, 4th Edition)

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