Antennal UDP-glycosyltransferase genes in the coffee white stemborer, Xylotrechus quadripes

Abstract

Abstract The antenna of Xylotrechus quadripes is the principle olfactory organ that is subjected to a large number of endogenous and exogenous compounds. The gene families associated with the detoxification of these compounds are essential for the adaptive evolution of insect defensive strategies. However, knowledge on uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) of X. quadripes is unavailable. Here, we characterized 30 UGT genes identified from an antennal transcriptome of X. quadripes. Among them, 16 UGT genes encoding 508–527 amino acids shared the full-length sequences and signal peptides in N-terminus. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that X. quadripes UGTs had a variable N-terminus and a conserved C-terminus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that X. quadripes UGTs were classified into ten sub-families with the largest UGT one of UGT352 (nine genes) and a strict single copy of UGT50 within coleopteran species. Gene structural analysis indicated that coleopteran UGT50s underwent intron gains or losses. Expression profile revealed that all studied X. quadripes UGTs were transcribed in the antennae of both sexes, some of which exhibited sex-biased expression including UGT2, UGT6, UGT20 and UGT27 in females as well as UGT3, UGT11 and UGT12 in males. In addition, most of UGTs were widely expressed in other tissues, indicating their functional diversities in this beetle. Together, these findings provide valuable information for further functional studies of UGTs in X. quadripes, especially their roles in olfaction.