Abstract
Simple SummaryDHCR24 (24-dehydrocholesterol reductase) is a key enzyme for producing cholesterol from desmosterol and that is also involved in the conversion of plant sterols to cholesterol in most plant-feeding insects. This study extensively examined the possibility of DHCR24 involved in the sterol conversion in omnivorous insects, which feed on multiple food origins. Homologs of DHCR24 (GbDHCR24-1 and -2) were identified and characterized by using the two-spotted cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus, as an experimental model. The quantitative expression analyses and RNA interference experiments revealed that GbDHCR24-1 rather than GbDHCR24-2 facilitates the desmosterol-to-cholesterol conversion in crickets. Our data suggested that the omnivorous species produced cholesterol from desmosterol in the same manner as the plant-feeding species do.Arthropods, including insects, convert sterols into cholesterol due to the inability to synthesise cholesterol de novo. 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24) plays an important role in the conversion. Not only involving the cholesterol biosynthesis in vertebrates, DHCR24 is required for the conversion of desmosterol into cholesterol in phytophagous insects. The current study extensively examined DHCR24 in omnivorous insects, which feed on both plants and animals, using Gryllus bimaculatus as the experimental model. We identified cDNAs encoding two homologues of DHCR24 from G. bimaculatus, which were designated as GbDHCR24-1 and GbDHCR24-2. Both homologues contained the flavin adenine dinucleotide binding domain, which is a feature of DHCR24. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that among tissues of adult crickets, fat body and anterior midgut expressed high levels of GbDHCR24s. Both fat body and anterior midgut demonstrated DHCR24 activities in which one of the functions is the conversion of desmosterol into cholesterol in vitro. Knockdown of GbDHCR24-1 significantly reduced the conversion activity in the anterior midgut while knockdown of the GbDHCR24-2 did not. Additionally, the accumulation of desmosterol was detected in a feeding experiment with a specific DHCR24 inhibitor, azacosterol. We finally concluded that GbDHCR24-1 is the major enzyme that facilitates the desmosterol-to-cholesterol-conversion in crickets.
Highlights
Cholesterol is critical for the survival of many organisms because of its varied functions
The BLAST search resulted in two nucleotide sequences encoding DHCR24 homologues in G. bimaculatus DHCR24, GbDHCR24-1 and GbDHCR24-2. cDNA sequences encoding
GbDHCR24-1 seemed to be the homologue that resulted in the production of cholesterol from desmosterol, but the function of GbDHCR24-2 remained unknown
Summary
Cholesterol is critical for the survival of many organisms because of its varied functions. In the cholesterol biosynthesis of vertebrates, two pathways, which are known as the Bloch pathway and the Kandutsch-Russell pathway, are involved [1]. In both pathways, an enzyme called 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24) reduces ∆24 in sterols. Bombyx mori, DHCR24 has been shown to have the potential to convert desmosterol into cholesterol in vitro [13,14]. There are two DHCR24 variants in B. mori. Both are expressed in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of larval midgut [15]. The conversion is facilitated by DHCR24 in other species, such as Caenorhabditis elegans [16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
