Abstract
In insect parasitoids, fatty acid synthases (FASs) have received less attention and their roles associated with lipogenesis loss are far from clear. Meteorus pulchricornis is a solitary endoparasitoid wasp of many larvae of lepidopteran pests. The lipid content during developmental stages of M. pulchricornis was measured; it was higher in the larval and pupal stages but declined from six-day-old pupae. Lipid accumulation constantly decreased in the adult stage, even after feeding on honey solutions. To investigate the roles of FASs in lipid synthesis in M. pulchricornis, four FAS genes (MpulFAS1~4) were identified from the transcriptome database of M. pulchricornis. All FAS genes included full-length open reading frames and shared 72–79% similarity with the sequences of Microplitis demolitor. qRT-PCR validation showed that all four FASs had the highest expression after the adult wasps were fed on honey diets. MpulFAS1 and MpulFAS2 reached their expression peaks at the adult stage but MpulFAS3 and MpulFAS4 peaked at the larval stage. To further study the function of FASs, dsRNA injection knocked down the expression of four MpulFASs and resulted in a significant decline of lipid content at the adult stage in M. pulchricornis. Results from this study suggest that M. pulchricornis adults cannot accumulate lipid content effectively and FASs may still contribute to lipid synthesis in the adult stage. This broadens the knowledge on the ability of lipid synthesis in parasitoid wasps and provides insight into the roles of FASs in insects with parasitic life-history traits.
Highlights
Lipid reserves can support a large and long-term energy source for organisms; they play key roles in survival and reproduction
Some parasitoid hymenopteran wasps have been reported to lack the ability to accumulate energy supplies, especially for lipid synthesis at the adult stage, which is termed as lipogenesis loss [8]
The lipid content remained stable from the larval stage to 5-day-old pupae and no significant dInifft. eJ.rMenolc.eSsci.w20e2r0e, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW
Summary
Lipid reserves can support a large and long-term energy source for organisms; they play key roles in survival and reproduction. Lipids can take part in numerous physiological processes and play vital roles in insects. Some insect species do not consume any external resources in the adult stage and alternatively rely on nutrients and energy deposits obtained during their immature stages [5,6,7]. In this scenario, some parasitoid hymenopteran wasps have been reported to lack the ability to accumulate energy supplies, especially for lipid synthesis at the adult stage, which is termed as lipogenesis loss [8]
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