Transcriptome Characterization and Expression Analysis of Chemosensory Genes in Chilo sacchariphagus (Lepidoptera Crambidae), a Key Pest of Sugarcane.

Jianbai Liu,Jiequn Yi,Yongkai Mao,Han Wu,Donglei Sun,Huan Liu,Yuxing An,Jihu Li

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.636353

Abstract

Insect chemoreception involves many families of genes, including odourant/pheromone binding proteins (OBP/PBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs), odourant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), which play irreplaceable roles in mediating insect behaviors such as host location, foraging, mating, oviposition, and avoidance of danger. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of olfactory reception in Chilo sacchariphagus, which is a major pest of sugarcane. A set of 72 candidate chemosensory genes, including 31 OBPs/PBPs, 15 CSPs, 11 ORs, 13 IRs, and two SNMPs, were identified in four transcriptomes from different tissues and genders of C. sacchariphagus. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on gene families and paralogs from other model insect species. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that most of these chemosensory genes exhibited antennae-biased expression, but some had high expression in bodies. Most of the identified chemosensory genes were likely involved in chemoreception. This study provides a molecular foundation for the function of chemosensory proteins, and an opportunity for understanding how C. sacchariphagus behaviors are mediated via chemical cues. This research might facilitate the discovery of novel strategies for pest management in agricultural ecosystems.

Highlights

Insects, the most diverse and successful group of animals on earth, have existed for more than 350 million years (Stork, 1993; Chen et al, 2018); they affect the natural environment and influence human life and productivity in many ways
The recognition of chemical signals depends on peripheral chemosensory systems (Vieira and Rozas, 2011; Zhang et al, 2016)
Chemoreception in insects is mediated via many proteins, including odourant binding proteins (OBPs), pheromone binding proteins (PBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs), odourant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) (Leal, 2013; Pelosi et al, 2014, 2018; Wicher, 2014; Butterwick et al, 2018; He et al, 2019b)

Summary

Introduction

The most diverse and successful group of animals on earth, have existed for more than 350 million years (Stork, 1993; Chen et al, 2018); they affect the natural environment and influence human life and productivity in many ways. A sophisticated chemosensory system makes insect prominence among other animals for their survival and reproduction (Leal, 2013). Chemoreception plays a critical role in many insect behaviors, including behaviors to avoid harm from predators or the surrounding environment, behaviors to detect locations for oviposition or hosts, searching for food or mates, and interspecific communication (Stocker, 1994; Hildebrand, 1995; Grosse-Wilde et al, 2011; Zhang et al, 2015). Chemoreception in insects is mediated via many proteins, including odourant binding proteins (OBPs), pheromone binding proteins (PBPs), chemosensory proteins (CSPs), odourant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), and sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) (Leal, 2013; Pelosi et al, 2014, 2018; Wicher, 2014; Butterwick et al, 2018; He et al, 2019b)

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