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International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases () play a variety of physiological roles, including pesticide resistance, plant allelochemical detoxification, and hormone metabolism... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases () play a variety of physiological roles, including pesticide resistance, plant allelochemical detoxification, and hormone metabolism catalysis. However, limited information is available on the classification and expression profiles of the gene family in aphid species. This is the first study to identify the cytochrome P450 gene family in 19 aphid species at the whole genome level. A total of 1100 genes were identified in 19 aphid species. Three hundred genes belonged to six cereal crop aphid species, which were further classified into four subfamilies according to the phylogenetic relationship. The conserved motifs, exon-intron structures, and genomic organization of the same subfamilies were similar. Predictions of subcellular localization revealed that the endoplasmic reticulum harbored the majority of CYP450 proteins. In and , the increase in the gene was primarily caused by segmental duplication events. However, only tandem duplication occurred in the gene family of , , and . Synteny analysis found three continuous colinear gene pairs among six cereal crop aphid species. Furthermore, we obtained the expression profiles of four cereal crop aphids, including , , and . Differential expression analysis provided growth stage specificity genes, tissue specificity genes, organ specificity genes and some detoxification metabolic genes among these four cereal crop aphids. Meanwhile, their expression patterns were showed. The related functions and pathways of were revealed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Above all, we picked the differentially expressed genes from all of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). These differentially expressed genes provided some new potential candidates for aphid control and management. This work establishes the foundation for further investigations into the regulatory functions of the gene family in aphid species and beyond.
Topics: Aphids; Animals; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Phylogeny; Multigene Family; Edible Grain; Genome, Insect; Gene Expression Profiling; Synteny; Insect Proteins
PubMed: 38928374
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126668 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from , used as a dietary spice, has garnered attention for its therapeutic potential, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and...
Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from , used as a dietary spice, has garnered attention for its therapeutic potential, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Despite its known benefits, the precise mechanisms underlying curcumin's effects on consumers remain unclear. To address this gap, we employed the genetic model and leveraged two omics tools-transcriptomics and metabolomics. Our investigation revealed alterations in 1043 genes and 73 metabolites upon supplementing curcumin into the diet. Notably, we observed genetic modulation in pathways related to antioxidants, carbohydrates, and lipids, as well as genes associated with gustatory perception and reproductive processes. Metabolites implicated in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and biomarkers linked to the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, and aging were also identified. The study highlighted a strong correlation between the curcumin diet, antioxidant mechanisms, and amino acid metabolism. Conversely, a lower correlation was observed between carbohydrate metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis. This research highlights the impact of curcumin on the diet, influencing perception, fertility, and molecular wellness. Furthermore, it directs future studies toward a more focused exploration of the specific effects of curcumin consumption.
Topics: Animals; Drosophila melanogaster; Curcumin; Metabolome; Transcriptome; Antioxidants; Diet; Metabolomics
PubMed: 38928266
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126559 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Pollen from common ragweed is an important allergen source worldwide and especially in western and southern Romania. More than 100 million patients suffer from symptoms...
Pollen from common ragweed is an important allergen source worldwide and especially in western and southern Romania. More than 100 million patients suffer from symptoms of respiratory allergy (e.g., rhinitis, asthma) to ragweed pollen. Among the eleven characterized allergens, Amb a 6 is a non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP). nsLTPs are structurally stable proteins in pollen and food from different unrelated plants capable of inducing severe reactions. The goal of this study was to produce Amb a 6 as a recombinant and structurally folded protein (rAmb a 6) and to characterize its physicochemical and immunological features. rAmb a 6 was expressed in cells as a secreted protein and characterized by mass spectrometry and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy regarding molecular mass and fold, respectively. The IgE-binding frequency towards the purified protein was evaluated using sera from 150 clinically well-characterized ragweed-allergic patients. The allergenic activities of rAmb a 6 and the nsLTP from the weed (Par j 2) were evaluated in basophil activation assays. rAmb a 6-specific IgE reactivity was associated with clinical features. Pure rAmb a 6 was obtained by insect cell expression. Its deduced molecular weight corresponded to that determined by mass spectrometry (i.e., 10,963 Da). rAmb a 6 formed oligomers as determined by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. According to multiple sequence comparisons, Amb a 6 was a distinct nsLTP with less than 40% sequence identity to currently known plant nsLTP allergens, except for nsLTP from (i.e., 52%). rAmb a 6 is an important ragweed allergen recognized by 30% of ragweed pollen allergic patients. For certain patients, rAmb a 6-specific IgE levels were higher than those specific for the major ragweed allergen Amb a 1 and analysis also showed a higher allergenic activity in the basophil activation test. rAmb a 6-positive patients suffered mainly from respiratory symptoms. The assumption that Amb a 6 is a source-specific ragweed allergen is supported by the finding that none of the patients showing rAmb a 6-induced basophil activation reacted with Par j 2 and only one rAmb a 6-sensitized patient had a history of plant food allergy. Immunization of rabbits with rAmb a 6 induced IgG antibodies which strongly inhibited IgE binding to rAmb a 6. Our results demonstrate that Amb a 6 is an important source-specific ragweed pollen allergen that should be considered for diagnosis and allergen-specific immunotherapy of ragweed pollen allergy.
Topics: Humans; Allergens; Immunoglobulin E; Antigens, Plant; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Plant Proteins; Female; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Male; Adult; Ambrosia; Spodoptera; Recombinant Proteins; Amino Acid Sequence; Sf9 Cells; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38928218
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126513 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Cla4, an orthologous p21-activated kinase crucial for non-entomopathogenic fungal lifestyles, has two paralogs (Cla4A/B) functionally unknown in hypocrealean...
Cla4, an orthologous p21-activated kinase crucial for non-entomopathogenic fungal lifestyles, has two paralogs (Cla4A/B) functionally unknown in hypocrealean entomopathogens. Here, we report a regulatory role of Cla4A in gene expression networks of required for asexual and entomopathogenic lifecycles while Cla4B is functionally redundant. The deletion of resulted in severe growth defects, reduced stress tolerance, delayed conidiation, altered conidiation mode, impaired conidial quality, and abolished pathogenicity through cuticular penetration, contrasting with no phenotype affected by deletion. In ∆, 5288 dysregulated genes were associated with phenotypic defects, which were restored by targeted gene complementation. Among those, 3699 genes were downregulated, including more than 1300 abolished at the transcriptomic level. Hundreds of those downregulated genes were involved in the regulation of transcription, translation, and post-translational modifications and the organization and function of the nuclear chromosome, chromatin, and protein-DNA complex. DNA-binding elements in promoter regions of 130 dysregulated genes were predicted to be targeted by Cla4A domains. Samples of purified Cla4A extract were proven to bind promoter DNAs of 12 predicted genes involved in multiple stress-responsive pathways. Therefore, Cla4A acts as a novel regulator of genomic expression and stability and mediates gene expression networks required for insect-pathogenic fungal adaptations to the host and environment.
Topics: Beauveria; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Fungal Proteins; Animals; Gene Regulatory Networks; Insecta; Spores, Fungal; Promoter Regions, Genetic
PubMed: 38928117
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126410 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024is the dominant parasitic natural enemy of aphids. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of host recognition of would improve its biological control effect. Chemosensory...
is the dominant parasitic natural enemy of aphids. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of host recognition of would improve its biological control effect. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) play a crucial role in insect olfactory systems and are mainly involved in host localization. In this study, a total of nine CSPs of with complete open reading frames were identified based on antennal transcriptome data. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AgifCSPs were mainly clustered into three subgroups (AgifCSP1/2/7/8, AgifCSP3/9, and AgifCSP4/5/6). showed high expression in the antennae of both sexes. Moreover, was found to be specifically expressed in the antennae. In addition, fluorescent binding assays revealed that AifCSP5 had greater affinities for 7 of 32 volatile odor molecules from various sources. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis results revealed that the residue at which AgifCSP5 binds to these seven plant volatiles is Tyr75. Behavior tests further confirmed that -2-nonenal, one of the seven active volatiles in the ligand binding test, significantly attracted female adults at a relatively low concentration of 10 mg/mL. In conclusion, AgifCSP5 may be involved in locating aphid-infested crops from long distances by detecting and binding -2-nonenal. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further understanding the olfactory recognition mechanisms and indirect aphid localization behavior of from long distances by first identifying the host plant of aphids.
Topics: Animals; Aphids; Insect Proteins; Phylogeny; Female; Male; Host-Parasite Interactions; Arthropod Antennae; Molecular Docking Simulation; Amino Acid Sequence; Receptors, Odorant; Wasps
PubMed: 38928098
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126392 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024In most cases, the number of honeybee stings received by the body is generally small, but honeybee stings can still cause serious allergic reactions. This study fully...
In most cases, the number of honeybee stings received by the body is generally small, but honeybee stings can still cause serious allergic reactions. This study fully simulated bee stings under natural conditions and used H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H NMR) to analyze the changes in the serum metabolome of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats stung once or twice by honeybees to verify the impact of this mild sting on the body and its underlying mechanism. The differentially abundant metabolites between the blank control rats and the rats stung by honeybees included four amino acids (aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, and valine) and four organic acids (ascorbic acid, lactate, malate, and pyruvate). There was no separation between the sting groups, indicating that the impact of stinging once or twice on the serum metabolome was similar. Using the Principal Component Discriminant Analysis ( PCA-DA) and Variable Importance in Projection (VIP) methods, glucose, lactate, and pyruvate were identified to help distinguish between sting groups and non-sting groups. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that four metabolic pathways, namely, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, pyruvate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, were significantly affected by bee stings. The above results can provide a theoretical basis for future epidemiological studies of bee stings and medical treatment of patients stung by honeybees.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Metabolome; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Principal Component Analysis
PubMed: 38928075
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126365 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024In nature, plants have developed a series of resistance mechanisms to face various external stresses. As understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant...
In nature, plants have developed a series of resistance mechanisms to face various external stresses. As understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant resistance continues to deepen, exploring endogenous resistance in plants has become a hot topic in this field. Despite the multitude of studies on plant-induced resistance, how plants respond to stress under natural conditions remains relatively unclear. To address this gap, we investigated Chinese pine () using pine caterpillar () under natural conditions. Healthy Chinese pine trees, approximately 10 years old, were selected for studying induced resistance in Huangtuliangzi Forestry, Pingquan City, Chengde City, Hebei Province, China. Pine needles were collected at 2 h and 8 h after feeding stimulation (FS) via 10 pine caterpillars and leaf clipping control (LCC), to simulate mechanical damage caused by insect chewing for the quantification of plant hormones and transcriptome and metabolome assays. The results show that the different modes of treatments significantly influence the contents of JA and SA in time following treatment. Three types of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were found to be involved in the initial response, namely phenolic acids, lipids, and flavonoids. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis indicated that 722 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are positively related to feeding stimulation and the specific enriched pathways are plant hormone signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthesis, among others. Two TIFY transcription factors ( and ) and a MYB transcription factor () were found to be involved in the interaction between plant hormones, mainly in the context of JA signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthesis. The results of this study provide an insight into how JA activates, serving as a reference for understanding the molecular mechanisms of resistance formation in conifers responding to mandibulate insects.
Topics: Pinus; Animals; Signal Transduction; Plant Growth Regulators; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Larva; Transcriptome; Moths; Biosynthetic Pathways; Plant Leaves; East Asian People
PubMed: 38928063
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126354 -
Genes Jun 20245S ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs) are arranged in tandem and are often under-represented in genome assemblies. In the present study, we performed a global and in-depth analysis...
5S ribosomal DNAs (rDNAs) are arranged in tandem and are often under-represented in genome assemblies. In the present study, we performed a global and in-depth analysis of the 5S rDNAs in the model insect and its closely related species . To accomplish this goal, we used our recently published genome assemblies based on Nanopore and PacBio long-read sequencing. Although these closely related species share the 5S rRNA gene sequence with high homology, they show a different organization of the 5S rDNA locus. Analysis of 5S rDNA arrays in revealed a typical tandemly repeated organization characterized by repeat units consisting of the 121 bp long 5S rRNA gene and the 71 bp long nontranscribed spacer (NTS). In contrast, showed a much more complex organization of 5S rDNA arrays characterized by two patterns. The first is based on the association of 5S rRNA gene with arrays of a satellite DNA, representing the NTS sequence of the 5S rDNA genes in . The second, more complex type is characterized by a somewhat less frequent occurrence of the 5S rRNA gene and its association with longer satellite DNA arrays that are regularly interrupted by Jockey-like retrotransposons. This organization, in which the ribosomal gene is associated with two completely different repetitive elements such as satellite DNAs and retrotransposons, suggests that the 5S rRNA gene, regardless of its crucial function in the genome, could be a subject of extremely dynamic genomic rearrangements.
Topics: Animals; Tribolium; RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; Genome, Insect
PubMed: 38927712
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060776 -
Genes Jun 2024The grooming behavior of honeybees serves as a crucial auto-protective mechanism against mite infestations. Compared to , demonstrates more effective grooming behavior... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The grooming behavior of honeybees serves as a crucial auto-protective mechanism against mite infestations. Compared to , demonstrates more effective grooming behavior in removing mites from the bodies of infested bees. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating grooming behavior remain elusive. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the auto-grooming behavior between and and employed RNA-sequencing technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in bee brains with varying degrees of grooming behavior intensity. We observed that exhibited a higher frequency of mite removal between day 5 and day 15 compared to , with day-9 bees showing the highest frequency of mite removal in . RNA-sequencing results revealed the differential expression of the and genes in and the and genes in . Subsequent homology analysis identified the gene and gene of as homologous to the gene and gene of . These DEGs are annotated in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, the glutamatergic synaptic pathway, and the calcium signaling pathway. Moreover, , , , and may be closely related to the auto-grooming behavior of , conferring resistance against infestation. Our results further explain the relationship between honeybee grooming behavior and brain function at the molecular level and provide a reference basis for further studies of the mechanism of honeybee grooming behavior.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Varroidae; Grooming; Brain; Transcriptome; Mite Infestations; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38927699
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060763 -
Genes Jun 2024Honeybees are an indispensable pollinator in nature with pivotal ecological, economic, and scientific value. However, a full-length transcriptome for , assembled with...
Honeybees are an indispensable pollinator in nature with pivotal ecological, economic, and scientific value. However, a full-length transcriptome for , assembled with the advanced third-generation nanopore sequencing technology, has yet to be reported. Here, nanopore sequencing of the midgut tissues of uninoculated and -inoculated workers was conducted, and the full-length transcriptome was then constructed and annotated based on high-quality long reads. Next followed improvement of sequences and annotations of the current reference genome of A total of 5,942,745 and 6,664,923 raw reads were produced from midguts of workers at 7 days post-inoculation (dpi) with and 10 dpi, while 7,100,161 and 6,506,665 raw reads were generated from the midguts of corresponding uninoculated workers. After strict quality control, 6,928,170, 6,353,066, 5,745,048, and 6,416,987 clean reads were obtained, with a length distribution ranging from 1 kb to 10 kb. Additionally, 16,824, 17,708, 15,744, and 18,246 full-length transcripts were respectively detected, including 28,019 nonredundant ones. Among these, 43,666, 30,945, 41,771, 26,442, and 24,532 full-length transcripts could be annotated to the Nr, KOG, eggNOG, GO, and KEGG databases, respectively. Additionally, 501 novel genes (20,326 novel transcripts) were identified for the first time, among which 401 (20,255), 193 (13,365), 414 (19,186), 228 (12,093), and 202 (11,703) were respectively annotated to each of the aforementioned five databases. The expression and sequences of three randomly selected novel transcripts were confirmed by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. The 5' UTR of 2082 genes, the 3' UTR of 2029 genes, and both the 5' and 3' UTRs of 730 genes were extended. Moreover, 17,345 SSRs, 14,789 complete ORFs, 1224 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 650 transcription factors (TFs) from 37 families were detected. Findings from this work not only refine the annotation of the reference genome, but also provide a valuable resource and basis for relevant molecular and -omics studies.
Topics: Bees; Animals; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Transcriptome; Genome, Insect; Nosema; Nanopore Sequencing; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38927663
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060728