Suppressing male spermatogenesis-associated protein 5-like gene expression reduces vitellogenin gene expression and fecundity in Nilaparvata lugens Stål.
In our previous study with the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, triazophos (tzp) treatments led to substantial up-regulation of a male spermatogenesis-associated protein 5-like gene (NlSPATA5) compared to untreated controls. Mating with tzp-treated males significantly increased fecundity (as numbers of eggs laid), relative to females mated with untreated males. Because SPATA5 acts in mammalian sperm development and is expressed in testes, we posed the hypothesis that NlSPATA5 occurs in BPH seminal fluid and it operates in fecundity via mating. We tested the hypothesis by investigating the influence of suppressing NlSPATA5 expression in BPH males on fecundity. Reduced expression of NlSPATA5 led to decreased male accessory gland protein content and reproductive system development compared to controls. These changes in males led to prolonged pre-oviposition periods and decreased fecundity in females. For both genders, we recorded no difference in the body weight, oviposition periods, and longevity compared to controls. NlSPATA5 suppression in males also led to decreased fat body and ovarian protein content, yeast-like symbionts abundance and ovarian development as well as vitellogenin gene expression in their mating partners. We infer that increased NlSPATA5 expression may be one molecular mechanism of tzp-driven reproduction and population increases in BPH.
School of Plant Protection Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China.
Lin-Quan
LQ
Ge
School of Plant Protection Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China.
Ting
T
Xia
School of Plant Protection Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China.
Bo
B
Huang
Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, 1-31 Agriculture Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Qi-Sheng
QS
Song
Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, 1-31 Agriculture Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Hong-Wei
HW
Zhang
USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
David
D
Stanley
School of Plant Protection Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China.
Guo-Qing
GQ
Yang
School of Plant Protection Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, P.R. China.
Jin-Cai
JC
Wu
D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D063086:Organothiophosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D063086:Organothiophosphates; D014230:Triazoles; D014819:Vitellogenins; C012584:triazophos; D000074183:ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activities