title: LmCYP4G102: An oenocyte-specific cytochrome P450 gene required for cuticular waterproofing in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.
abstract: Cytochrome P450 superfamily proteins play important roles in detoxification of xenobiotics and during physiological and developmental processes. To contribute to our understanding of this large gene family in insects, we have investigated the function of the cytochrome P450 gene LmCYP4G102 in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. Suppression of LmCYP4G102 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) does not interfere with moulting but causes rapid loss of body weight - probably due to massive loss of water, and death soon after moulting. Accordingly, maintaining these animals at 90% relative humidity prevented lethality. Consistently, RNAi against LmCYP4G102 provoked a decrease in the content of cuticular alkanes, which as an important fraction of cuticular hydrocarbons have been shown to confer desiccation resistance. In addition, the cuticle of LmCYP4G102-knockdown locusts was fragile and easier deformable than in control animals. Presumably, this phenotype is due to decreased amounts of cuticular water that is reported to modulate cuticle mechanics. Interestingly, LmCYP4G102 was not expressed in the epidermis that produces the cuticle but in the sub-epdiermal hepatocyte-like oenocytes. Together, our results suggest that the oenocyte-specific LmCYP4G102 plays a critical role in the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons, which are important for cuticle waterproofing and mechanical stability in L. migratoria.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biology &School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China.
authors.forename: Zhitao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biology &School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China.
authors.forename: Xueyao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Robert-Bosch Krankenhaus, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Auerbachstrasse 112, Stuttgart 70376, Germany.|Genetik der Tiere, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
authors.forename: Yiwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Angewandte Zoologie, TU Dresden, Zellescher Weg 20b, Dresden 01217, Germany.|iBV, Université Nice, Parc Valrose, Nice 06000, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moussian
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, 123 Waters Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors.forename: Kun Yan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biology &School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China.
authors.forename: Enbo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biology &School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China.
authors.forename: Jianzhen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006813:Humidity; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D034582:Integumentary System / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System