title: Identification of LmUAP1 as a 20-hydroxyecdysone response gene in the chitin biosynthesis pathway from the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria.
abstract: In Locusta migratoria, we found that two chitin biosynthesis genes, UDP N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene LmUAP1 and chitin synthase gene LmCHS1, are expressed mainly in the integument and are responsible for cuticle formation. However, whether these genes are regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is still largely unclear. Here, we showed the developmental expression pattern of LmUAP1, LmCHS1 and the corresponding 20E titer during the last instar nymph stage of locust. RNA interference (RNAi) directed toward a common region of the two isoforms of LmEcR (LmEcRcom) reduced the expression level of LmUAP1, while there was no difference in the expression of LmCHS1. Meantime, injection of 20E in vivo induced the expression of LmUAP1 but not LmCHS1. Further, we found injection-based RNAi of LmEcRcom resulted in 100% mortality. The locusts failed to molt with no apolysis, and maintained in the nymph stage until death. In conclusion, our preliminary results indicated that LmUAP1 in the chitin biosynthesis pathway is a 20E late-response gene and LmEcR plays an essential role in locust growth and development, which could be a good potential target for RNAi-based pest control.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jian
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.|College of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Da-Qi
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Li
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, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: En-Bo
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Applied Biology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Zhen
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002687:Chitin Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009758:Nymph / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D002686:Chitin; D004441:Ecdysterone; D002687:Chitin Synthase; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases; C023226:UDPacetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase
keywords: 20-hydroxyecdysone; Locusta migratoria; RNA interference; chitin synthesis; regulation