title: Molecular identification of differential expression genes associated with sex pheromone biosynthesis in Spodoptera exigua.
abstract: Species-specific sex pheromone is biosynthesized and released in most female moths as a chemical cue in mating communication. However, information on genes involved in this pathway is limited. The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest that causes severe economic losses to many crops. In China, the female sex pheromones in sex pheromone glands (PGs) of S. exigua have been measured which comprises (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecen-l-ol, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, and (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadien-1-ol in a ratio of 47:18:18:17. Fifty-nine putative genes related to sex pheromone biosynthesis were identified in the present study by sequencing and analyzing the sex pheromone gland (PG) transcriptome of S. exigua. Expression profiles revealed that two desaturase (SexiDes5 and SexiDes11) and three fatty acyl reductase (SexiFAR2, 3, and 9) genes had PG-specific expression, and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that they clustered with genes known to be involved in pheromone synthesis in other moth species. Our results provide crucial background information that could facilitate the elucidation of sex pheromone biosynthesis pathway of S. exigua as well as other Spodoptera species and help identify potential targets for disrupting sexual communication in S. exigua for developing novel environment-friendly pesticides.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, No. 100, Dongshan Road, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ya-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Control, School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, No. 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, 230036, People's Republic of China. zhanglw@ahau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Long-Wa
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Entomological Institute, Guangzhou, 510260, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Da-Song
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Qun
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhan-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Education Ministry, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mei-Yan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, No. 100, Dongshan Road, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-Bu
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, No. 100, Dongshan Road, Huaibei, 235000, People's Republic of China. xyzhuhbnu@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiu-Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C505894:(9Z, 11E)-tetradecadienyl acetate; C512606:9-tetradecenyl acetate; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D012724:Sex Attractants; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases
keywords: Beet armyworm; Sex pheromone biosynthesis; Sex pheromone gland; Tissue expression; Transcriptome analysis