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The effect of E93 knockdown on female reproduction in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum
Author(s) -
Eid Duaa Musleh,
Chereddy Shankar C. R. R.,
Palli Subba Reddy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.21688
Subject(s) - biology , gene knockdown , red flour beetle , ecdysone , cimex lectularius , drosophila melanogaster , vitellogenin , rna interference , microbiology and biotechnology , transcription factor , vitellogenesis , gene , oocyte , larva , genetics , botany , rna , hemiptera , embryo
The E93 transcription factor is a member of helix‐turn‐helix transcription factor family containing a Pip‐squeak motif. This ecdysone primary response gene was identified as a regulator of cell death in Drosophila melanogaster where it is involved in ecdysone‐induced autophagy and caspase activity that mediate degeneration of larval tissues during metamorphosis from larva to pupa. However, its function in adult insects is not well studied. To study E93 function in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum , double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting E93 (dsE93) was injected into newly emerged adults. Knockdown of E93 caused a decrease in the synthesis of vitellogenin (Vg), oocyte development, and egg‐laying. Sequencing of RNA isolated from adults injected with dsE93 and control dsmalE (dsRNA targeting Escherichia coli malE gene) followed by differential gene expression analysis showed upregulation of genes involved in the metabolism of reserved nutrients. E93 knockdown induced changes in gene expression resulted in a decrease in Vg synthesis in the fat body and oocyte maturation in ovaries. Mating experiments showed that females injected with dsE93 did not lay eggs. Knockdown of E93 caused a reduction in the number and size of lipid droplets in the fat body when compared with that in control beetles injected with dsmalE . These data suggest that during the first 2–3 days after the emergence of adult females, E93 suppresses genes coding for enzymes that metabolize reserved nutrients until initiation of vitellogenesis and oogenesis.