Open AccessAn MD-2-related lipid-recognition protein is required for insect reproduction and integument development
Author(s) -
Wei Wang,
Yan Ma,
Ruirui Yang,
Chunsen Xu,
HaiJian Huang,
Chuan-Xi Zhang,
Yan-Yuan Bao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
open biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.078
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2046-2441
DOI - 10.1098/rsob.210170
Subject(s) - biology , brown planthopper , transcriptome , rna interference , gene knockdown , insect , gene , moulting , phenotype , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , gene expression , rna , larva
The myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2)-related lipid-recognition protein is involved in immune responses through recognizing bacteria lipopolysaccharide in mammals, arthropods and plants. However, the physiological roles of MD-2 in other biological processes are largely unknown. Here, we identified three homologue MD-2 genes (NlML1 ,NlML2 andNlML3 ) by searching the genome and transcriptome databases of the brown planthopperNilaparvata lugens , a hemipteran insect species. Temporospatial analysis showed that theNlML1 gene was highly expressed in the fat body but much less so in the other tissues, while theNlML2 andNlML3 genes were highly expressed in the testis or digestive tract. RNA interference-mediated depletion of theNlML1 gene significantly downregulated the transcription of numerous integument protein genes. TheNlML1 knockdown led to moulting failure and mortality at the nymph–adult transition phase, impaired egg laying and hatching, and reduced 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) production in the nymphs. 20E could rescue the deficient moulting phenotypes derived from dsNlML1 RNAi. These novel findings indicate thatNlML1 is required for nymphal moulting and female reproductive success as it plays an important role in regulating 20E synthesis, lipid and chitin metabolisms inN. lugens , thus contributing to our understanding of developmental and reproductive mechanisms in insects.