Desiccation resistance differences in Drosophila species can be largely explained by variations in cuticular hydrocarbons

eLife, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Dec. 6, 2022

Maintaining water balance is a universal challenge for organisms living in terrestrial environments, especially insects, which have essential roles our ecosystem. Although the high surface area to volume ratio insects makes them vulnerable loss, evolved different levels of desiccation resistance adapt diverse environments. To withstand desiccation, use lipid layer called cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) reduce evaporation from body surface. It has long been hypothesized that water-proofing capability this CHC layer, can confer resistance, depends on its chemical composition. However, it unknown components are important contributors and how these determine differences resistance. In study, we used machine-learning algorithms, correlation analyses, synthetic CHCs investigate affect 50 Drosophila related species. We showed across species be largely explained by variation particular, length subset CHCs, methyl-branched (mbCHCs), key determinant There also significant between evolution longer mbCHCs higher Given almost ubiquitous suggest evolutionary changes insect general mechanism adaptation changing

Language: Английский

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The volatile chemistry of orchid pollination

Natural Product Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 40(4), P. 819 - 839

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Orchids are amongst the most diverse of all plant families, and produce a wide array volatile compounds for pollinator attraction.

Language: Английский

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Targeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in an ant society

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Dec. 29, 2023

Abstract Infected wounds pose a major mortality risk in animals. Injuries are common the ant Megaponera analis , which raids pugnacious prey. Here we show that M. can determine when infected and treat them accordingly. By applying variety of antimicrobial compounds proteins secreted from metapleural gland to wounds, workers reduce individuals by 90%. Chemical analyses showed wound infection is associated with specific changes cuticular hydrocarbon profile, thereby likely allowing nestmates diagnose state injured apply appropriate treatment. This study demonstrates societies use produced glands nestmate mortality.

Language: Английский

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Nitidane: An Irregular Prenylated Diterpene from the Cuticle of the Springtail Heteromurus nitidus

Journal of Natural Products, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 87(5), P. 1454 - 1458

Published: April 26, 2024

Collembola are closely related to insects, but our knowledge of their often unique chemistry is limited. Here we report the identification epicuticular lipid nitidane, representing a novel class lipids. Nitidane (4) an irregular terpene consisting seven isoprene units, made up diterpene core that modified by geranyl moiety itself prenylated. The observed [46+(22+11)1]-terpene structure has not been reported before.

Language: Английский

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Modulation of fatty acid elongation in cockroaches sustains sexually dimorphic hydrocarbons and female attractiveness

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 19(7), P. e3001330 - e3001330

Published: July 27, 2021

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) serve as important intersexual signaling chemicals and generally show variation between the sexes, but little is known about generation of sexually dimorphic (SDHCs) in insects. In this study, we report molecular mechanism biological significance that underlie SDHC German cockroach Blattella germanica. Sexually mature females possess more C29 CHCs, especially contact sex pheromone precursor 3,11-DimeC29. RNA interference (RNAi) screen against fatty acid elongase family members combined with heterologous expression genes yeast revealed both BgElo12 BgElo24 were involved hydrocarbon (HC) production, wide catalytic activities able to provide substrates for BgElo12, only female-enriched responsible sustaining female-specific HC profile. Repressing masculinized female CHC profile, decreased level, consequently reduced sexual attractiveness cockroaches. Moreover, asymmetric sexes modulated by differentiation cascade. Specifically, male-specific BgDsx represses transcription males, while BgTra remove effect females. Our study reveals a novel formation SDHCs also evidences on shaping selection, use them generate high levels pheromone.

Language: Английский

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Evolutionary assembly of cooperating cell types in an animal chemical defense system

Cell, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 184(25), P. 6138 - 6156.e28

Published: Dec. 1, 2021

Language: Английский

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Fatty acyl-CoA reductase influences wax biosynthesis in the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Oct. 19, 2022

Mealybugs are highly aggressive to a diversity of plants. The waxy layer covering the outermost part integument is an important protective defense these pests. However, molecular mechanisms underlying wax biosynthesis in mealybugs remain largely unknown. Here, we analyzed multi-omics data on by cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, and found that fatty acyl-CoA reductase (PsFAR) gene, which was expressed fat bodies female mealybugs, contributed regulating production dominant chemical components wax, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). RNA interference (RNAi) against PsFAR dsRNA microinjection allowing feed transgenic tobacco expressing target resulted reduction CHC contents layer, increase mealybug mortality under desiccation deltamethrin treatments. In conclusion, plays crucial roles thereby contributing their adaptation water loss insecticide stress.

Language: Английский

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Transcriptome-Wide Identification of Cytochrome P450s in Tea Black Tussock Moth (Dasychira baibarana) and Candidate Genes Involved in Type-II Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis

Insects, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(2), P. 139 - 139

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

The tea black tussock moth (Dasychira baibarana), a devastating pest in Chinese plantations, uses ternary Type-II pheromone blend containing (3Z,6Z)-cis-9,10-epoxyhenicosa-3,6-diene (Z3,Z6,epo9-21:H), (3Z,6Z,11E)-cis-9,10-epoxyhenicosa-3,6,11-triene (Z3,Z6,epo9,E11-21:H), and (3Z,6Z)-henicosa-3,6-dien-11-one (Z3,Z6-21:11-one) for mate communication. To elucidate the P450 candidates associated with biosynthesis of these sex components, we sequenced female D. baibarana gland abdomen excluding gland. A total 75 DbP450s were identified. Function annotation suggested six CYPs orthologous genes that are linked to molting hormone metabolism, eight antennae specifically significantly up-regulated may play roles odorant processing. Based on combination comparative RNAseq, phylogenetic, tissue expression pattern analysis, one CYP4G predominant was likely be decarbonylase, while pheromone-gland most abundant CYP341B65 promising epoxidase candidate biosynthesis. Collectively, our research laid valuable basis not only further functional elucidation decarbonylase but also understanding physiological functions diversity CYP gene superfamily baibarana.

Language: Английский

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Integrating water balance mechanisms into predictions of insect responses to climate change

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(10)

Published: May 15, 2024

ABSTRACT Efficient water balance is key to insect success. However, the hygric environment changing with climate change; although there are compelling models of thermal vulnerability, often neglected in predictions. Insects survive desiccating conditions by reducing loss, increasing their total amount (and replenishing it) and tolerance dehydration. The physiology underlying these traits reasonably well understood, as sources variation phenotypic plasticity. intersect at high temperatures, such that mortality sometimes determined dehydration, rather than heat (especially during long exposures dry conditions). Furthermore, interact determine survival. In this Commentary, we propose identifying a threshold where cause shifts between dehydration temperature, it should be possible predict from trait measurements perhaps eventually priori physiological or -omic markers).

Language: Английский

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Insect Lipids: Structure, Classification, and Function

Advances in experimental medicine and biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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