Eggs from the mosquito genus Aedes exhibit high desiccation resistance that likely facilitate spreading some of them as a vector of human disease throughout the world. However, molecular mechanism underlying the embryonic resistant to desiccation has not well understood. In this study, we performed functional study of two ovary-specific yellow genes, AalY-g and AalY-g2, in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. The eggs obtained from AalY-g or AalY-g2 RNAi females showed poor desiccation resistance. TEM analysis revealed that, unlike that seen in the dsEGFP-control eggs, no high electron-dense outer-endochorion was evident in the eggs from AalY-g- or AalY-g2-deficient females. These results suggest that both yellow genes at least play roles in the chorion formation, which appears to be critical for integrity and desiccation resistance in Ae. albopictus eggs.

• Mi Young Noh(Department of Forestry, Chonnam National University, South Korea)
• Seulgi Mun(Department of Applied Biology, Chonnam National University, South Korea)
• Yasuyuki Arakane(Department of Applied Biology, Chonnam National University, South Korea)