Insect structural cuticular proteins (CPs) play a major role in determining the diverse physical properties of the cuticle as a result of interactions/cross-linking among themselves and with chitin. CP genes compose a large gene family and have been classified more than ten distinct families based on the presence of unique amino acid sequence motifs. In this study, we performed RNAi-based functional analysis of eleven genes (TcCPLCP1-11) in Tribolium castaneum, which belong to CPLCP (Cuticular Proteins of Low Complexity, Proline rich) cuticular protein family. RNAi for TcCPLCP7-11 caused lethal pupal-adult molting defects and/or abnormal cuticle morphology in the resulting adults. Ultrastructural defects of the cuticles from TcCPLCP7-11-deficient insects by TEM are also discussed.

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