Bemisia tabaci is a polyphagous pest that transmits various viruses, including tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) while feeding on crops. Prior to identifying attractants of B. tabaci, the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) sequence was obtained via transcriptome analysis of female adults. After injecting artificially synthesized PBAN into the female adults, the compounds contained in the female adults were extracted using hexane, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed. As a result, 22 compounds showed quantitative differences after PBAN injection. Among them, it was confirmed that B. tabaci is attracted to 2-ethylhexanoic acid and phytol. These results suggest that 2-ethylhexanoic acid and phytol can be used as attractants for the control of B. tabaci.

In moths, mating behavior is induced by sex pheromones released by the female being recognized by the males’s chemosensory systems. In this study, to understand the recognition of sex pheromones in Maruca vitrata, chemosensory genes were identified via transcriptome analysis of male and female antennae and heads. Approximately, 11.1Gb, 10.8Gb, 12.1Gb, and 11.6Gb of data were obtained from the antennae and heads of the male and female, respectively. Thirty-seven odorant binding proteins (OBPs), 21 chemosensory proteins, 7 sensory neuron membrane proteins, 102 odorant receptors (ORs), 36 ionotropic receptors, and 39 gustatory Receptors were identified as chemosensory genes from the M. vitrata. Among these genes, 5 OBPs and 4 ORs were specifically expressed in male antennae. These genes are likely to be involved in the sex pheromone recognition of M. vitrata.

나방류의 페로몬 생합성은 식도아래 신경절에서 생산된 페로몬 생합성 촉진 신경펩타이드(pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, PBAN)의 분비로부터 시작된다. 분비된 PBAN은 페로몬샘의 상피세포막에 있는 PBAN 수용체와 결합하고, 신호전달과정을 거쳐 페 로몬 생합성과정이 활성화되어, 페로몬이 외부로 방출된다. 본 종설은 콩명나방(Maruca vitrata)의 성페로몬, PBAN과 수용체, 성페로몬 생합성 경로를 소개한다.

In moth, pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) regulates pheromone biosynthesis by binding to its receptor (PBANr). In this study, we cloned a PBANr gene (Mvi-PBANr) from sex pheromone gland in M. vitrata, which encodes 475 amino acid and includes 7 transmembrane domains. As a results of phylogenetic analysis, Mvi-PBANr is clustered with lepidopteran PBANrs. Mvi-PBANr was investigated for the effect of pheromone biosynthesis via RNA interference (RNAi), gas chromatography (GC) and bioassay. Consequently, expression level of Mvi-PBANr suppressed via RNAi, resulting in decrease pheromone component (E10E12-16:Ald). Mating rate was also reduced when performing the RNAi. These results revealed that Mvi-PBANr played important role in the pheromone biosynthesis in M. vitrata, and Mvi-PBANr can be used as new pest control targets.

곤충은 넓은 범위의 온도영역에 사는 것으로 알려져 있으나, 40℃가 넘는 고온이나 빙결온도 이하의 저온에서는 생존이 어렵다. 본 연구는 사육온도 조건이 다른 환경에서 대사중심 조직인 지방체의 유전자 발현을 분석하기 위해, 온도조건을 달리하여 담배나방을 저온 사육충 (3~10℃), 고온 사육충 (35℃)로 나누고 상온 사육충 (25℃)을 대조구로 사용하여 전사체 분석을 수행하였다. 저온에서 특이적으로 높은 발현을 보인 유전자는 표피단백질, △9 불포화효소, 글리세롤 3-인산 탈수소효소이며, 저온에서 발현이 낮아진 유전자는 키틴 합성효소, catalase, UDP-당전이 효소이다. 고온에서 특이적으로 높은 발현을 보인 유전자는 과산화물제거효소, metallothionein 2, phosphenolpyruvate carboxykinase, 트레할로스 운반단백질이었다. 고온에서 높고 저온에서 낮은 대조적 발현을 보인 유전자는 열충격단백질, glutathione peroxidase이었다. 이들 온도 특이적이거나 대조적 발현을 보이는 유전자는 기후변화에 관련한 특이마커로 활용이 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to cell membrane protein family, which regulate various physiological process such as reproduction, behavior and immune etc. In other to identify the GPCRs in pheromone gland of Maruca vitrata, we carried out transcriptome analysis from both females. Transcriptome analysis in the pheromone gland yielded approximately 22Gb and 47,528 transcripts showed positive FPKM value. 48 Genes involved in GPCRs were identified such as pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBANr), prostaglandin receptors, neuropeptide receptor, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor, galanin receptor, calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor, diuretic hormone receptor, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, frizzled and orphan receptors, etc. Various expression of GPCRs in the pheromone gland indicates the role of pheromone gland may not be limited to the production of pheromone.

The pheromone biosynthesis in Plutella xylostella is more active in the scotophase than in the photophase, indicating that there may be changes of gene expression in the pheromone glands. To identify genes contributing to change in pheromone production, we analyzed transcriptomes of pheromone glands from both decapitated females (PG-minus) in the photophase and normal ones (PG-plus) in the scotophase. Deep sequencing for mRNAs in the pheromone gland yielded approximately 7.5Gb and 6,671 transcripts showing positive FPKM value were analyzed. Differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that up- and down-regulated transcripts were 310 and 326 in the PG-plus transcriptome, respectively. Genes putatively involved in the pheromone biosynthesis pathway were identified such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase, acetyl-CoA dehydrogenase, fatty acid synthase (FAS), desaturases (Δ9 and Δ 11) and fatty acid reductases of pheromone gland (pgFAR), alcohol oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and aldehyde reductase, etc. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that expressions of FAS, Δ11 desaturase and pgFAR were significantly higher in PG-plus, suggesting that they may have crucial roles in sex pheromone biosynthesis of P. xylostella

Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) produced in the suboesophageal ganglion stimulates pheromone biosynthesis in the pheromone gland, mediating sexual behaviors. Based on the transcriptome of the head, PBAN in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, was identified. To examine the pheromonotropic activity of PBAN in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, a PBAN (Mvi-PBAN) was synthesized. When female adults were injected with a synthetic Mvi-PBAN, pheromone production showed a maximal increase 2 h post-injection. PBAN was expressed in all examined tissues and developmental stages. In contrast, PBAN receptor (PBANr) was detected in the female tissues and all developmental stages except for adult male. In addition, two types of PBANr were identified from the transcriptome of the pheromone gland, suggesting that the molecular signal on the pheromone gland may transduce via PBANr.

Pheromone biosynthesis in the pheromone gland is stimulated by pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) produced in the suboesophageal ganglion. PBAN binds its receptor and transduces biological signal into the molecules for the pheromone biosynthesis. To understand pheromone biosynthesis pathway in legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, transcriptome of the pheromone gland was analyzed. A total of 191 contigs involved in the pheromone biosynthesis were identified. Putative pheromone biosynthetic pathways for sex pheromone components in M. vitrata were proposed through transcriptomic analysis.

A cDNA isolated from female adult heads of Maruca vitrata encodes 197 amino acids including PBAN. Synthetic Mav-PBAN induced pheromone production in the pheromone gland, indicating that this synthetic peptide was biologically functional. Expression of Mav-PBAN cDNA was found in all examined body parts whereas PBAN receptor only in the pheromone gland. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 191 contigs involved in the pheromone biosynthesis such as PBAN receptor, PBAN, fatty acid transport proteins, acetyl-CoA carboxylases, fatty acid synthases, desaturases (FAD), β-oxidation enzymes, and fatty acyl-CoA reductases (FARs) were identified.

Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) produced in the subesophageal ganglion is known to stimulate pheromone production in the pheromone gland. A cDNA isolated from female adult heads of Maruca vitrata encodes 197 amino acids including PBAN, designated as Mvi-PBAN, and four other neuropeptides (NPs): diapause hormone (DH) homologue, α-NP, β-NP and γ-NP. All of the peptides are amidated in their C-termini and shared a conserved motif, FXPR(or K)L-NH2 structure. Mvi-PBAN consists of 35 amino acids as previously reported (Chang and Ramasamy, 2014). RT-PCR analysis revealed that Mvi-PBAN cDNA was expressed in all examined body parts. Nucleotide sequence analysis of RT-PCR products indicated the Mvi-PBAN sequence was identical in all examined body parts of both sexes. These results suggest that Mvi-PBAN expression is maintained in examined stages or tissues.