<i>Bta06987</i>, Encoding a Peptide of the AKH/RPCH Family: A Role of Energy Mobilization in <i>Bemisia tabaci</i>

oleh: Xiaofan Fan, Yong Liu, Zhuo Zhang, Zhanhong Zhang, Jing Peng, Yang Gao, Limin Zheng, Jianbin Chen, Jiao Du, Shuo Yan, Xuguo Zhou, Xiaobin Shi, Deyong Zhang

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-09-01

Deskripsi

A neuropeptide precursor encoded by <i>Bta06987</i> associates with AKH neuropeptide. In the AKH/RPCH family, these members have been demonstrated to participate in energy mobilization in many insects. In our research, the <i>Bta06987</i> gene from <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> was cloned, and the amino acid sequence analysis was performed. During the starvation of <i>B. tabaci</i>, the mRNA level of <i>Bta06987</i> showed a significant elevation. We investigated the functions of <i>Bta06987</i> in <i>B. tabaci</i> using RNA interference (RNAi), and the adult females of <i>B. tabaci</i> after being fed with <i>dsBta06987</i> showed a higher glycogen and triglyceride levels and lower trehalose content than the control. Furthermore, in the electrical penetration graph (EPG) experiment, <i>B. tabaci</i> showed changes in feeding behavior after feeding with <i>dsBta06987</i>, such as the reduction in parameters of E waveform percentage and total feeding time. Our findings might be helpful in developing strategies to control pest and plant virus transmission.