Department of Entomology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
BMC Biol. 2024 Sep 13;22(1):206. doi: 10.1186/s12915-024-02000-1.
Diapause, a pivotal phase in the insect life cycle, enables survival during harsh environmental conditions. Unraveling the gene expression profiles of the diapause process helps uncover the molecular mechanisms that underlying diapause, which is crucial for understanding physiological adaptations. In this study, we utilize RNA-seq and Ribo-seq data to examine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and translational efficiency during diapause of Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis, ACB).
Our results unveil genes classified as "forwarded", "exclusive", "intensified", or "buffered" during diapause, shedding light on their transcription and translation regulation patterns. Furthermore, we explore the landscape of lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs) during diapause and identify differentially expressed lncRNAs, suggesting their roles in diapause regulation. Comparative analysis of different types of diapause in insects uncovers shared and unique KEGG pathways. While shared pathways highlight energy balance, exclusive pathways in the ACB larvae indicate insect-specific adaptations related to nutrient utilization and stress response. Interestingly, our study also reveals dynamic changes in the HSP70 gene family and proteasome pathway during diapause. Manipulating HSP protein levels and proteasome pathway by HSP activator or inhibitor and proteasome inhibitor affects diapause, indicating their vital role in the process.
In summary, these findings enhance our knowledge of how insects navigate challenging conditions through intricate molecular mechanisms.
滞育是昆虫生命周期中的一个关键阶段，使昆虫能够在恶劣的环境条件下生存。阐明滞育过程中的基因表达谱有助于揭示潜在的分子机制，这对于理解生理适应至关重要。在这项研究中，我们利用 RNA-seq 和 Ribo-seq 数据来研究亚洲玉米螟（Ostrinia furnacalis，ACB）滞育过程中的差异表达基因（DEGs）和翻译效率。
我们的结果揭示了在滞育过程中被分类为“正向”、“排他”、“强化”或“缓冲”的基因，阐明了它们的转录和翻译调控模式。此外，我们还探索了滞育过程中长非编码 RNA（lncRNA）的全景，并鉴定了差异表达的 lncRNA，提示它们在滞育调控中的作用。昆虫不同类型滞育的比较分析揭示了共享和独特的 KEGG 途径。虽然共享途径强调了能量平衡，但 ACB 幼虫中的独特途径表明了与营养利用和应激反应相关的昆虫特异性适应。有趣的是，我们的研究还揭示了 HSP70 基因家族和蛋白酶体途径在滞育过程中的动态变化。通过 HSP 激活剂或抑制剂和蛋白酶体抑制剂操纵 HSP 蛋白水平和蛋白酶体途径会影响滞育，表明它们在该过程中起着至关重要的作用。
总之，这些发现增强了我们对昆虫如何通过复杂的分子机制应对挑战条件的认识。
