Guo Shuang, An Hao-Min, Tian Zhong, Liu Wen, Wang Xiao-Ping
Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan;286:138464. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138464. Epub 2024 Dec 5.
Diapause is a prevalent strategy employed by insects to survive adverse environmental conditions, by halting development and reducing metabolic activity. Although the suppression of DNA replication aligns logically with these reduced developmental and physiological activities, the role of DNA replication in regulating insect diapause remains largely unknown. In this study, we used the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi, to investigate the role of DNA replication pathway in regulating reproductive diapause. Transcriptome analysis identified DNA replication as a key pathway during diapause preparation in female adults. Fourteen DNA replication genes were isolated, encompassing essential stages of DNA replication, including DNA unwinding, primer synthesis, and DNA synthesis. These genes exhibited consistently reduced expression in diapause females compared to those in reproductive females. RNA interference knockdown of these genes in reproductive female adults resulted in 11 out of 14 gene depletions, manifesting typical diapause traits such as suppressed vitellogenesis, arrested ovary growth, and increased lipid accumulation. Furthermore, we demonstrated 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), through canonical signaling pathway, regulates the differential expression of DNA replication genes between reproductive and diapause states. Our findings suggest 20E deficiency suppresses DNA replication to induce reproductive diapause, and highlighting the DNA replication process as a potential target for pest management.
滞育是昆虫采用的一种普遍策略，通过停止发育和降低代谢活动来在不利环境条件下生存。尽管DNA复制的抑制在逻辑上与这些降低的发育和生理活动相一致，但DNA复制在调节昆虫滞育中的作用在很大程度上仍不清楚。在本研究中，我们利用大猿叶虫来研究DNA复制途径在调节生殖滞育中的作用。转录组分析确定DNA复制是成年雌性滞育准备期间的关键途径。分离出了14个DNA复制基因，涵盖DNA复制的关键阶段，包括DNA解旋、引物合成和DNA合成。与处于生殖状态的雌性相比，这些基因在滞育雌性中的表达持续降低。在处于生殖状态的成年雌性中对这些基因进行RNA干扰敲低，导致14个基因中有11个基因缺失，表现出典型的滞育特征，如卵黄生成受抑制、卵巢生长停滞和脂质积累增加。此外，我们证明20-羟基蜕皮酮（20E）通过经典信号通路调节生殖状态和滞育状态之间DNA复制基因的差异表达。我们的研究结果表明，20E缺乏会抑制DNA复制以诱导生殖滞育，并突出了DNA复制过程作为害虫管理的一个潜在靶点。
