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Ecdysone receptor controls wing morphogenesis and melanization during rice planthopper metamorphosis
Wen-Juan Wu1, Ying Wang, Hai-Jian Huang
1State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Journal of Insect Physiology
|February 14, 2012
Summary
This study identified ecdysone receptor (EcR) genes in three planthopper species. Silencing EcR disrupted molting and development, causing lethality and wing defects, highlighting its crucial role.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Molecular Biology
- Insect Physiology
Background:
- The ecdysone receptor (EcR) is a key nuclear receptor regulating insect development.
- Understanding EcR function is vital for insect pest management strategies.
- Previous research has focused on specific insect orders, leaving gaps in planthopper knowledge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clone and characterize full-length ecdysone receptor (EcR) cDNAs from three major planthopper species: Laodelphax striatellus, Nilaparvata lugens, and Sogatella furcifera.
- To investigate the functional role of EcR in planthopper development and morphogenesis through gene silencing.
- To establish a foundation for developing targeted pest control methods based on EcR disruption.
Main Methods:
- Cloning of full-length EcR cDNAs from L. striatellus, N. lugens, and S. furcifera.
- Sequence analysis of deduced amino acid sequences to assess homology.
- Quantitative analysis of EcR gene transcriptional levels in different developmental stages of N. lugens.
- In vivo RNA interference (RNAi) to silence EcR expression in planthopper nymphs.
- Phenotypic analysis of RNAi-treated insects, focusing on molting, development, and morphology.
Main Results:
- Full-length EcR cDNAs were successfully cloned from L. striatellus, N. lugens, and S. furcifera, with high amino acid sequence similarity observed among them.
- The highest EcR gene transcriptional level was found in mid-fifth instar nymphs of N. lugens.
- In vivo RNAi-mediated silencing of EcR resulted in significant molting defects and high mortality rates in treated nymphs.
- Notably, EcR knockdown in L. striatellus nymphs led to apparent defects in wing morphogenesis and melanization.
Conclusions:
- The ecdysone receptor (EcR) is essential for successful molting and normal development in planthoppers.
- EcR plays a critical role in regulating wing morphogenesis and melanization, particularly in species like L. striatellus.
- These findings underscore the potential of targeting EcR for novel insecticide development against economically important planthopper pests.
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