Two chitinase 5 genes from Locusta migratoria: molecular characteristics and functional differentiation

The duplication of chitinase 5 (Cht5) into two to five different genes has been reported only in mosquito species to date. Here, we report the duplication of Cht5 genes (LmCht5-1 and LmCht5-2) in the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). Both LmCht5-1 (505 aa) and LmCht5-2 (492 aa) possess a signal peptide and a catalytic domain with four conserved motifs, but only LmCht5-1 contains a chitin-binding domain. Structural and phylogenetic analyses suggest that LmCht5-1 is orthologous to other insect Cht5 genes, whereas LmCht5-2 might be newly duplicated. Both LmCht5 genes were expressed in all tested tissues with LmCht5-1 highly expressed in hindgut and LmCht5-2 highly expressed in integument, foregut, hindgut and fat bodies. From the fourth-instar nymphs to the adults, LmCht5-1 and LmCht5-2 showed similar developmental expression patterns with transcript peaks prior to each nymphal molting, suggesting that their expression levels are similarly regulated. Treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E; the most active molting hormone) and reducing expression of EcR (ecdysone receptor gene) by RNAi increased and decreased expression of both LmCht5 genes, respectively, indicating that both genes are responsive to 20E. Although transcript level of LmCht5-2 is generally 10-fold higher than that of LmCht5-1, RNAi-mediated suppression of LmCht5-1 transcript led to severe molting defects and lethality, but such effects were not seen with RNAi of LmCht5-2, suggesting that the newly duplicated LmCht5-2 is not essential for development and survivorship of the locust.