TY - JOUR
T1 - A Δ9 desaturase (SlitDes11) is associated with the biosynthesis of ester sex pheromone components in Spodoptera litura
AU - Zhang, Ya Nan
AU - Zhang, Xiao Qing
AU - Zhu, Guan Heng
AU - Zheng, Mei Yan
AU - Yan, Qi
AU - Zhu, Xiu Yun
AU - Xu, Ji Wei
AU - Zhang, Yun Ying
AU - He, Peng
AU - Sun, Liang
AU - Palli, Subba Reddy
AU - Zhang, Long Wa
AU - Dong, Shuang Lin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - Sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths relies on the activity of multiple enzymes, including Δ9 desaturase, which plays an important role in catalyzing desaturation at the Δ9 position of the carbon chain. However, the physiological function of moth Δ9 desaturase has not been elucidated in vivo. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockout the Δ9 desaturase gene (SlitDes11) of Spodoptera litura to analyze its role in sex pheromone biosynthesis. First, through the direct injection of SlitDes11-single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9 messenger RNA into newly laid eggs, gene editing was induced in around 30% of eggs 24 h after injection and was induced in 20.8% of the resulting adult moths. Second, using a sibling-crossing strategy, insects with mutant SlitDes11 (bearing a premature stop codon) were selected, and homozygous mutants were obtained in the G5 generation. Third, pheromone gland extracts of adult female homozygous SlitDes11 mutants were analyzed using Gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that titers of all three ester sex pheromone components; Z9, E11-14:Ac, Z9,E12-14:Ac, and Z9-14:Ac; were reduced by 62.40%, 78.50%, and 72.50%, respectively. This study provides the first direct evidence for the role of SlitDes11 in sex pheromone biosynthesis in S. litura, and indicates the gene could be as potential target to disrupt sexual communication in S. litura for developing a new pollution-free insecticide.
AB - Sex pheromone biosynthesis in moths relies on the activity of multiple enzymes, including Δ9 desaturase, which plays an important role in catalyzing desaturation at the Δ9 position of the carbon chain. However, the physiological function of moth Δ9 desaturase has not been elucidated in vivo. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockout the Δ9 desaturase gene (SlitDes11) of Spodoptera litura to analyze its role in sex pheromone biosynthesis. First, through the direct injection of SlitDes11-single guide RNA (sgRNA)/Cas9 messenger RNA into newly laid eggs, gene editing was induced in around 30% of eggs 24 h after injection and was induced in 20.8% of the resulting adult moths. Second, using a sibling-crossing strategy, insects with mutant SlitDes11 (bearing a premature stop codon) were selected, and homozygous mutants were obtained in the G5 generation. Third, pheromone gland extracts of adult female homozygous SlitDes11 mutants were analyzed using Gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that titers of all three ester sex pheromone components; Z9, E11-14:Ac, Z9,E12-14:Ac, and Z9-14:Ac; were reduced by 62.40%, 78.50%, and 72.50%, respectively. This study provides the first direct evidence for the role of SlitDes11 in sex pheromone biosynthesis in S. litura, and indicates the gene could be as potential target to disrupt sexual communication in S. litura for developing a new pollution-free insecticide.
KW - CRISPR/Cas9
KW - Gas chromatography
KW - Sex pheromone biosynthesis
KW - Tobacco cutworm
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pestbp.2019.02.018
DO - 10.1016/j.pestbp.2019.02.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 31027575
AN - SCOPUS:85062158249
SN - 0048-3575
VL - 156
SP - 152
EP - 159
JO - Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
JF - Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
ER -