Comparative transcriptome analysis of Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) reveals novel insights into heat stress tolerance in insects

Abstract

BackgroundHeat tolerance is a key parameter that affects insect distribution and abundance. Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a devastating pest of mulberry in the main mulberry-growing regions and can cause tremendous losses to sericulture by directly feeding on mulberry leaves and transmitting viruses to Bombyx mori. Moreover, G. pyloalis shows a prominent capacity for adaptation to daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations and can survive several hours under high temperature. To date, the molecular mechanism underlying the outstanding adaptability of this pest to high temperature remains unclear.ResultsIn this study, we performed comparative transcriptome analyses on G. pyloalis exposed to 25 and 40 °C for 4 h. We obtained 34,034 unigenes and identified 1275 and 1222 genes significantly upregulated or downregulated, respectively, by heat stress. Data from the transcriptome analyses indicated that some processes involved in heat tolerance are conserved, such as high expression of heat shock protein (HSP) genes and partial repression of metabolism progress. In addition, vitamin digestion and absorption pathways and detoxification pathways identified here provided new insights for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of heat stress tolerance. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis indicated that immune and phosphatidylinositol signaling system have a close relationship with heat tolerance. In addition, the expression patterns of ten randomly selected genes, such as HSP and cytochrome P450, were consistent with the transcriptome results obtained through quantitative real-time PCR.ConclusionsComparisons among transcriptome results revealed the upregulation of HSPs and genes involved in redox homeostasis, detoxication, and immune progress. However, many metabolism progresses, such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and fatty acid biosynthesis, were partially repressed. The results reflected that the heat tolerance of G. pyloalis is a fairly complicated process and related to a broad range of physiological regulations. Our study can improve understanding on the mechanisms of insect thermal tolerance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4355-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Potential Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms of Myzus persicae in Response to UV-B Stress

“…In GO analysis, 31 DEGs were significantly associated with the "response to stimulus," which is related to the response of M. persicae to UV-B stress. Similar results have been reported for response of Glyphodes pyloalis to heat stress and the response of Antheraea pernyi to zinc stress [15,16]. In addition, 92 DEGs were associated with "membrane,"…”

Developmental plasticity in reptiles: Insights from temperature‐dependent gene expression in wall lizard embryos

“…This suggests that the rate of translation of mRNA into protein is affected by temperature, possibly counter‐acting decreased transcriptional rates. Differential expression of ribosomal proteins and RNAs have been observed in a wide variety of animals in response to both cold (Long et al., ; Xiao, Wang, Cao, & Zhang, ) and warm (Liu et al., ; Prado‐Lima & Val, ; Quinn, McGowan, Cooper, Koop, & Davidson, ) temperatures, yet only one study (Long et al., ) provides indirect evidence that they may increase resistance to temperature stress. In that study, zebrafish larvae acclimated to cold temperatures for 24 hr show both increased expression of ribosomal genes and increased survival to acute cold stress.…”

“…warm (Liu et al, 2017;Prado-Lima & Val, 2016;Quinn, McGowan, Cooper, Koop, & Davidson, 2011) temperatures, yet only one study (Long et al, 2013) provides indirect evidence that they may increase resistance to temperature stress. In that study, zebrafish larvae acclimated to cold temperatures for 24 hr show both increased expression of ribosomal genes and increased survival to acute cold stress.…”

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Gills from the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir japonica sinensis) Exposed to the Heavy Metal Cadmium

“…Synapse is a structure that permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or to the target effector cell. Both "electron carrier activity" and "signal transducer activity" are involved in stress signal transduction (Liu et al, 2017). These findings indicate the importance of signal transduction in the stress response of the E. j. sinensis caused by Cd stress.…”