Regulation of Carbohydrate Metabolism by Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase 3 in the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

Abstract

Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is one of the pests that harm rice. In this paper, a new trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene, TPS3, was identified by transcriptome sequencing and gene cloning. To explore its role in the energy metabolism of N. lugens we examined the carbohydrate contents at different stages of development, the tissue expression of TPS, and some physiological and biochemical indicators by injecting dsTPS3 and dsTPSs (a proportional mixture of dsTPS1, dsTPS2, and dsTPS3). The glucose content at the fifth instar was significantly higher than that in the fourth instar and the adult stages. The trehalose and glycogen contents before molting were higher than those after molting. TPS1, TPS2, and TPS3 were expressed in the head, leg, wing bud, and cuticle, with the highest expression in the wing bud. In addition, compared with the control group, the glucose content increased significantly at 48 h after RNA interference, and the trehalose content decreased significantly after 72 h. qRT-PCR showed that the expression level of UGPase decreased significantly at 48 h after injection, whereas GS expression increased significantly at 48 h after injecting dsTPS3. After dsTPS injection, the expression levels of PPGM2, UGPase, GP, and GS increased significantly at 72 h. After interfering with the expression of TPS3 gene alone, UGPase expression decreased significantly at 48 h, and GS expression increased significantly at 72 h. Finally, combined with the digital gene expression and pathway analysis, 1439 and 1346 genes were upregulated, and 2127 and 1927 genes were downregulated in the dsTPS3 and dsTPSs groups, respectively. The function of most differential genes was concentrated in sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. The results indicated that TPS3 plays a key role in the energy metabolism of N. lugens and confirmed that TPS3 is a feasible target gene for RNA interference in N. lugens. Simultaneously, they provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of TPS3 to control pests.

Regulation of a Trehalose-Specific Facilitated Transporter (TRET) by Insulin and Adipokinetic Hormone in Rhodnius prolixus, a Vector of Chagas Disease

“…As in mammals, circulating sugar levels in insects are mainly regulated by the action of two peptide hormone families, ILPs and AKHs ( Toprak, 2020 ). The control of trehalose metabolism by ILPs, including circulating trehalose levels, as well as their participation in regulating the expression of trehalases and TPS, has been reported in several species ( Bounias et al, 1993 ; Satake et al, 1997 ; Iwami, 2000 ; Wu and Brown, 2006 ; Broughton et al, 2008 ; Wang et al, 2020 ). However, until now, the link between insulin signaling and TRET has been scarcely studied, even though in vertebrates glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is translocated to the plasma membrane in response to insulin signals ( Bryant and Gould, 2020 ).…”

Effects of Different Nutritional Conditions on the Growth and Reproduction of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

“…Molting and metamorphosis are important for insects ( Ishimaru et al, 2016 ). The energy required for metamorphosis is extracted from the energy stored during larval rearing ( Merkey et al, 2011 ; Wang et al, 2020 ). Surprisingly, in Samia cynthia ( Hetz, 2007 ), Zophobas rugipes ( Kaiser et al, 2010 ), and Apis mellifera ( Schmolz et al, 2005 ), low energy consumption during metamorphosis was observed.…”

Regulatory function of the trehalose‐6‐phosphate synthase gene TPS3 on chitin metabolism in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

“…The synthesis of trehalose in insects is carried out by TPS in the fat body and is regulated by hormones. The author's research team has cloned three TPS genes from the rice pest brown planthopper (Tang et al, 2019; S. S. Wang et al, 2020; M. M. Yang et al, 2017). Studies have shown that the trehalose metabolism of N. lugens would be affected when the expression level of three TPS genes was inhibited either alone or in combination (Figure 1) (S. S. Wang et al, 2020; M. M. Yang et al, 2017).…”

“…The author's research team has cloned three TPS genes from the rice pest brown planthopper (Tang et al, 2019; S. S. Wang et al, 2020; M. M. Yang et al, 2017). Studies have shown that the trehalose metabolism of N. lugens would be affected when the expression level of three TPS genes was inhibited either alone or in combination (Figure 1) (S. S. Wang et al, 2020; M. M. Yang et al, 2017). However, in N. lugens , the expression level of TRE1‐1 decreased and trehalose content increased after injection of ds TPS2 (M. M. Yang et al, 2017); the expression level of TRE1‐1 increased and trehalose content decreased after injection of ds TPS3 (Figure 1) (S. S. Wang et al, 2020).…”