Role of phosphoglucomutase in regulating trehalose metabolism in Nilaparvata lugens

Abstract

Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) is a key enzyme in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, regulating both glycogen and trehalose metabolism in insects. In this study, we explored the potential function of phosphoglucomutase (PGM) using RNA interference technology in Nilaparvata lugens, the brown planthopper. PGM1 and PGM2 were found highly expressed in the midgut of brown planthoppers, with different expression levels in different instar nymphs. The glycogen, glucose, and trehalose levels were also significantly increased after brown planthoppers were injected with dsRNA targeting PGM1 (dsPGM1) or PGM2 (dsPGM2). In addition, injection of dsPGM1 or dsPGM2 resulted in increased membrane-bound trehalase activity but not soluble trehalase activity. Furthermore, the expression of genes related to trehalose and glycogen metabolism decreased significantly after injection with dsPGM1 and dsPGM2. The expression levels of genes involved in chitin metabolism in the brown planthopper were also significantly decreased and the insects showed wing deformities and difficulty molting following RNAi. We suggest that silencing of PGM1 and PGM2 expression directly inhibits trehalose metabolism, leading to impaired chitin synthesis.

Genomics of altitude‐associated wing shape in two tropical butterflies

“…The most relevant and functionally tested candidate genes of wing aspect ratio variation were su(dx) in H. erato , and dok , knrl , lowfat , and tap42 in H. melpomene (Figure 4, Tables 2, 3). Tracheal development and septate junction assembly functions were also associated with several candidates ( vari , pickle , “pasi”, punch , pak1 , knrl ), as well as chitin‐based cuticule development ( punch , pgm2a Pan et al, 2020), pigment transport or synthesis ( MCT9 , optix , punch , ABCG ) and oxidative stress responses and regulation of cell apoptosis ( tefu , daxx , pak1 , naam ). Some of these candidates, even if not directly involved in wing morphogenesis, have been functionally tested in Drosophila and lead to wing aspect ratio or wing vein abnormalities ( knrl Lunde et al, 2003, pgm2a Pan et al, 2020, tefu Song et al, 2004, daxx Hwang et al, 2013).…”

“…Tracheal development and septate junction assembly functions were also associated with several candidates ( vari , pickle , “pasi”, punch , pak1 , knrl ), as well as chitin‐based cuticule development ( punch , pgm2a Pan et al, 2020), pigment transport or synthesis ( MCT9 , optix , punch , ABCG ) and oxidative stress responses and regulation of cell apoptosis ( tefu , daxx , pak1 , naam ). Some of these candidates, even if not directly involved in wing morphogenesis, have been functionally tested in Drosophila and lead to wing aspect ratio or wing vein abnormalities ( knrl Lunde et al, 2003, pgm2a Pan et al, 2020, tefu Song et al, 2004, daxx Hwang et al, 2013). More importantly, 1/23 and 5/22 candidate genes in H. erato and H. melpomene , respectively, were direct enhancers or suppressors of genes recently identified as being involved with multivariate wing aspect ratio variation in D .…”

Effect of Heat Starvation Stress on Physiological Immunity and Metabolism of Mizuhopecten yessoensis

“…In the plant, the expression level of the gene encoding PGM was down-regulated under zinc stress, showing the effect of heavy metals on the balance of sugar metabolism in Ricinus communis [50]. In invertebrates, the silencing of PGM1 and PGM2 expression was reported to inhibit trehalose metabolism and lead to impaired chitin synthesis in Nilaparvata lugens [51]. GPI, also known as the moonlighting protein, participates in various activities as a neuroleukin, autocrine motility factor, serine proteinase inhibitor, and differentiation and maturation factor [52].…”