Musashi orchestrates melanism in Laodelphax striatellus  

作　　者：Zeping Mao Biyun Wang Youyuan Chen Jinjun Ying Haiqiang Wang Junmin Li Chuanxi Zhang Jichong Zhuo 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory for ManagingBiotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products,Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MARA and Institute of Plant Virology,Ningbo University,Ningbo,Zhejiang Province,315211,China

出　　处：《Insect Science》2025年第1期140-150,共11页昆虫科学(英文版)

基　　金：Welfare Research Program of Zhejiang Province(LQ21C140006);National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372516 and 32230086);Key Projects of Ningbo Natural Science Foundation(2023j015)for the support.

摘　　要：In insects,melanism,a fundamental pigmentation process,is of significant importance in evolutionary biology due to its complex genetic foundation.We investigated the role of the RNA-binding gene Musashi(msi)in melanism in Laodelphax striatellus,a Hemiptera species.We identified a single L.striatellus msi homolog,Lsmsi,encoding a 357 amino acid protein with 2 RNA recognition motifs.RNA interference-mediated knockdown of LsMsi resulted in complete body melanism and increased cuticular permeability.Additionally,we found the involvement of G protein-coupled receptor A42 and tyrosine hydroxylase(Th)in L.striatellus melanism.Knockdown of LsTh lightened the epidermis,showing dehydration signs,while LsA42 knockdown enhanced LsTh expression,leading to melanism.Surprisingly,Lsmsi knockdown decreased both LsA42 and LsTh expression,which was expected to cause whitening but resulted in melanism.Further,we found that Lsmsi influenced downstream genes like phenoloxidase homolog LsPo and dopa decarboxylase(Ddc)homolog LsDdc in the tyrosine-mediated melanism pathway.Extending to Nilaparvata lugens and Sogatella furcifera,we demonstrated the conserved role of msi in melanism among Delphacidae.Given MSI proteins’roles in cancer and tumors in vertebrates,our study is the first to link msi in insects to Delphacidae body color melanization via the tyrosine-mediated pathway,offering fresh perspectives on the genetic basis of insect melanism and msi functions.

关 键 词：dopa decarboxylase MELANISM Musashi PHENOLOXIDASE PLANTHOPPER 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]