Tyrosine hydroxylase involved in cuticle tanning and reproduction in the 28-spotted potato ladybeetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Shimin Chen, Satyabrata Nanda, Mujuan Guo, Lan Kong, Chunxiao Yang, Zhuoqi Liu, Ran Gao, Baoli Qiu, Youjun Zhang, Xuguo Zhou, Huipeng Pan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a melanin synthesis pathway enzyme hydroxylating tyrosine into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, is involved in the pigmentation and sclerotization of insect cuticles. However, the role of TH in 28-spotted potato ladybeetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata), an emerging pest of the solanaceous crops has been explored to a limited extent. In this study, we integrated dietary RNA interference (RNAi) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining with various bioassays to analyze the role of tyrosine hydroxylase (HvTH) throughout the developmental processes of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. RESULTS: The results revealed that ingestion of dsHvTH led to cuticle tanning impairment, arrested larval feeding in the first and second instars of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, and subsequently resulted in 100% mortality. The H&E staining assays revealed that dsHvTH prevented new abdominal cuticle formation. A pharmacological study using 3-iodo-tyrosine (3-IT), a HvTH inhibitor, disrupted larval–larval–pupal cuticle tanning during the third–fourth instar larval development and eventually failed to pupate. Similarly, dsHvTH fed to fourth instars hindered larval–pupal–adult cuticle tanning, and the eclose adults were 100% malformed. Ingestion of dsHvTH or 3-IT significantly down-regulated HvTH, HvDDC, Hvebony, and Hvlaccase2 expression and reduced dopamine levels. Finally, HvTH silencing in adult females substantially reduced the offspring hatching rates. CONCLUSIONS: The collective results of the study suggested that HvTH plays conserved roles in larval–pupal–adult cuticle melanization and sclerotization while exhibiting a novel function in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata reproduction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3859-3870
Number of pages12
JournalPest Management Science
Volume78
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • cuticle tanning
  • dopamine
  • feeding behavior
  • Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata
  • tyrosine hydroxylase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Insect Science

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