Molecular features and expression profiles of octopamine receptors in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.

BACKGROUND: Octopamine, the invertebrate counterpart of adrenaline and noradrenaline, regulates and modulates many physiological and behavioral processes in insects. It mediates its effects by binding to specific octopamine receptors, which belong to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The expression profiles of octopamine receptor genes have been well documented in different developmental stages and multiple tissue types in several different insect orders. However, little work has addressed this issue in Hemiptera. RESULTS: In this study, we cloned four octopamine receptor genes from brown planthopper. The deduced amino acid sequences share high identity with other insect homologues and have the characteristic GPCRs domain architecture: seven transmembrane domains. These genes were expressed in all developmental stages and examined tissues. The expression of NlOA2B3 and NlOA3 was relatively higher in egg and first instar nymph stage than in other stages and other receptor genes. All of these receptor genes were more highly expressed in brain than other tissues. CONCLUSION: The identification of octopamine receptor genes in this study will provide a foundation for investigating the diverse roles played by NlOARs and for exploring specific target sites for chemicals that control agricultural pests. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pharmacological characterisation and functional roles for egg-laying of a ß-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens.

Octopamine, the invertebrate counterpart of adrenaline and noradrenaline, controls and modulates many physiological and behavioral processes in protostomes. It mediates its effects by binding to specific receptors belonging to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors. We report the cloning of a cDNA from the brown planthopper (Nloa2b2) sharing high similarity with members of the OA2B2 receptor class. Activation of NlOA2B2 by octopamine increased the production of cAMP in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 114 nM). Tyramine also activated the receptor but with much less potency than octopamine. Using a series of known agonists and antagonists of octopamine receptors and cAMP measurements, we observed a rather unique pharmacological profile of NlOA2B2. The potency ranking of the tested agonists was naphazoline > clonidine. The activated effect of octopamine is abolished by co-incubation with epinastine, mianserin, phentolamine, methiothepin, butaclamol or methysergide. Nloa2b2 was expressed in different developmental stages and in various tissues including female reproductive regions known to be involved in egg-laying behavior. Using in vivo pharmacology and RNAi methodology, we demonstrated that interference of NlOA2B2 signaling pathway had a strong impact on the egg-laying behavior of female brown planthopper. The data presented here mark the first comprehensive study-from gene to behavior-of a OA2B2 receptor in the rice brown planthopper.