RESUMO
The insect cuticle plays a key role in maintaining the insect's physiological function and behavior. Herein, the yellow-y protein is required to produce black melanin, and is expressed in a pattern that correlates with the distribution of this pigment. However, yellow-y can also have other functions, for instance, in insect behavior, but not much is known. In this study, we have studied the yellow-y gene in one important model and pest species, namely the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), which is to our knowledge the first time reported. In essence, we identified the yellow-y gene (BgY-y) and characterized its function by using RNA interference (RNAi). Silencing of BgY-y gene led to different developmental abnormalities (body weight and wings) in both genders. Specifically, there was an abundant decrease in melanin, turning the body color in pale yellow and the cuticle softer and more transparent. Interestingly, we also observed that the knockdown of BgY-y impaired the male cockroaches to display a weaker response to female-emitted contact sex pheromones, and also that the oviposition ability was weakened in the RNAi females. This study comprehensively analyzed the biological functions of the yellow-y gene in German cockroaches from the perspectives of development, body color, courtship behavior and oviposition, and as a consequence, this may opens new avenues to explore it as a novel pest control gene.
Assuntos
Blattellidae , Proteínas de Insetos , Oviposição , Pigmentação , Interferência de RNA , Animais , Blattellidae/genética , Blattellidae/fisiologia , Feminino , Proteínas de Insetos/genética , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Masculino , Pigmentação/genética , Corte , Melaninas/metabolismo , Comportamento Sexual AnimalRESUMO
Genes involved in melanin production directly impact insect pigmentation and can affect diverse physiology and behaviours. The role these genes have on sex behaviour, however, is unclear. In the present study, the crucial melanin pigment gene black was functionally characterised in an urban pest, the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. RNAi knockdown of B. germanica black (Bgblack) had no effect on survival, but did result in black pigmentation of the thoraxes, abdomens, heads, wings, legs, antennae, and cerci due to cuticular accumulation of melanin. Sex-specific variation in the pigmentation pattern was apparent, with females exhibiting darker coloration on the abdomen and thorax than males. Bgblack knockdown also resulted in wing deformation and negatively impacted the contact sex pheromone-based courtship behaviour of males. This study provides evidence for black function in multiple aspects of B. germanica biology and opens new avenues of exploration for novel pest control strategies.
Assuntos
Blattellidae , Melaninas , Pigmentação , Animais , Blattellidae/genética , Blattellidae/fisiologia , Masculino , Feminino , Pigmentação/genética , Melaninas/metabolismo , Proteínas de Insetos/genética , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Comportamento Sexual Animal , Interferência de RNARESUMO
Thyroid-like follicular renal cell carcinoma (TLFRCC), also known as thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney or thyroid follicular carcinoma like renal tumor, is an exceedingly rare variant of renal cell carcinoma that has only recently been acknowledged. This neoplasm exhibits a distinct follicular morphology resembling that of the thyroid gland. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals positive expression of PAX8, Vimentin, and EMA, while thyroid-specific markers TG and TTF1 are consistently absent. Furthermore, there is a notable absence of any concurrent thyroid pathology on clinical evaluation. Previous reports have suggested that TLFRCC is an indolent, slow-growing malignancy with infrequent metastatic potential. In this report, we present a case of TLFRCC characterized by remarkable ossification and widespread metastasis, including multifocal pulmonary lesions, involvement of the abdominal wall, and infiltration into the psoas muscle. To our knowledge, this represents only the third documented instance of distant metastasis in thyroid follicular renal carcinoma. The current case demonstrates a therapeutic approach that combines radiotherapy with the utilization of toripalimab, a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) receptor inhibitor, and pazopanib. This treatment regimen was tailored based on comprehensive genomic profiling, which identified mutations in the POLE (catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase epsilon) and ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) genes, both of which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various malignant tumors. These findings represent a novel discovery, as such mutations have never been reported in association with TLFRCC. Thus far, this therapeutic approach has proven to be the most efficacious option for treating metastatic TLFRCC among previously reported, and it also marks the first mention of the potential benefits of radiotherapy in managing this particular subtype of renal cell carcinoma.
RESUMO
Vacuolar-type (H+)-ATPase (vATPase) is a conserved multi-subunit eukaryotic enzyme composed of 14 subunits that form a functional complex consisting of an ATP-hydrolytic domain (V1) and a proton-translocation domain (V0). ATP hydrolysis and subsequent H+ translocation rely heavily on a fully assembled V1/V0 complex. Since vATPase is crucial for insect survival, it is a viable molecular target for pest control. However, detailed functional analyses of the 14 subunits and their suitability for pest control have not been fully explored in a single insect species. In this study, we identified 22 vATPase subunit transcripts that correspond to 13 subunits (A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, a1, a2, c and d) in the white-backed planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera, a major hemipteran pest of rice. RNAi screens using microinjection and spray-based methods revealed that the SfVHA-F, SfVHA-a2 and SfVHA-c2 subunits are critical. Furthermore, star polymer (SPc) nanoparticles were utilized to conduct spray-induced and nanoparticle-delivered gene silencing (SI-NDGS) to evaluate the pest control efficacy of RNAi targeting the SfVHA-F, SfVHA-a2 and SfVHA-c2 transcripts. Target mRNA levels and vATPase enzymatic activity were both reduced. Honeydew excreta was likewise reduced in WBPH treated with dsRNAs targeting SfVHA-F, SfVHA-a2 and SfVHA-c2. To assess the environmental safety of the nanoparticle-wrapped dsRNAs, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter, a major natural enemy of planthoppers, was also sprayed with dsRNAs targeting SfVHA-F, SfVHA-a2 and SfVHA-c2. Post-spray effects of dsSfVHA-a2 and dsSfVHA-c2 on C. lividipennis were innocuous. This study identifies SfVHA-a2 and SfVHA-c2 as promising targets for biorational control of WBPH and lays the foundation for developing environment-friendly RNAi biopesticides.
Assuntos
Hemípteros , Heterópteros , Oryza , Praguicidas , Animais , Oryza/genética , Interferência de RNA , Medição de Risco , Trifosfato de AdenosinaRESUMO
RNA interference (RNAi) is a widespread post-transcriptional silencing mechanism that targets homologous mRNA sequences for specific degradation. An RNAi-based pest management strategy is target-specific and considered a sustainable biopesticide. However, the specific genes targeted and the efficiency of the delivery methods can vary widely across species. In this study, a spray-induced and nanocarrier-delivered gene silencing (SI-NDGS) system that incorporated gene-specific dsRNAs targeting conserved genes was used to evaluate phenotypic effects in white-backed planthopper (WBPH). At 2 days postspraying, transcript levels for all target genes were significantly reduced and knockdown of two gene orthologs, hsc70-3 and PP-α, resulted in an elevated mortality (>60%) and impaired ecdysis. These results highlight the utility of the SI-NDGS system for identifying genes involved in WBPH growth and development that could be potentially exploitable as high mortality target genes to develop an alternative method for WBPH control.