A Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors in Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

Abstract

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors in insects play essential roles in multiple developmental processes including neurogenesis, sterol metabolism, circadian rhythms, organogenesis and formation of olfactory sensory neurons. The identification and function analysis of bHLH family members of the most destructive insect pest of rice, Nilaparvata lugens, may provide novel tools for pest management. Here, a genome-wide survey for bHLH sequences identified 60 bHLH sequences (NlbHLHs) encoded in the draft genome of N. lugens. Phylogenetic analysis of the bHLH domains successfully classified these genes into 40 bHLH families in group A (25), B (14), C (10), D (1), E (8) and F (2). The number of NlbHLHs with introns is higher than many other insect species, and the average intron length is shorter than those of Acyrthosiphon pisum. High number of ortholog families of NlbHLHs was found suggesting functional conversation for these proteins. Compared to other insect species studied, N. lugens has the highest number of bHLH members. Furthermore, gene duplication events of SREBP, Kn(col), Tap, Delilah, Sim, Ato and Crp were found in N. lugens. In addition, a putative full set of NlbHLH genes is defined and compared with another insect species. Thus, our classification of these NlbHLH members provides a platform for further investigations of bHLH protein functions in the regulation of N. lugens, and of insects in general.

Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Genes in the Diamondback Moth

“…Clk (clock), Sima (similar), Cyc (cycle), and Cwo (clockwork orange), were found to have dual HLH motifs in Asian citrus psyllid ( Peng et al 2017 ). No bHLH proteins have dual HLH motifs in jewel wasp, human body louse, and brown planthopper ( Wang et al 2014 , Liu et al 2015 , Wan et al 2016 ). In order to see whether other insect bHLH proteins have dual HLH motifs, full-length bHLH protein sequences of ten insect species, viz.…”

“…Data of Apis mellifera , Pediculus humanus corporis (Light) (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae ), Diaphorina citri, Acyrthosiphon pisum , Harpegnathos saltator , Bombyx mori , Aedes aegypti , Anopheles gambiae , Nasonia vitripennis and Culex quinquefasciatus are from previous reports ( Wang et al 2007 , Wang et al 2008 , Dang et al 2011 , Liu et al 2012 , Zhang et al 2013 , Wang et al 2014 , Liu et al 2015 , Peng et al 2017 ). Data of Drosophila melanogaster , Nilaparvata lugens , and Tribolium castaneum are from our own survey based on reports of Simionato et al (2007) , Bitra et al (2009) , and Wan et al (2016) . The same sources of data are used in Table 4 .…”

Regulating resistance: CncC:Maf, antioxidant response elements and the overexpression of detoxification genes in insecticide resistance

“…Psyliidae [53], Nasonia [54], Nilaparvata [55] and vector mosquitoes [56] and further work to identification their roles and binding sites is necessary. As genome-wide allelic imbalance studies are now demonstrably feasible and affordable for insects [57] identification of cis-regulated genes in resistant insects will aid the honing of the search.…”

Cycle affects imidacloprid efficiency by mediating cytochrome P450 expression in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens

“…3A). The CYCLE and Clk, two important circadian genes in the BPH, belong to the members of NlbHLHc in group C, which are responsible for the regulation of circadian rhythms (Wan et al, 2016).…”