Binding specificity of OBPs in the yellow peach moth Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée)

Abstract

Odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) are translators of the external chemical signals, which are critical for maintaining insect life. However, few OBPs were reported in the yellow peach moth (YPM), Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée). In the current study, five OBPs (CpunOBP1, CpunOBP2, CpunOBP7, CpunPBP2 and CpunPBP4) were expressed and purified from the antennae of the YPM. The results showed that the proteins encoded by five CpunOBPs had six conserved cysteine residues, which were typical structural features of classic OBPs. Moreover, the fluorescence competitive binding assays indicated that the binding affinity of five CpunOBPs to the selected YPM female sex pheromones, host plant volatiles and Penicillium‐inoculated apple volatiles was obviously different. The binding affinities of CpunOBP1 and CpunOBP2 with β‐ionone were the strongest. CpunOBP7 could bind with 12 host plant volatiles but was unable to interact with any one of the three tested female sex pheromones. CpunPBP2 and CpunPBP4 exhibited the highest binding affinity to female sex pheromone trans‐10‐hexadecenal among 30 tested compounds. In conclusion, these results suggest the functional differentiation of the CpunOBPs in recognizing sex pheromones, host plant volatiles and fungus‐infected host plant volatiles, which will provide new insights into selecting target proteins for YPM biocontrol.

Ligand‐binding specificities of four odorant‐binding proteins in Conogethes punctiferalis

“…In the current study, the four OBPs (CpunOBP8, CpunOBP9, CpunABP, and CpunGOBP2), cloned from the antennae of C. punctiferalis, had six conserved cysteines. Moreover, these four CpunOBPs all shared relatively high amino acid sequence similarities with OfurOBPs, which was consistent with our previous study on the phylogeny of other 8 CpunOBPs (Guo, Meng, Zhang, et al, 2021;Guo, Wei, Zhang, et al, 2021;Jia et al, 2015). Compared with other Crambidae insect OBPs in current phylogenetic tree, the higher similarities of OBPs in C. punctiferalis and O. furnacalis not only correlate with their closely related taxonomic status (both in the subfamily of Pyraustinae), but also might depend on their same host plant, for example, the maize, as well as their boring damage habits at larval stage.…”

“…It is interesting that in the cladogram (Figure 2), CpunOBP2 was clustered with CpunOBP8 and CpunABP, and had been demonstrated to exhibit high binding affinity to hexadecanal (Guo, Meng, Zhang, et al, 2021). Moreover, CpunOBP8 and CpunOBP4 were identified as male antennae-specific expressed and could bind strongly with sex pheromones cis-10-hexadecenal and hexadecimal (Guo, Wei, Zhang, et al, 2021;Jia et al, 2016).…”

“…To further understand the olfactrory mechanisms of C. punctiferalis and select the olfactory proteins as targets for controlling this destructive insect pest, 34 putative OBPs including 26 OBPs, 5 PBPs, 2 GOBPs and 1 ABP, and many other olfactory‐related genes were annotated and identified based on antennal transcriptome (Ge et al, 2016; Jia et al, 2016; Xiao et al, 2016). Among the 34 CpunOBPs, 11 CpunOBPs' binding specificities have been reported, including CpunOBP1, CpunOBP2, CpunOBP3, CpunOBP4, CpunOBP7, CpunPBP1, CpunPBP2, CpunPBP4, CpunPBP5, CpunGOBP1, and CpunGOBP2 (Ge et al, 2018; Guo, Meng, Zhang, et al, 2021; Guo, Wei, Zhang, et al, 2021; Jia et al, 2015; Jing et al, 2019, 2021). However, compared with other insects, the binding property of putative OBPs in C. punctiferalis has not been well characterized.…”

Penicillium fungi mediate behavioral responses of the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) to apple fruits via altering the emissions of host plant VOCs

“…A colony of YPMs was established and had been maintained for about 25 generations on maize in climate incubators (RTOP-B, Zhejiang Top Instrument Co., Ltd.) at 23 ± 1°C, RH 75 ± 2%, 16L/8D photoperiod, and 3500 lux light intensity (Guo et al, 2021). Adult moths were provided with 5%-8% honey solution after emergence.…”

Bioactive Volatile Compounds from Penicillium digitatum-Infected Apples: Oviposition Attractants for Yellow Peach Moth Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

“…A colony of YPMs was established and had been maintained for about 25 generations on maize in climate incubators (RTOP-B, Zhejiang Top Instrument Co., Ltd.) at 23 ± 1℃, RH 75 ± 2%, 16L/8D photoperiod, and 3, 500 lux light intensity (Guo et al 2021). Adult moths were provided with 5%-8% honey solution after emergence.…”