Expression Profiles and Functional Characterization of Chemosensory Protein 15 (HhalCSP15) in the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Halyomorpha halys

Abstract

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) have been identified in the sensory tissues of various insect species and are believed to be involved in chemical communication in insects. However, the physiological roles of CSPs in Halyomorpha halys, a highly invasive insect species, are rarely reported. Here, we focused on one of the antennal CSPs (HhalCSP15) and determined whether it was involved in olfactory perception. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that HhalCSP15 was enriched in nymph and male and female adult antennae, indicating its possible involvement in the chemosensory process. Fluorescence competitive binding assays revealed that three of 43 natural compounds showed binding abilities with HhalCSP15, including β-ionone (Ki=11.9±0.6μM), cis-3-hexen-1-yl benzoate (Ki=10.5±0.4μM), and methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate (EEZ-MDT; Ki=9.6±0.8μM). Docking analysis supported the experimental affinity for the three ligands. Additionally, the electrophysiological activities of the three ligands were further confirmed using electroantennography (EAG). EEZ-MDT is particularly interesting, as it serves as a kairomone when H. halys forages for host plants. We therefore conclude that HhalCSP15 might be involved in the detection of host-related volatiles. Our data provide a basis for further investigation of the physiological roles of CSPs in H. halys, and extend the olfactory function of CSPs in stink bugs.

Identification and functional analysis of a chemosensory protein from Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…8 The specific binding of some ligands to CSP also mainly depends on shape recognition and hydrophobic interactions, such as Tyr98 and Asp67 in CSP4 of honeybees, and Leu30 in GmolCSP8 and Try11 in CSP2 of Bemisia tabaci. [49][50][51] Other common amino acid residues that form hydrogen bonds with insect CSPs include glutamic acid and glutamine in Hemiptera, 52,53 asparagine and serine in Hymenoptera, 54 and alanine, arginine, lysine, threonine and aspartic acid in Lepidoptera. 49,55,56 It was found that most of these key amino acids are hydrophilic.…”

Identification, expression profiles, and binding properties of chemosensory protein 18 in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

“…Meanwhile, the repellent and attractive effects of the adults to the repellent and attractive volatile compounds were decreased after knockdown of PxylCSP18 . These results together revealed that Pxyl CSP18 play an important role in olfactory perception by binding and transporting plant volatiles ( Peng et al 2017 , Hua et al 2021 , Li et al 2021 , Wang et al 2021 ).…”

Involvement of three chemosensory proteins in perception of host plant volatiles in the tea green leafhopper, Empoasca onukii

“…CSPs of insects exhibit broad expression profiles in various tissues ( Wang Z. et al, 2021 ). qRT-PCR results also showed that the expression of EonuCSP 4 , 6-1 and 6-2 were expressed in various body parts.…”