Molecular characterization of a catalase gene from the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)

Abstract

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a serious agricultural pest with a worldwide distribution. Catalase (CAT), which is encoded by the catalase (Cat) gene, is an extremely important antioxidant enzyme that plays a pivotal role in protecting cells against the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide. The Cat gene has not been characterized in M. persicae; therefore, this study describes the identification of the Cat (MpCat) gene from M. persicae. MpCat contains an open reading frame of 1515 bp and encodes a MpCAT protein consisting of 504 amino‐acid residues. MpCAT possesses features typical of other insect catalases, including 7 conserved amino acids involved in binding heme and 15 involved in binding nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. Phylogenetic analysis showed that MpCAT was closely related to orthologs from other aphid species. MpCat consisted of nine exons and eight introns, and the number and insertion sites of introns are consistent with those of Cat genes from Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) and Aphis gossypii Glover. The mRNA transcripts of MpCat were detected at all tested developmental stages, with the highest mRNA level in alate adults. The expression of MpCat was significantly upregulated when M. persicae was exposed to low and high temperatures, ultraviolet radiation, Beauveria bassiana, and permethrin. The transcription of MpCat and the activity of catalase were suppressed by RNA interference, and knockdown of MpCat significantly reduced the survival rate in M. persicae under heat stress. The results provide valuable information for further study on the physiological functions of MpCat.

Catalase promotes whitefly adaptation to high temperature by eliminating reactive oxygen species

“…When B. tabaci adults were subjected to CAT silencing and a high temperature, their ROS levels gradually returned to the normal level after recovery for 24 h at 25 °C, this indicated a negative regulation interaction between ROS level and CAT expression level. Previous studies with insects also showed that the CAT genes might be involved in the high temperature tolerance but only by whether this gene's transcription level was significantly induced by high temperature or not (Lu et al, 2017;Xu et al, 2017;Cheng et al, 2018;Li et al, 2018;Li et al, 2021). Here, our findings with B. tabaci provide direct evidence that CAT genes contribute to heat tolerance by eliminating excessive ROS (Fig.…”

“…, 2018; Li et al. , 2021). Here, our findings with B. tabaci provide direct evidence that CAT genes contribute to heat tolerance by eliminating excessive ROS (Fig.…”

Alkaline ceramidase (ClAC) inhibition enhances heat stress response in Cyrtorhinus lividipennis (Reuter)

“…CAT was also reported to play important roles in the thermal tolerance of insects. Suppressing CAT significantly reduced the survival rate of Myzus persicae under heat stress ( Li et al, 2021 ). In the whitefly Bemisia tabaci , CAT help to adapt to high temperature by scavenging excessive ROS ( Liang et al, 2022 ).…”

Effects of Semaglutide on Cardiac Protein Expression and Cardiac Function of Obese Mice

“…Cat, expressed by the peroxidase gene, is a key antioxidant enzyme in the body, primarily responsible for the breakdown of toxic H 2 O 2 . 49 Obesity raises H 2 O 2 levels significantly owing to lower Cat expression, increasing oxidative stress in the body and causing cardiovascular disease. 50 , 51 However, oxidative stress caused by Cat deficiency may alleviate obesity-related metabolic problems by decreasing inflammation.…”