Serpin7 controls egg diapause of migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) by regulating polyphenol oxidase

Abstract

Diapause is a state of arrested growth, which allows insects to adapt to diverse environments. Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) play an important role in various physiological processes, including blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, development, complement activation and extracellular matrix remodeling. We hypothesized that serpin may affect energy metabolism and thereby control diapause of migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) embryos by regulating protease cascades. A total of seven nonredundant serpin genes (named serpin1–serpin7) of L. migratoria were obtained through transcriptomic analysis. We further performed label‐free proteomic sequencing and analysis of diapause and nondiapause eggs of L. migratoria, revealing significant differences in serpin7 expression. A significant reduction in diapause rate under the short photoperiod was observed in insects treated with serpin7 double‐stranded RNA. Furthermore, knockdown of the serpin7 gene resulted in significant upregulation of the activity of polyphenol oxidase. We therefore propose that the observed serpin7 gene plays a crucial role in diapause, suggesting that control of energy metabolism may have potential as a future strategy for the reproductive control of insect pests.

Molecular Identification and Immunity Functional Characterization of Lmserpin1 in Locusta migratoria manilensis

“…To better understand the immune mechanisms of L. migratoria manilensis and examine their response to a variety of pathogen challenges, transcriptome sequencing and analysis were performed on migratory locusts. A total amino acid sequences of seven serpin genes ( serpin1 to serpin7 ) were obtained [ 31 ]. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that Lmserpin1 was similar to serpinB9 , which was involved in the immune response [ 32 ].…”

Mass Spectrometry-Based Peptide Profiling of Haemolymph from Pterostichus melas Exposed to Pendimethalin Herbicide

“…Serpins carry out various physiological functions in insects, including development, digestion, host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune response. Serpin plays a key role in immune pathways, its involvement in the regulation of the Toll pathway and prophenoloxidase activation is well documented [ 74 ]. Its downregulation was observed in Plutella xylostella after fungal and viral infection, and treatment with mycotoxin [ 74 ].…”

“…Serpin plays a key role in immune pathways, its involvement in the regulation of the Toll pathway and prophenoloxidase activation is well documented [ 74 ]. Its downregulation was observed in Plutella xylostella after fungal and viral infection, and treatment with mycotoxin [ 74 ].…”

Characterization and expression profiling of serine protease inhibitors in the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor

“…For instance, Drosophila Spn27A regulates embryonic axis formation by mediating the Toll pathway activity (Hashimoto et al, 2003). In the migratory locust Locusta migratoria , Serpin7 controls embryonic diapause by regulating polyphenol oxidase activity (Chen et al, 2020b). To document the potential TmSPIs that may act in development, their expressions were profiled across life stages including egg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult through RNA‐seq data analysis (Figure 5).…”