Sex pheromone recognition and characterization of three pheromone-binding proteins in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Abstract

Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are essential for the filtering, binding and transporting of sex pheromones across sensillum lymph to membrane-associated pheromone receptors of moths. In this study, three novel PBP genes were expressed in Escherichia coli to examine their involvement in the sex pheromone perception of Maruca vitrata. Fluorescence binding experiments indicated that MvitPBP1-3 had strong binding affinities with four sex pheromones. Moreover, molecular docking results demonstrated that six amino acid residues of three MvitPBPs were involved in the binding of the sex pheromones. These results suggested that MvitPBP1-3 might play critical roles in the perception of female sex pheromones. Additionally, the binding capacity of MvitPBP3 with the host-plant floral volatiles was high and was similar to that of MvitGOBP2. Furthermore, sequence alignment and docking analysis showed that both MvitGOBP2 and MvitPBP3 possessed an identical key binding site (arginine, R130/R140) and a similar protein pocket structure around the binding cavity. Therefore, we hypothesized that MvitPBP3 and MvitGOBP2 might have synergistic roles in binding different volatile ligands. In combination, the use of synthetic sex pheromones and floral volatiles from host-plant may be used in the exploration for more efficient monitoring and integrated management strategies for the legume pod borer in the field.

Pheromone‐binding proteins based phylogenetics and phylogeography of Maruca spp. from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America

“…Although structural modeling was used to predict the "presumed" structures of MvitPBPs (Mao et al, 2016), future studies should confirm their three-dimensional structures by X-ray diffraction and/or NMR spectroscopy. conserved in lepidopteran PBPs (Sandler et al, 2000).…”

“…Malini, Schafleitner, Muthukalingan, & Srinivasan, 2013), where we reported the phylogeny of M. vitrata based on MvitPBP sequences. Subsequently, the role of PBPs in sex pheromone perception in M. vitrata was studied in China(Mao et al, 2016), but PBPs were never used in population genetics of this organism. Since geographically distinct Maruca populations were identified using coxI(Malini et al, 2015) and ITS2(Malini, Schafleitner, Srinivasan, & Krishnan, 2014), the differences in the protein coding sequences ofMaruca PBPs from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America were characterized in this study.…”

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of pheromone binding proteins and general odorant binding proteins from Carposina sasakii Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae)

“…The mRNA expression profiles of PBPs and GOBPs revealed that all of them are more significantly expressed (at least six‐fold) in male antennae than that in female antennae. Surprisingly, there was little trace expression in wings, legs, etc., and this expression pattern was similar with the results reported in Bombyx mori , Helicoverpa armigera , Maruca vitrata and Spodoptera exigua . GOBP1 and PBP2 were especially higher in males (200–400 times), and this male‐biased expression suggested that they may play vital roles in the perception of female sex pheromones.…”

“…Surprisingly, there was little trace expression in wings, legs, etc., and this expression pattern was similar with the results reported in Bombyx mori, Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca vitrata and Spodoptera exigua. [43][44][45][46][47] GOBP1 and PBP2 were especially higher in males (200-400 times), and this male-biased expression suggested that they may play vital roles in the perception of female sex pheromones. Furthermore, the expression pattern in female and other male tissues probably suggested that they were not specific to antennae or involved in the monitoring of the pheromones or responding to stimuli.…”

The role of chemosensory protein 10 in the detection of behaviorally active compounds in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens

“…Perception of odorants and sensitive chemosensory systems are essential for developmental, physiological, and functional behaviors of insects, such as mating, partner identification through chemical signals, host location, and interspecific communications (Mao et al ., ). Insects can detect and discriminate semiochemicals through numerous receptors and olfactory proteins, including chemosensory proteins (CSPs), odorant binding proteins (OBPs), odorant receptors (ORs), sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), and odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs) (Pelosi et al ., ; Zhang Q. H. et al ., ).…”