RNA interference of pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide receptor suppresses mating behavior by inhibiting sex pheromone production in Plutella xylostella (L.).

Sex pheromone production is regulated by pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) in many lepidopteran species. We cloned a PBAN receptor (Plx-PBANr) gene from the female pheromone gland of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Plx-PBANr encodes 338 amino acids and has conserved structural motifs implicating in promoting G protein coupling and tyrosine-based sorting signaling along with seven transmembrane domains, indicating a typical G protein-coupled receptor. The expression of Plx-PBANr was found only in the pheromone gland of female adults among examined tissues and developmental stages. Heterologous expression in human uterus cervical cancer cells revealed that Plx-PBANr induced significant calcium elevation when challenged with Plx-PBAN. Female P. xylostella injected with double-stranded RNA specific to Plx-PBANr showed suppression of the receptor gene expression and exhibited significant reduction in pheromone biosynthesis, which resulted in loss of male attractiveness. Taken together, the identified PBAN receptor is functional in PBAN signaling via calcium secondary messenger, which leads to activation of pheromone biosynthesis and male attraction.

Lee DW ，Shrestha S ，Kim AY ，Park SJ ，Yang CY ，Kim Y ，Koh YH ... -  《-》

Molecular characterization of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.).

Lee DW ，Boo KS 《PEPTIDES》

Expression of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide and its receptor (PBANR) mRNA in adult female Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The full-length cDNA of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBANR) was cloned from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae); it included an open reading frame of 1,053 bp encoding 350 amino acids. The PBANR of S. exigua (SePBANR) was structurally characteristic of G protein-coupled receptor and its amino acid sequence shared 98% identity with the PBANR of Spodoptera littoralis. Both pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and PBANR mRNA abundance were measured in the brain-subesophageal ganglion complex, pheromone gland, ventral nerve cord, and ovary of S. exigua female moths by real-time RT-PCR. The abundance of PBAN mRNA in brain-subesophageal ganglion complex and PBANR mRNA in pheromone gland was significantly greater compared to other tissues, suggesting that the ligand-receptor relationship of PBAN and PBANR exists quantitatively in S. exigua. Both PBAN and PBANR expression displayed a remarkable diurnal rhythm, for they were low and stable during the photophase (07:00-21:00) and increased markedly during the scotophase (with a maximum abundance at 23:30) in 3-day-old female moths. The abundance of PBAN and PBANR increased steadily from the 1st day to the 5th day of the adult female life. The pattern of both diurnal and daily expression of PBAN and PBANR mRNA were coincident with enhanced capacity of sex pheromone release and mating of S. exigua moths during the same period. We infer from these results that pheromone biosynthesis and release in S. exigua is regulated by PBAN via up-regulating synthesis.

Cheng Y ，Luo L ，Jiang X ，Zhang L ，Niu C ... -  《-》

Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN): regulatory role and mode of action.

Rafaeli A 《-》

Spatial distribution and differential expression of the PBAN receptor in tissues of adult Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Rafaeli A ，Bober R ，Becker L ，Choi MY ，Fuerst EJ ，Jurenka R ... -  《INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY》