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Research article
Transcriptomic analysis of the testicular fusion in Spodoptera litura
Qili Feng
South China Normal University
Corresponding Author
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Genomics.
Background
Lepidoptera is one group of the largest plant-feeding insects and Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most serious agricultural pests in Asia countries. An interesting and unique phenomenon for gonad development of Lepidoptera is the testicular fusion. Two separated testes fused into a single one during the larva-to-pupa metamorphosis, which is believed to contribute to sperm production and the prevalence in field. To study the molecular mechanism of the testicular fusion, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments of the testes from 4-day-old sixth instar larvae (L6D4) (before fusion), 6-day-old sixth instar larvae (L6D6, prepupae) (on fusing) and 4-day-old pupae (P4D) (after fusion) of S. litura were performed.
Results
RNA-seq data of the testes showed that totally 12,339 transcripts were expressed at L6D4, L6D6 and P4D stages. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated from L6D4 to L6D6, and then more genes were down-regulated from L6D6 to P4D. The DEGs mainly belongs to the genes related to the 20E signal transduction pathway, transcription factors, chitin metabolism related enzymes, the families of cytoskeleton proteins, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, ECM-related protein, its receptor integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes. The expression levels of these genes that were up-regulated significantly during the testicular fusion were verified by qRT-PCR. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were found to be the main enzymes related to the ECM degradation and to contribute to the testicular fusion. The testis was not able to fuse if MMPs inhibitor GM6001 was injected into the 5th abdomen region.
Conclusions
The transcriptome and DEGs analysis of the testes at L6D4, L6D6, P4D stages provided genes expression information related to the testicular fusion in S. litura . These results indicated that cytoskeleton proteins, ECM-integrin interaction genes and ECM-related proteins was involved in cell migration, adhesion and fusion during the testicular fusion. The ECM degradation enzymes MMPs probably play a critical role in the fusion of testis.
Keywords
Transcriptomic analysis, Testicular fusion, Spodoptera litura, extracellular matrix (ECM), metalloproteinase (MMP)
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 20 Dec, 2019
Published
On 19 Feb, 2020
No community comments so far
Review #1 received
Received 05 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 17 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 16 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 16 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 24 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 23 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 09 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Sep, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 Sep, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 12 Sep, 2019
Editor invited
On 12 Sep, 2019
Editor assigned
On 22 Aug, 2019
First submitted
On 21 Aug, 2019
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Genomics. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Transcriptomic analysis of the testicular fusion in Spodoptera litura
Qili Feng
South China Normal University
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 2
Posted 20 Dec, 2019
Published
On 19 Feb, 2020
No community comments so far
Review #1 received
Received 05 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 Dec, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 17 Dec, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 16 Dec, 2019
Editor invited
On 16 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 24 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 23 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 09 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Sep, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 Sep, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 12 Sep, 2019
Editor invited
On 12 Sep, 2019
Editor assigned
On 22 Aug, 2019
First submitted
On 21 Aug, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Genomics.
Background
Lepidoptera is one group of the largest plant-feeding insects and Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is one of the most serious agricultural pests in Asia countries. An interesting and unique phenomenon for gonad development of Lepidoptera is the testicular fusion. Two separated testes fused into a single one during the larva-to-pupa metamorphosis, which is believed to contribute to sperm production and the prevalence in field. To study the molecular mechanism of the testicular fusion, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments of the testes from 4-day-old sixth instar larvae (L6D4) (before fusion), 6-day-old sixth instar larvae (L6D6, prepupae) (on fusing) and 4-day-old pupae (P4D) (after fusion) of S. litura were performed.
Results
RNA-seq data of the testes showed that totally 12,339 transcripts were expressed at L6D4, L6D6 and P4D stages. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up-regulated from L6D4 to L6D6, and then more genes were down-regulated from L6D6 to P4D. The DEGs mainly belongs to the genes related to the 20E signal transduction pathway, transcription factors, chitin metabolism related enzymes, the families of cytoskeleton proteins, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, ECM-related protein, its receptor integrins and ECM-remodeling enzymes. The expression levels of these genes that were up-regulated significantly during the testicular fusion were verified by qRT-PCR. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were found to be the main enzymes related to the ECM degradation and to contribute to the testicular fusion. The testis was not able to fuse if MMPs inhibitor GM6001 was injected into the 5th abdomen region.
Conclusions
The transcriptome and DEGs analysis of the testes at L6D4, L6D6, P4D stages provided genes expression information related to the testicular fusion in S. litura . These results indicated that cytoskeleton proteins, ECM-integrin interaction genes and ECM-related proteins was involved in cell migration, adhesion and fusion during the testicular fusion. The ECM degradation enzymes MMPs probably play a critical role in the fusion of testis.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12