Abstract:
Objective Effects of UDP N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylases (UAP) on the growth and development of Frankliniella occidentalis were studied.
Method Based on a transcriptome dataset, an open reading frame (ORF) of UAP gene of F. occidentalis (FoccUAP) was cloned. Expressions of the FoccUAP in different body tissues and growth stages of the insect were detected by RT-qPCR. Effects of UAP gene on the growth and development were examined by microinjecting dsRAN in the 2nd instars (eclosion about 24 h) of F. occidentalis.
Result The full-length of FoccUAP ORF was 1 545 bp and encoded 514 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 56.738 kDa. FoccUAP contained the conserved domain of glyco-tranf-GTA-type super family, which had a close evolutionary relationship with the orthologues in Isoptera, Blattaria, Orthoptera, and Hemiptera. The RT-qPCR results showed that FoccUAP was highly expressed in the head and abdomen, detected in the antenna, thorax and leg, and found in all developmental stages of the insect. The relative transcript levels of FoccUAP in the 2nd instar, pupa, adult-24 h, adult-48 h, adult-168 h, and adult-240 h were 1.30-, 2.50-, 1.56-, 2.0-, 2.43-, and 2.56-fold, respectively, of those in the 1st instar. Further examination on the RNAi showed that the injection of dsUAP into the 2nd instar F. occidentalis significantly decreased the eclosion rate (36.3%) and the survival rate (5.0% in 120 h after microinjection) as compared to dsGFP controls. Moreover, the dsUAP treatment also induced abnormal phenotypes on wings and abdomen–thorax of the thrips.
Conclusion UAP played a significant role in the growth and development of F. occidentalis.