Functional Divergence of Plant-Derived Thaumatin-Like Protein Genes in Two Closely Related Whitefly Species.

ABSTRACT: The recent discovery that various insects have acquired functional genes through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has prompted numerous studies into this puzzling and fascinating phenomenon. So far, horizontally transferred genes are found to be functionally conserved and largely retained their ancestral functions. It evidently has not yet been considered that horizontally transferred genes may evolve and can contribute to divergence between species. Here, it is first showed that the genomes of the two widespread and agriculturally important whiteflies Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci both contain a plant-derived thaumatin-like protein (TLP) gene, but with highly distinct functions in these closely related pests. In T. vaporariorum, TLP has maintained a function similar to that o

SUBMITTER: Hu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12021119 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature