Insect Mouthpart Transcriptome Unveils Extension of Cuticular Protein Repertoire and Complex Organization.

ABSTRACT: Insects have developed intriguing cuticles with very specific structures and functions, including microstructures governing their interactions with transmitted microbes, such as in aphid mouthparts harboring virus receptors within such microstructures. Here, we provide the first transcriptome analysis of an insect mouthpart cuticle ("retort organs" [ROs], the stylets' precursors). This analysis defined stylets as a complex composite material. The retort transcriptome also allowed us to propose an algorithmic definition of a new cuticular protein (CP) family with low complexity and biased amino acid composition. Finally, we identified a differentially expressed gene encoding a pyrokinin (PK) neuropeptide precursor and characterizing the mandibular glands. Injection of three predicted synthe

SUBMITTER: Guschinskaya N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7033635 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature