Diversity and function of multicopper oxidase genes in the stinkbug Plautia stali.

ABSTRACT: Multicopper oxidase (MCO) genes comprise multigene families in bacteria, fungi, plants and animals. Two families of MCO genes, MCO1 (laccase1) and MCO2 (laccase2), are conserved among diverse insects and relatively well-characterized, whereas additional MCO genes, whose biological functions have been poorly understood, are also found in some insects. Previous studies reported that MCO1 participates in gut immunity and MCO2 plays important roles in cuticle sclerotization and pigmentation of insects. In mosquitoes, MCO2 was reported to be involved in eggshell sclerotization and pigmentation, on the ground that knockdown of MCO2 caused deformity and fragility of the eggshell. Here we identified a total of 7 MCO genes, including PsMCO1 and PsMCO2, and investigated their expression and function

SUBMITTER: Nishide Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7044228 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature