Ovi-protective mothers: exploring the proteomic profile of weevil (Gonipterus) egg capsules.

ABSTRACT: Insects of different orders produce elaborate structures to protect their eggs from the many threats they may face from the environment and natural enemies. In the weevil genus Gonipterus, their dark, hardened egg capsule is possibly generated by a mixture of the insects' excrement and glandular substances. To test this hypothesis, this study focused on the elucidation of protein components present in the egg capsule cover and interrogated them through comparative analysis and gene expression to help infer potential functions. First, female Gonipterus sp. n. 2 reproductive and alimentary tissues were isolated to establish a reference transcriptome-derived protein database. Then, proteins from weevil frass (excrement) and egg capsule cover were identified through mass spectrom

SUBMITTER: Souza NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9475328 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature