biostudies-literatureGuo QNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProgram of High-level Innovation Talents in Guizhou ProvinceProgram for Natural Science Research in Guizhou Education DepartmentGuiyang Science and Technology Personnel Training Project175https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11857020biostudies-literatureUnknown16(2)Vitellogenin (Vg) and the vitellogenin receptor (VgR) play essential roles in insect reproductive development. However, the functions of <i>Vg</i> and <i>VgR</i> genes in <i>Lasioderma serricorne</i>, an important insect pest of stored products, are unknown. We identified and characterized these two genes, designated <i>LsVg</i> and <i>LsVgR</i>, in <i>L. serricorne</i>. The open reading frames of <i>LsVg</i> and <i>LsVgR</i> were 5232 and 5529 bp, encoding 1743 and 1842 amino acid residues, respectively. Both <i>LsVg</i> and <i>LsVgR</i> were predominantly expressed in female adults and exhibited the highest expression in ovaries. The RNAi-mediated silencing of <i>LsVg</i> or <i>LsVgR</i> significantly decreased the average length of ovarian tubes and oocytes and severely affected ovarianInsectsRoles of Vitellogenin and Its Receptor Genes in Female Reproduction of the Cigarette Beetle, <i>Lasioderma serricorne</i>.PMC11857020GCC[2023]008[2023]48-19QJJ-[2023]-02432160637Yang WXu KZu MLiu DYan YGuo QfalseRoles of Vitellogenin and Its Receptor Genes in Female Reproduction of the Cigarette Beetle, <i>Lasioderma serricorne</i>.Vitellogenin (Vg) and the vitellogenin receptor (VgR) play essential roles in insect reproductive development. However, the functions of <i>Vg</i> and <i>VgR</i> genes in <i>Lasioderma serricorne</i>, an important insect pest of stored products, are unknown. We identified and characterized these two genes, designated <i>LsVg</i> and <i>LsVgR</i>, in <i>L. serricorne</i>. The open reading frames of <i>LsVg</i> and <i>LsVgR</i> were 5232 and 5529 bp, encoding 1743 and 1842 amino acid residues, respectively. Both <i>LsVg</i> and <i>LsVgR</i> were predominantly expressed in female adults and exhibited the highest expression in ovaries. The RNAi-mediated silencing of <i>LsVg</i> or <i>LsVgR</i> significantly decreased the average length of ovarian tubes and oocytes and severely affected ovarian2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Feb2026-04-08T19:50:38.506Z2025-04-04T00:12:11.731ZS-EPMC118570204000380510.3390/insects16020175