biostudies-literatureUnknown13Ze LJNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaN-β-alanyldopamine (NBAD) is a precursor of N-acylquinone sclerotin utilized for cross-linking between cuticular proteins for cuticle during insect molting. The importance of NBAD in cuticle tanning has not been well compared among different developing stages of insects. <i>Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata</i>, a typical polyphagous pest feeding on a large number of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae plants in Asian countries, displays diverse cuticle pigmentation patterns among developing stages and body regions. Here, we found that the expression of three genes (<i>Hvadc</i>, <i>Hvebony</i>, and <i>Hvtan</i>) involved in NBAD biosynthesis peaked in the 4-day-old pupae or 0-day-old adults of <i>H. vigintioctopunctata</i>. At the first, second, third, and fourth larval instar and pupal stage, Frontiers in physiology829675https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8907826biostudies-literatureSilencing of <i>Adc</i> and <i>Ebony</i> Causes Abnormal Darkening of Cuticle in <i>Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata</i>.PMC8907826Ze LJLi GQJin LfalseSilencing of <i>Adc</i> and <i>Ebony</i> Causes Abnormal Darkening of Cuticle in <i>Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata</i>.N-β-alanyldopamine (NBAD) is a precursor of N-acylquinone sclerotin utilized for cross-linking between cuticular proteins for cuticle during insect molting. The importance of NBAD in cuticle tanning has not been well compared among different developing stages of insects. <i>Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata</i>, a typical polyphagous pest feeding on a large number of Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae plants in Asian countries, displays diverse cuticle pigmentation patterns among developing stages and body regions. Here, we found that the expression of three genes (<i>Hvadc</i>, <i>Hvebony</i>, and <i>Hvtan</i>) involved in NBAD biosynthesis peaked in the 4-day-old pupae or 0-day-old adults of <i>H. vigintioctopunctata</i>. At the first, second, third, and fourth larval instar and pupal stage, 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-04-08T17:50:40.038Z2024-11-13T18:14:23.998ZS-EPMC89078263528377610.3389/fphys.2022.829675