A gustatory receptor tuned to the steroid plant hormone brassinolide in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Feeding and oviposition deterrents help phytophagous insects to identify host plants. The taste organs of phytophagous insects contain bitter gustatory receptors (GRs). To explore their function, the GRs in were analyzed. Through RNA sequencing and qPCR, we detected abundant transcripts in the larva...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:eLife 2020-12, Vol.9
Main Authors: Yang, Ke, Gong, Xin-Lin, Li, Guo-Cheng, Huang, Ling-Qiao, Ning, Chao, Wang, Chen-Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
brassinolide
Brassinosteroids - metabolism
Ecology
feeding
Female
functional analysis
gustatory receptor
Larva - physiology
Moths - physiology
Oviposition - physiology
Phytosterols - analysis
Phytosterols - metabolism
Plant Growth Regulators - analysis
Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism
Plant Leaves
Plutella xylostella
RNAi
Steroids, Heterocyclic - metabolism
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Summary:Feeding and oviposition deterrents help phytophagous insects to identify host plants. The taste organs of phytophagous insects contain bitter gustatory receptors (GRs). To explore their function, the GRs in were analyzed. Through RNA sequencing and qPCR, we detected abundant transcripts in the larval head and adult antennae. Functional analyses using the oocyte expression system and 24 diverse phytochemicals showed that PxylGr34 is tuned to the canonical plant hormones brassinolide (BL) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL). Electrophysiological analyses revealed that the medial sensilla styloconica of 4 instar larvae are responsive to BL and EBL. Dual-choice bioassays demonstrated that BL inhibits larval feeding and female oviposition. Knock-down of PxylGr34 by RNAi attenuates the taste responses to BL, and abolishes BL-induced feeding inhibition. These results increase our understanding of how herbivorous insects detect compounds that deter feeding and oviposition, and may be useful for designing plant hormone-based pest management strategies.
ISSN:2050-084X
2050-084X
DOI:10.7554/eLife.64114