The terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway directly affects the biosynthesis of alarm pheromone in the aphid

The terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway is responsible for the synthesis of different backbones for terpenoids; (E)‐β‐farnesene (EβF), a sesquiterpene, is the major component of aphid alarm pheromone. Our previous studies eliminated the possibility of host plants and endosymbionts as the sources...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insect molecular biology 2018-12, Vol.27 (6), p.824-834
Main Authors: Sun, Z.‐J., Li, Z.‐X.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(E)‐β‐farnesene
Alarm pheromone
Alarm systems
Animals
Aphidoidea
Aphids - genetics
Aphids - metabolism
Aphis gossypii
Association analysis
Backbone
Biosynthesis
Body Size
Cost analysis
Cotton
decaprenyl diphosphate synthase
Endosymbionts
Farnesene
farnesyl diphosphate synthase
Fecundity
Fertility
Gene Expression Regulation
Genes
geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase
Host plants
Mortality
Pheromones
Pheromones - biosynthesis
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
RNA Interference
RNA-mediated interference
RNAi
Sesquiterpenes - metabolism
Terpenes
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Summary:The terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway is responsible for the synthesis of different backbones for terpenoids; (E)‐β‐farnesene (EβF), a sesquiterpene, is the major component of aphid alarm pheromone. Our previous studies eliminated the possibility of host plants and endosymbionts as the sources of EβF, and we thus speculate that the terpenoid pathway might affect the biosynthesis of EβF in aphids. First, the transcriptional responses of four genes encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) and decaprenyl diphosphate synthase in the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii to simulated stimulation were analysed using quantitative real‐time PCR, showing an immediate decrease in the transcript abundances of the four genes. Next, RNA‐interference‐mediated gene knockdown was performed, indicating that fpps knockdown caused a significant cost in terms of body size and fecundity. Finally, an association analysis of gene knockdown with the amount of EβF was conducted, revealing that the concentration of EβF per milligram of aphid was drastically decreased in response to fpps knockdown, whereas ggpps knockdown significantly raised the concentration of EβF. Our data support a peculiar mode of biosynthesis and storage of the aphid alarm pheromone that relies directly on the terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway in the aphid.
ISSN:0962-1075
1365-2583
DOI:10.1111/imb.12521