Abstract：
Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) constitute a class of olfactory proteins localized in insect sensory organs that serve a crucial function in decoding external chemical stimuli. This study aims to elucidate the involvement of CrufCSP3 in olfactory perception within the context of Cotesia ruficrus, an indigenous endoparasitoid targeting the invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda. Through fluorescence-competitive binding assays and site-directed mutagenesis, we pinpointed four amino acids as pivotal residues involved in the interaction between CrufCSP3 and five host-related compounds. Subsequent RNA interference experiments targeting CrufCSP3 unveiled a reduced sensitivity to specific host-related compounds and a decline in the parasitism rate of the FAW larvae. These findings unequivocally indicate the essential role of CrufCSP3 in the chemoreception process of C. ruficrus. Consequently, our study not only sheds light on the functional importance of CSPs in parasitic wasp behavior but also contributes to the development of eco-friendly and efficacious wasp behavior modifiers for effectively mitigating pest population surges.
摘要：
化学感觉蛋白（CSP）构成一类定位在昆虫感觉器官中的嗅觉蛋白，在解码外部化学刺激中起着至关重要的作用。本研究旨在阐明CrufCSP3在Cotesiaruficrus的背景下参与嗅觉感知，一种针对侵入性害虫的内生寄生虫。通过荧光竞争性结合试验和定点诱变,我们确定了4个氨基酸是参与CrufCSP3与5种宿主相关化合物相互作用的关键残基.随后的针对CrufCSP3的RNA干扰实验揭示了对特定宿主相关化合物的敏感性降低以及FAW幼虫的寄生率下降。这些发现明确地表明CrufCSP3在C.ruficrus的化学接受过程中的重要作用。因此,我们的研究不仅揭示了CSP在寄生黄蜂行为中的功能重要性，而且还有助于开发生态友好且有效的黄蜂行为修饰剂，以有效减轻害虫种群激增。
