植物释放的二氧化碳(CO2)可以作为调节昆虫行为的线索。美国白蛾是一种分布广泛的林业害虫,可以使用CO2作为觅食和产卵的线索。然而,其感知CO2能力的分子机制尚未阐明。我们的初步研究表明,二氧化碳对H.cunea成虫具有显著的吸引力。随后,使用转录组数据鉴定了44个H.cunea味觉受体(GR),并鉴定了3种在唇瓣中特异性表达的候选CO2受体。体内电生理试验表明,阴唇是H.cunea中CO2感知的主要器官,这与其他鳞翅目物种的发现相似。通过使用非洲爪的卵母细胞表达系统,我们发现HcunGR1和HcunGR3共表达对CO2产生强烈的反应,但HcunGR2对CO2感知有抑制作用。最后,免疫组织化学染色显示CO2敏感的唇窝器官肾小球(LPOG)中的性二态。一起来看,我们的结果阐明了H.cunea感知CO2的机制,为进一步研究CO2在H.cunea快速传播中的作用奠定了基础。
Carbon dioxide (CO2) released by plants can serve as a cue for regulating insect behaviors. Hyphantria cunea is a widely distributed forestry pest that may use CO2 as a cue for foraging and oviposition. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its ability to sense CO2 has not been elucidated. Our initial study showed that CO2 is significantly attractive to H. cunea adults. Subsequently, 44 H. cunea gustatory receptors (GRs) were identified using transcriptome data, and 3 candidate CO2 receptors that are specifically expressed in the labial palps were identified. In vivo electrophysiological assays revealed that the labial palp is the primary organ for CO2 perception in H. cunea, which is similar to findings in other lepidopteran species. By using the Xenopus oocyte expression system, we showed that the HcunGR1 and HcunGR3 co-expressions produced a robust response to CO2, but HcunGR2 had an inhibitory effect on CO2 perception. Finally, immunohistochemical staining revealed sexual dimorphism in the CO2-sensitive labial pit organ glomerulus (LPOG). Taken together, our results clarified the mechanism by which H. cunea sense CO2, laying the foundation for further investigations into the role of CO2 in the rapid spread of H. cunea.