Proteomic Analysis of the Peritrophic Matrix from the Midgut of Third Instar Larvae,Musca domestica

Objective To better comprehend the molecular structure and physiological function of the housefly larval peritrophic matrix （PM）, a mass spectrometry approach was used to investigate the PM protein composition. Methods The PM was dissected from the midgut of the third instar larvae, and protein extracted from the PM was evaluated using SDS-PAGE. A 1D-PAGE lane containing all protein bands was cut from top to bottom, the proteins in-gel trypsinised and analysed via shotgun liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS）. Results In total, 374 proteins, with molecular weights varying from 8.225, kD to 996.065 kD and isoelectric points ranging from 3.83 to 11.24 were successfully identified, most identified proteins were mainly related to immunity, digestion, nutrient metabolism and PM structure. Furthermore, many of these proteins were functionally associated with pattern binding, polysaccharide binding, structural constituent of peritrophic membrane and chitin binding, according to Gene Ontology annotation. Conclusion The PM protein composition, which provides a basis for further functional investigations of the identified proteins, will be useful for understanding the housefly larval gut immune system and may help to identify potential targets and exploit new bioinsecticides.

Identification of the Mamestra configurata （Lepidoptera Noctuidae） peritrophic matrix proteins and enzymes involved in peritrophic matrix chitin metabolism

The peritrophic matrix （PM） is essential for insect digestive system physiol- ogy as it protects the midgut epithelium from damage by food particles, pathogens, and toxins. The PM is also an attractive target for development of new pest control strategies due to its per os accessibility. To understand how the PM performs these functions, the molecular architecture of the PM was examined using genomic and proteomic approaches in Mamestra configurata （Lepidoptera： Noctuidae）, a major pest of cruciferous oilseed crops in North America. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of the PM identified 82 proteins classified as： （i） peritrophins, including a new class with a CBDIII domain; （ii） enzymes involved in chitin modification （chitin deacetylases）, di- gestion （serine proteases, aminopeptidases, carboxypeptidases, lipases and ^-amylase） or other reactions （/^-l,3-glucanase, alkaline phosphatase, dsRNase, astacin, pantetheinase）; （iii） a heterogenous group consisting of polycalin, REPATs, serpin, C-Type lectin and Lsti99/Lsti201 and 3 novel proteins without known orthologs. The genes encoding PM proteins were expressed predominantly in the midgut, cDNAs encoding chitin synthase-2 （McCHS-2）, chitinase （McCHI）, and fl-N-acetylglucosaminidase （McNAG） enzymes, in- volved in PM chitin metabolism, were also identified. McCHS-2 expression was specific to the midgut indicating that it is responsible for chitin synthesis in the PM, the only chitinous material in the midgut. In contrast, the genes encoding the chitinolytic enzymes were expressed in multiple tissues. McCHS-2, McCHI, and McNAG were expressed in the midgut of feeding larvae, and NAG activity was present in the PM. This information was used to generate an updated model of the lepidopteran PM architecture.

In vitro and in vivo application of RNA interference for targeting genes involved in peritrophic matrix synthesis in a lepidopteran system

The midgut of most insects is lined with a semipermeable acellular tube, the peritrophic matrix （PM）, composed of chitin and proteins. Although various genes encoding PM proteins have been characterized, our understanding of their roles in PM structure and function is very limited. One promising approach for obtaining functional information is RNA interference, which has been used to reduce the levels of specific mRNAs using double-stranded RNAs administered to larvae by either injection or feeding. Although this method is well documented in dipterans and coleopterans, reports of its success in lepidopterans are varied. In the current study, the silencing midgut genes encoding PM proteins （insect intestinal mucin 1, insect intestinal mucin 4, PM protein 1） and the chitin biosynthetic or modifying enzymes （chitin synthase-B and chitin deacetylase 1） in a noctuid lepidopteran, Mamestra configurata, was examined in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies in primary midgut epithelial cell preparations revealed an acute and rapid silencing （by 24 h） for the gene encoding chitin deacetylase 1 and a slower rate of silencing （by 72 h） for the gene encoding PM protein 1. Genes encoding insect intestinal mucins were slightly silenced by 72 h, whereas no silencing was detected for the gene encoding chitin synthase-B. In vivo experiments focused on chitin deacetylase 1, as the gene was silenced to the greatest extent in vitro. Continuous feeding of neonates and fourth instar larvae with double-stranded RNA resulted in silencing of chitin deacetylase 1 by 24 and 36 h, respectively. Feeding a single dose to neonates also resulted in silencing by 24 h. The current study demonstrates that genes encoding PM proteins can be silenced and outlines conditions for RNA interference by per os feeding in lepidopterans.

A midgut-specific lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase of Locusta migratoria is indispensable for the deconstruction of the peritrophic matrix

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases(LPMOs)are important enzymes that boost the hydrolysis of recalcitrant polysaccharides,such as chitin.They are found extensively in different insect species and are classified as auxiliary activities family 15(AA15)LPMOs(LPMO15).Some of them were identified from the insect midgut and proven to act on chitin.However,knowledge about their physiological roles during insect growth and development remains limited.Here,we found that midgut-specific LPMO15s are widely distributed in different insect orders,such as the orthopteran Locusta migratoria and the lepidopteran Bombyx mori.Using L.migratoria as a model insect,the function of midgut-specific LmLPMO15-3 during development was investigated.Double-stranded RNA-mediated downregulation of LmLPMO15-3 expression at the 4th or 5th instar nymph stage severely decreased the survival rate and resulted in lethal phenotypes.Hematoxylin and eosin staining results indicated that the deficient individuals exhibited incompletely digested peritrophic matrix(PM),which suggested that LmLPMO15-3 is essential for the deconstruction of the PM during molting.This study provides direct evidence of the physiological importance of a midgut-specific LPMO15 during insect development.As L.migratoria is one of the most destructive agricultural pests,LmLPMO15-3 is a potential target for pest management.

Histopathological Effects of the Protein Toxin from Xenorhabdus nematophila on the Midgut of Helicoverpa armigera

Xenorhabdus nematophila HB310, which is highly virulent for many insects, is symbiotic with Steinernema carpocapsae HB310. Toxin II was obtained using methods such as salting out and native-PAGE from the cells of X. nematophila HB310. The histopathology of toxin II on H. armigera larvae was studied by dissecting an olefin slice of the midgut. The symptoms showed that the histopathology of the H. armigera midgut was similar to that of other novel midgut-active toxins such as the δ-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis, as well as Tca from Photorhabdus luminescens W14. The midgut tissues of H. armigera fourth-instar larvae began to transform after the oral intake of the toxin Ⅱ over 6 h. First, the anterior region of the peritrophic membrane （PM） began to degrade followed by the elongation of the columnar cells. The epithelium decomposed gradually, and the midgut tissues were either loose or disordered. The PM disappeared after 12 h but reappeared after 72 h following transient or sublethal exposure to the toxin Ⅱ. Toxin Ⅱ also directly destroyed in vitro PMs of H. armigera.

Regulatory mechanisms of microbial homeostasis in insect gut

Insects live in incredibly complex environments.The intestinal epithelium of insects is in constant contact with microorganisms,some of which are beneficial and some harmful to the host.Insect gut health and function are maintained through multidimensional mechanisms that can proficiently remove foreign pathogenic microorganisms while effectively maintaining local symbiotic microbial homeostasis.The basic immune mechanisms of the insect gut,such as the dual oxidase-reactive oxygen species(Duox-ROS)system and the immune deficiency(Imd)-signaling pathway,are involved in the maintenance of microbial homeostasis.This paper reviews the role of physical defenses,the Duox-ROS and Imd signaling pathways,the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway,and intestinal symbiotic flora in the homeostatic maintenance of the insect gut microbiome.

Cloning, expression and chitin-binding activity of two peritrophin-like protein genes in the common cutworm, Spodoptera fitura

Insect midgut secretes a semi-permeable peritrophic membrane （PM）, which plays important roles in protecting the midgut and helping with food digestion. The lep- idopteran larvae produce type 1 PM, which is degraded when insects develop into the metamorphic stages. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. In the present study, two peritrophin-like proteins （peritrophin-57 and 37） were identified from the midgut expression sequence tag library and transcriptome of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura. The temporal and spatial expression patterns and responses to the induction of 20- hydroxyecdysone （20E） and starvation were examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction according to their common sequence region. The chitin-binding activity was also studied using a competitor, calcofluor. The open reading frames are 1 554 and 1 020 bp, respectively. They shared four highly conserved peritrophin-A domains and were ex- pressed only in the midgut rather than in the other tissues, including fat body, epidermis, Malpighian tube and hemolymph. Their transcriptional expression could only be detected at the larval stages rather than in eggs, prepupae, pupae and adults. The purified protein of peritrophin-37 bound to chitin in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the two proteins are peritrophins, the structural components of PM. In addition, the messenger RNA levels of the two peritrophins were significantly down-regulated by 20E injection, whereas feeding/starvation had no effect on the expression. These findings suggest that the increase of20E titer may be an important factor which controls the degradation of PM during metamorphosis.