Male selenoprotein F-like (SPF-L) influences female reproduction and population growth in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Authors: GE, LIN QUAN - Yangzhou University; ZHOU, YONG KAI - Yangzhou University; GU, HAO TIAN - Yangzhou University; WU, QING - Yangzhou University; ZHOU, ZE - Yangzhou University; ZHENG, SUI - Yangzhou University; Stanley, David; SONG, QISHENG - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Frontiers in Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/3/2019
Publication Date: 9/25/2019
Citation: Ge, L., Zhou, Y., Gu, H., Wu, Q., Zhou, Z., Zheng, S., Stanley, D.W., Song, Q. 2019. Male selenoprotein F-like (SPF-L) influences female reproduction and population growth in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Frontiers in Physiology. 10:1196. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01196.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01196

Interpretive Summary: Climate change is exerting marked effects on the activities of insect pests. Most attention has focused on their geographical ranges. A central problem, however, is the potential risks of exposing pest populations to increasing, non-lethal temperatures. The risks include increased numbers of generations per year, longer daily and annual activity periods and increased geographical ranges. These changes in pest populations may have severe consequences, including increased crop losses and decreased food security at the global level. In this paper we investigated the influence mating on reproductive fitness of the brown planthopper (BPH), a resurgent insect rice pest in Asia. We identified a male protein that is passed to females via mating. This protein leads to increased egg production and egg laying. The significance of this work is that it highlights a molecular mechanism of increased reproduction in pest insect populations. This information will be important to scientists developing novel, molecular tools for insect pest management. Ultimately, it will contribute to nutritional security for consumers.

Technical Abstract: Selenoproteins serve in anti-oxidant and cellular redox functions in almost all organisms. A recent study characterized a selenoprotein F-like (SPF-L) in the brown plant hopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, male accessory glands (MAGs), raising the question of whether the SPF-L is associated with female fecundity. In this study, SPF-L mRNA was found enriched in the internal reproductive organ (IRO) and dietary dsSPF-L-treatments led to reduced MAG protein and Arginine content. Knockdown of NlSPF-L in unmated males did not influence juvenile hormone (JH) III and ecdysteriod titers, however, dsSPF-L-treated mated males had increased JH III, and reduced ecdysteriod titers compared to controls. After mating with dsSPF-L-treated males, female partners had reduced fat body and ovary soluble protein, JH III tier and vitellogenin (Vg) mRNA levels but no alterations in ecdysteriod titer, body weight or longevity. The experimental females had prolonged pre-oviposition periods and they laid fewer eggs, which suffered reduced hatching rates and population growth index. Such matings also led to impaired IRO development in males and females, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. We infer that SPF-L acts in reproductive success of males and their partners.