Comparative genomic analysis of ABC transporter genes in Tenebrio molitor and four other tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Authors: XIAO, KAI-RAN - Southwest Forestry University; WU, CHAO-YAN - Southwest Forestry University; YANG, LIN - Southwest Forestry University; WANG, JUN - Southwest Forestry University; SONG, QI-SHENG - University Of Missouri; Stanley, David; WEI, SHU-JUN - Southwest Forestry University; ZHU, JIA-YING - Southwest Forestry University

Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2022
Publication Date: 10/11/2022
Citation: Xiao, K., Wu, C., Yang, L., Wang, J., Song, Q., Stanley, D.W., Wei, S., Zhu, J. 2022. Comparative genomic analysis of ABC transporter genes in Tenebrio molitor and four other tenebrionid beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 111 (3). Article 21916. https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.21916.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.21916

Interpretive Summary: About 1 to 3% of all insect species are call pests because they are harmful to human and food animal health, to building and to virtually all plant crops. Some insect pests can completely destroy crops, sometimes to the extent of causing famines. Measures to control pest insects usually rely on very large applications of chemical insecticides. There are two serious problems with chemical insecticides. One is the chemical damage to environments and the other is insects can rapidly develop resistance to insecticides. Because of their very short life cycles, insects can become resistant to pesticides much faster than scientists can develop new insect management technologies. In efforts to reduce reliance on these chemicals, many scientists around the world are developing genetic insect control tools that can be targeted to individual pest species. The problem is there is not enough information on insect-specific genes to increase progress. In this paper, we contribute new knowledge on 409 genes encoding proteins that act in transporting molecules within a group beetles. Such transporters act in all insect organs and tissues. Here we report on expression of these genes and on their many specific functions within specific organs and tissues. This new information will be used by scientists around the world who are working to reduce chemical insecticide applications. This will support development of safe, reliable pest control technologies that will lead to abundant production of healthy foods that are urgently needed to meet the nutritional requirements of our rapidly growing population.

Technical Abstract: ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, one of the largest transmembrane protein families, transport a diverse number of substate across membranes. Details of their diverse physiological functions have not been established. Here, we identified 336 ABC transporter genes in the genomes of Asbolus verrucosus (104 genes), Hycleus cichorii (65), Hycleus phaleratus (80) and Tenebrio molitor (87). Combining these genes with genes reported in Tribolium castaneum (73), we analyzed the phylogeny of ABC transporter genes in all five Tenebrionids. They are assigned into eight subfamilies (ABCA-H). In comparison to other species, the ABCC subfamily in this group of beetles appears expanded. The expression profiles of the T. molitor genes at different life stages and in various tissues were also investigated using transcriptomic analysis. Most of them display developmental specific expression patterns, suggesting to us their possible roles in development. Most of them are highly expressed in detoxification-related tissues including gut, Malpighian tubules and salivary gland, from which we infer their roles in insecticide resistance. We detectedThe specific or abundant expressions of many ABC transporter genes in various tissues such as ovary, testis and antenna are detected . This new information helps generate new hypotheses on their biological significance within tissues.