A novel physiological function of pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide in production of aggregation pheromone

Authors: KHAN, FALGUNI - Andong National University; KIM, K - Andong National University; SUNG, JI-HYE - Andong National University; LIM, H - Korean Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology (KAIST); KIM, SANG-KYU - Korean Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology (KAIST); Choi, Man-Yeon; KIM, YONGGYUN - Andong National University

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2023
Publication Date: 4/5/2023
Citation: Khan, F., Kim, K., Sung, J., Lim, H., Kim, S., Choi, M.Y., Kim, Y. 2023. A novel physiological function of pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide in production of aggregation pheromone. Scientific Reports. 13. Article 5551. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32833-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32833-9

Interpretive Summary: Western flower thrips (WFT) is one of the most economically important pests due to its serious damage to agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. In addition to direct damage from feeding and egg laying on leaves, flowers and fruits, they also transmit tomato spotted wilt virus that is economically most important. In this study, we investigated the biosynthetic pathway of the aggregation pheromone of WFT using various molecular biology and chemical ecology techniques. We found a neuropeptide hormone, pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN), stimulating the production of the aggregation pheromone in both sexes of WFT. The research results will aid in exploring the molecular processes at the molecular level, thus helping to identify biological tools to be utilized to manage thrips.

Technical Abstract: The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is an insect pest. Its aggregation pheromone (AP) plays a crucial role in recruiting both sexes. A pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) is encoded in F. occidentalis genome, but its physiological function was unknown. This study hypothesized the physiological role of PBAN in mediating AP production. Surprisingly, our extraction of headspace volatiles contained two PBAN components in females as well as in males with similar composition. PBAN injection elevated the AP production in both sexes while RNA interference (RNAi) of the gene expression suppressed the AP production. Biosynthetic enzymes catalyzing AP production were predicted and confirmed in their expressions. Individual RNAi treatments of these genes significantly suppressed the AP production. RNAi of PBAN gene expression down-regulated the expressions of these biosynthesis-associated genes in both sexes. These results suggest a novel function of PBAN in mediating AP production by stimulating its biosynthetic machinery in F. occidentalis.