Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males

This study focuses on the regulatory effects of genes encoding the juvenile hormone (JH) receptor methoprene-tolerant (<i>Met</i>) and transcription factor krüppel homolog 1 (<i>Kr-h1</i>) on the reproductive capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> male adult...

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Main Authors: Ying Cheng, Yuhang Zhou, Cao Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/49
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author Ying Cheng
Yuhang Zhou
Cao Li
author_facet Ying Cheng
Yuhang Zhou
Cao Li
author_sort Ying Cheng
collection DOAJ
description This study focuses on the regulatory effects of genes encoding the juvenile hormone (JH) receptor methoprene-tolerant (<i>Met</i>) and transcription factor krüppel homolog 1 (<i>Kr-h1</i>) on the reproductive capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> male adults. <i>Met</i> and <i>Kr-h1</i> expression levels were analyzed in males fed on artificial diets with and without JH by quantitative real-time PCR, and the effects of <i>Met</i> and <i>Kr-h1</i> on male reproduction were analyzed by RNA interference technology. <i>Met</i> transcription levels in 5- and 10-day-old males fed with a JH-supplemented diet were lower than those without JH. <i>Kr-h1</i> expression in 5-day-old adult males was lower in diets lacking JH but was higher in 10-day-old males fed on a diet lacking JH. There were no significant differences in the testes sizes of male ladybugs injected with <i>Met</i>-dsRNA when compared to <i>GFP</i>-dsRNA; however, the testis volume of ladybugs injected with <i>Kr-h1</i>-dsRNA was smaller than those injected with <i>GFP</i>-dsRNA. After males were injected with <i>Met</i>-dsRNA and <i>Kr-h1</i>-dsRNA, the mean egg production by females decreased by 12.75% and 23.10%, respectively, at 20 d postinjection. Our results show that <i>Met</i> and <i>Kr-h1</i> have important roles in regulating reproduction by directly affecting testes development in males and egg production in females.
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spelling doaj-art-9dc3b820c81248699e9e1b03346b61222025-01-24T13:35:43ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-01-011614910.3390/insects16010049Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> MalesYing Cheng0Yuhang Zhou1Cao Li2Guizhou Institute of Plant Protection, Guiyang 550006, ChinaGuizhou Institute of Plant Protection, Guiyang 550006, ChinaGuizhou Provincial Pollution-Free Engineering Center of Plant Protection, Guiyang 550006, ChinaThis study focuses on the regulatory effects of genes encoding the juvenile hormone (JH) receptor methoprene-tolerant (<i>Met</i>) and transcription factor krüppel homolog 1 (<i>Kr-h1</i>) on the reproductive capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> male adults. <i>Met</i> and <i>Kr-h1</i> expression levels were analyzed in males fed on artificial diets with and without JH by quantitative real-time PCR, and the effects of <i>Met</i> and <i>Kr-h1</i> on male reproduction were analyzed by RNA interference technology. <i>Met</i> transcription levels in 5- and 10-day-old males fed with a JH-supplemented diet were lower than those without JH. <i>Kr-h1</i> expression in 5-day-old adult males was lower in diets lacking JH but was higher in 10-day-old males fed on a diet lacking JH. There were no significant differences in the testes sizes of male ladybugs injected with <i>Met</i>-dsRNA when compared to <i>GFP</i>-dsRNA; however, the testis volume of ladybugs injected with <i>Kr-h1</i>-dsRNA was smaller than those injected with <i>GFP</i>-dsRNA. After males were injected with <i>Met</i>-dsRNA and <i>Kr-h1</i>-dsRNA, the mean egg production by females decreased by 12.75% and 23.10%, respectively, at 20 d postinjection. Our results show that <i>Met</i> and <i>Kr-h1</i> have important roles in regulating reproduction by directly affecting testes development in males and egg production in females.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/49<i>Coccinella septempunctata</i>juvenile hormone<i>methoprene-tolerant</i><i>krüppel homolog 1</i>RNAireproductive regulation
spellingShingle Ying Cheng
Yuhang Zhou
Cao Li
Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males
Insects
<i>Coccinella septempunctata</i>
juvenile hormone
<i>methoprene-tolerant</i>
<i>krüppel homolog 1</i>
RNAi
reproductive regulation
title Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males
title_full Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males
title_fullStr Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males
title_full_unstemmed Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males
title_short Functional Analysis of Genes Encoding Juvenile Hormone Receptor <i>Met</i> and Transcription Factor <i>Kr-h1</i> in the Reproductive Capacity of <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> Males
title_sort functional analysis of genes encoding juvenile hormone receptor i met i and transcription factor i kr h1 i in the reproductive capacity of i coccinella septempunctata i males
topic <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i>
juvenile hormone
<i>methoprene-tolerant</i>
<i>krüppel homolog 1</i>
RNAi
reproductive regulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/49
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AT yuhangzhou functionalanalysisofgenesencodingjuvenilehormonereceptorimetiandtranscriptionfactorikrh1iinthereproductivecapacityoficoccinellaseptempunctataimales
AT caoli functionalanalysisofgenesencodingjuvenilehormonereceptorimetiandtranscriptionfactorikrh1iinthereproductivecapacityoficoccinellaseptempunctataimales