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Identification and expression analysis of cathepsin B genes in Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and their response to environmental stresses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2025

Jin-Shan Zhang Open the ORCID record for Jin-Shan Zhang [Opens in a new window] ,
Jian-Yu Meng ,
Lei Yang  and
Chang-Yu Zhang Open the ORCID record for Chang-Yu Zhang [Opens in a new window]
Jin-Shan Zhang
Affiliation:
Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Jian-Yu Meng
Affiliation:
Guizhou Tobacco Science Research Institute, Guiyang 550081, China
Lei Yang
Affiliation:
China Tobacco Hunan Industrial Co., Ltd., Changsha 410007, China
Chang-Yu Zhang*
Affiliation:
Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
*
Corresponding author: Chang-Yu Zhang; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Cathepsin B (CTSB) is a cysteine protease that is widely found in eukaryotes and plays a role in insect growth, development, digestion, metamorphosis, and immunity. In the present study, we examined the role of CTSB in response to environmental stresses in Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Six MpCTSB genes, namely MpCTSB-N, MpCTSB-16D1, MpCTSB-3098, MpCTSB-10270, MpCTSB-mp2, and MpCTSB-16, were identified and cloned from M. persicae. The putative proteins encoded by these genes contained three conserved active site residues, i.e. Cys, His, and Asn. A phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that the six MpCTSB proteins of M. persicae were highly homologous to other Hemipteran insects. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the MpCTSB genes were expressed at different stages of M. persicae and highly expressed in winged adults or first-instar nymphs. The expression of nearly all MpCTSB genes was significantly upregulated under different environmental stresses (38°C, 4°C, and ultraviolet-B). This study shows that MpCTSB plays an important role in the growth and development of M. persicae and its resistance to environmental stress.

Keywords

cysteine proteasesgene expressiongreen aphidtemperatureultraviolet-B
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 11
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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