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The insulin receptor substrate (IRS), as the core cytoplasmic adapter protein in the insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway, is an important mediator of cellular signaling. However, it is still unknown how IRS crosstalk with hormone signaling regulates insect growth, development, and reproduction. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases play important roles in insect metabolism and detoxification of toxic plant substances. However, the function of CYP6 family genes in degrading plant toxicants in

Parasitism usually causes considerable changes in lipids and fatty acids by redirecting the development of the host. In this study, changes in weight and in free fatty acid content of cotton aphids were recorded after aphids had been parasitized. Results showed that the weight of parasitized Aphis gossypii was increased compared to nonparasitized aphids, and significantly increased weights were detected at 1, 2, and 3 instars after parasitization by Lysiphlebia japonica. Free fatty acid test kits and GC-MS showed that the fatty acid content increased in the early stage of parasitization but decreased after 3 days of parasitization. Seven genes related to the fatty acid synthesis pathway were significantly upregulated in the parasitized aphids, where they were 1.96-10.97 times greater. Our data described the change that occurs in the fatty acid content of parasitized A. gossypii.

Multiplex and high-throughput assays are becoming the main trends in the development of new nucleic acid detection and quantification methods, such as those for genetically modified organism (GMO) analysis. Here, we report a novel universal LNA probe-mediated droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method (ULNA-ddPCR) for multiple DNA target quantification in GMOs. In ULNA-ddPCR, only one universal LNA probe is used for multiple DNA targets instead of using one to one TaqMan probe. The specificity, sensitivity, dynamic range, and accuracy of the ULNA-ddPCR method are determined by employing GM rice analysis as an example. Simplex and triplex ULNA-ddPCR assays for three GM rice events, T2A-1, T1C-19, and G6H1, are established and evaluated. All results indicate that the developed simplex and triplex ULNA-ddPCR assays are suitable for quantitative analysis of GM rice events with high sensitivity, accuracy, and low cost. The ULNA-ddPCR method also has the potential for multiple DNA target quantification in other research fields.

Parasitism usually causes considerable changes in lipids and fatty acids by redirecting the development of the host. In this study, changes in weight and in free fatty acid content of cotton aphids were recorded after aphids had been parasitized. Results showed that the weight of parasitized

A new microbial α-amylase inhibitor gene was cloned and characterized. The encoded, recombinant, α-amylase inhibitor protein was induced and expressed by isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in Escherichia coli M15 cells. The effects of the α-amylase inhibitor protein on Helicoverpa armigera larvae were studied. Compared to the control, the weight of H. armigera larvae fed the diet with recombinant α-amylase inhibitor protein added at a concentration of 20 μg/g was reduced by 49.8%. The total soluble protein of H. armigera larvae fed the diet with the α-amylase inhibitor protein added was also reduced by 36.8% compared to the control. The recombinant α-amylase inhibitor protein showed inhibition activity against α-amylase of H. armigera. These results suggested that this α-amylase inhibitor protein may be a promising bioinsecticide candidate for controlling H. armigera.