Genome-wide identification and analysis of genes encoding cuticular proteins in the endoparasitoid wasp Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Authors: WANG, JIALE - Zhejiang University; JIN, HONGXIA - Zhejiang University; YANG, LEI - Zhejiang University; YE, XINHAI - Zhejiang University; XIAO, SHAN - Zhejiang University; SONG, QISHENG - University Of Missouri; Stanley, David; YE, GONGYIN - Zhejiang University; FANG, QI - Zhejiang University

Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2019
Publication Date: 10/9/2019
Citation: Wang, J., Jin, H., Yang, L., Ye, X., Xiao, S., Song, Q., Stanley, D.W., Ye, G., Fang, Q. 2019. Genome-wide identification and analysis of genes encoding cuticular proteins in the endoparasitoid wasp Pteromalus puparum (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 103(2):e21628. https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.21628.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/arch.21628

Interpretive Summary: Beneficial insect species provide valuable ecological services to humans. Many beneficials, such as honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees, hoverfiies, butterflies, moths and flower beetles (in total, more than 20,000 insect species), are responsible for pollinating nearly 900 high-value food crops. Other beneficial insects are natural enemies of pest insect species. Parasitoid insects deposit their eggs into or onto other insect species, where larvae hatch from the eggs and develop to adulthood using the resources of their host insect. Many parasitoid species provide important biological control services by killing pest insects. Some parasitoid species are commercially raised and released to control pest insects. Despite their economic importance, there is very little genetic information on the beneficials. Such information is crucial to optimizing their use and economic value. This paper is one of a series of seven papers reporting on genomic analyses of the beneficial parasitoid, Pteromalus puparum. Here we report on 84 genes encoding proteins that make up the structure of the external cuticle of the insect, including three novel genes. This work will be used by scientists working to improve biological control technologies and may benefit consumers geneally.

Technical Abstract: The multifunctional insect cuticle serves as the exoskeleton, determines body shape, restricts water loss, provides attachment sites for muscles and internal organs and is a formidable barrier to invaders. The cuticle is composed of chitin and cuticular proteins (CPs). In this paper, we interrogated the genome of Pteromalus puparum, an endoparasitoid wasp that parasitizes Pieris rapae and Papilio xuthus pupae to identify 84 CPs belonging to six CP families, including 62 in the Rebers and Riddiford Consensus (CPR) family, two in TWDL, six in CPF, eight in CPAP3, three in Apidermin and three low complexity proteins. We used six RNA-seq libraries to determine CP gene expression profiles through development. We compared the cuticle hydrophobicity between the P. puparum and the ectoparasitoid Nasonia. vitripennis based on GRAVY values of CPR sequences. We identified three novel Apidermin genes, a family found solely in Hymenoptera.