Comparative transcriptome and proteome reveal the unique genes and proteins of female parasitic wasps, Lysiphlebia japonica Ashmead

BACKGROUNDLysiphlebia japonica Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is an endophagous parasitoid wasp and its host, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera, Aphididae) is a major cotton pest. L. japonica affects the growth and fatty acid metabolism of cotton aphids after parasitization and has been widely used as a biocontrol agent. However, there are currently few reports about the molecular characteristics of L. japonica, especially the differences between male and female.RESULTSIn this study, using transcriptome and proteome analysis of the abdomen of female and male parasitic wasps, respectively, we obtained a total of 27,169 DEGs and 1,194 DEPs, then a total of 909 positively correlated high-expression proteins and genes were obtained by combined omics analysis. Subsequently, 20 differentially expressed abdomen specific proteins were selected for validation by RT-qPCR and Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) protein verification. The result of RT-qPCR demonstrated that all 20 genes were highly expressed in the abdomen of females, and five target proteins with unique peptide fragments and identification profiles were identified by MRM, which were venom protease, tropomyosin, lipase member I, venom serine carboxypeptidase and calreticulin, respectively.CONCLUSIONOverall, these results provided molecular resources for the differences between males and females in L. japonica and the screened 20 abdomen specific proteins were verified to demonstrate the validity of the data, which offered important molecular data resources for further studies on the related functional genes of parasitic wasps and the mechanism of parasitoids regulating the growth of aphids. (c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Automated summary

This study investigated the differences between male and female Lysiphlebia japonica through transcriptome and proteome analysis, identifying 20 abdomen specific proteins. The results provided important molecular resources for further studies on the functional genes of parasitic wasps and the mechanism of parasitoids regulating the growth of aphids.