Characterization of a Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) brummer gene and analysis of its role in lipid metabolism

The brummer (bmm) genes encode the lipid storage droplet-associated triacylglycerols (TAG) lipases, which belong to the Brummer/Nutrin subfamily. These enzymes hydrolyze the ester bonds in TAG in lipid metabolism and act in insect energy homeostasis. Exposure to some agricultural chemicals leads to increased fecundity, which necessarily involves lipid metabolism, in some planthopper species. However, the biological roles of bmm in planthopper lipid storage and mobilization have not been investigated. Here, the open reading frame (ORF) of bmm (Nlbmm) was cloned and sequenced from the brown planthopper (BPH; Nilaparvata lugens). The ORF is 1014bp encoding 338 amino acid residues. Nlbmm contained patatin domains and shared considerable evolutionary conservation with other insect bmms. Nlbmm is highly expressed in the fat body, consistent with its roles in lipid metabolism. Injection with Nlbmm double-stranded RNA (dsNlbmm) led to reduced Nlbmm mRNA accumulation, but did not influence expression of several genes related to lipid synthesis including acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and a lipophorin receptor (LpR). Nlbmm knockdown led to increased TAG contents in whole bodies, accumulation of total fat body lipid, and decreased hemolymph lipid content. Nlbmm knockdown did not influence the synthesis and distribution of glycerol. We infer that Nlbmm acts in TAG breakdown and fat metabolism in N. lugens.