Bta06987, Encoding a Peptide of the AKH/RPCH Family: A Role of Energy Mobilization in Bemisia tabaci

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Bta06987 gene encodes a peptide that belongs to the AKH/RPCH family. Members of this family exert essential effects on energy metabolism and other physiological and biological processes. Bemisia tabaci is a crop pest, causing crop losses mainly through feeding and transmission of plant viruses. There are only a few reports about AKH family in B. tabaci. In our study, we report on the characterization of the neuropeptide precursor encoded by Bta06987 in B. tabaci at the molecular level and provide evidence for its essential function in energy homeostasis. Moreover, through an electrical penetration graph experiment, we found that manipulation of the relative expression of Bta06987 effected the feeding behavior of B. tabaci. The findings in this paper can be used toward developing strategies aimed at decreasing the feeding time of B. tabaci, which might be useful for controlling pests and plant virus transmission. ABSTRACT: A neuropeptide precursor encoded by Bta06987 associates with AKH neuropeptide. In the AKH/RPCH family, these members have been demonstrated to participate in energy mobilization in many insects. In our research, the Bta06987 gene from Bemisia tabaci was cloned, and the amino acid sequence analysis was performed. During the starvation of B. tabaci, the mRNA level of Bta06987 showed a significant elevation. We investigated the functions of Bta06987 in B. tabaci using RNA interference (RNAi), and the adult females of B. tabaci after being fed with dsBta06987 showed a higher glycogen and triglyceride levels and lower trehalose content than the control. Furthermore, in the electrical penetration graph (EPG) experiment, B. tabaci showed changes in feeding behavior after feeding with dsBta06987, such as the reduction in parameters of E waveform percentage and total feeding time. Our findings might be helpful in developing strategies to control pest and plant virus transmission.