Knockdown of the ZcVgR Gene Alters the Expression of Genes Related to Reproduction and Lifespan in Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) Under Extreme Heat Conditions

Abstract

Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is an important migratory vegetable pest. Previous research has demonstrated that short-term high temperatures induce differential expression of the vitellogenin receptor (ZcVgR) gene, reducing the number of eggs laid and the lifespan of female Z. cucurbitae. In this paper, we used Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) quantitative proteomics and Illumina high-throughput sequencing to determine the proteomic and transcriptomic information of female Z. cucurbitae after siRNA-mediated silencing of the target gene (ZcVgR) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism of this gene in the regulation of reproduction and lifespan. The findings demonstrated that following the target gene's silencing, the ZcVgR gene's transcriptional expression was significantly downregulated, and there was no significant difference in protein level. The transcriptome and proteome had a low correlation; when the ZcVgR gene was silenced, vitellogenin-1 (ZcVg1), juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH), troponin C (TnC), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and other related genes were downregulated at the transcriptional level. By silencing the ZcVgR gene, transcriptionally level immune-related pathways were activated and energy metabolism-related pathways were inhibited; protein-level glycometabolism and phagosome pathways were activated, while phototransduction-fly and autophagy-animal pathways were inhibited. The findings of this study might offer a theoretical foundation for integrated management of Z. cucurbitae in the summertime.