Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Herbivore-induced plant root volatiles phthalic acid mediate host selection for Holotrichia parallela larva","authors":"Jiarui Tao ,&nbsp;Xiao Wang ,&nbsp;Changhong Xia ,&nbsp;Xingyuan Wang ,&nbsp;Yifan Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianan Liu ,&nbsp;Juhong Zhang ,&nbsp;Jun Wang ,&nbsp;Jinghui Xi ,&nbsp;Shang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The soil-dwelling grubs of <em>Holotrichia parallela</em> inflict substantial damage to the root systems of key cereal crops, including maize and peanuts, thereby posing a serious threat to agricultural productivity. While the olfactory mechanisms through which above-ground insects utilize odorant receptors (ORs) and odorant co-receptors (Orco) to detect plant volatiles for host localization are well established, the role of OR-mediated chemoreception in the host-seeking behaviors of underground pests remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we systematically compared the volatile compounds released by rhizospheric and aerial plant tissues. Through antennal transcriptome analysis and sequence structure prediction, we identified an odorant receptor with biased olfactory expression—<em>HparOR48</em>. Tissue expression analysis revealed that <em>HparOR48</em> is predominantly expressed in the larval antennae across developmental stages. The functional characterization of <em>HparOR48</em> was performed using the <em>Xenopus laevis oocyte</em> expression system, which demonstrated its broad responsiveness to phthalic acid, a root-emitted acidic volatile. Electroantennogram (EAG) assays further confirmed that phthalic acid elicited significant electrophysiological responses in the larval antennae. Moreover, behavioral assays utilizing a four-arm olfactometer indicated that phthalic acid acts as an attractant for the larvae. Our findings provide clear evidence that H. parallela larvae rely on olfactory recognition of rhizosphere-specific acidic volatiles to guide host-seeking behavior, thereby extending our understanding of chemical interactions between soil-dwelling pests and their host plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104452"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A fructose-sensitive gustatory receptor links nutrient sensing to lipid metabolism in the red imported fire ant","authors":"Huamei Wen ,&nbsp;Xinyue Ma ,&nbsp;Wenjing Zhang ,&nbsp;Lu Wang ,&nbsp;Yanbin Li ,&nbsp;Dan Lv ,&nbsp;Jianghua Sun ,&nbsp;Dingze Mang","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104440","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fructose is an important energy source for many insects, yet its perception and physiological roles in the red imported fire ant, <em>Solenopsis invicta</em>, remain unclear. Here, we show that <em>S. invicta</em> workers strongly prefer sucrose and glucose but demonstrate only weak attraction for fructose. Using Ca²⁺ imaging and intracellular Ca²⁺ assays, we identified <em>SinvGr43a</em> as a fructose-responsive gustatory receptor. While its expression is low in the antennae, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) revealed high levels in the brain and gut, suggesting an internal sensing role. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of <em>SinvGr43a</em> led to reduced production and secretion of short neuropeptide F (sNPF) in the gut and insulin-like peptide (ILP) in both the brain and gut. Moreover, this silencing also downregulated key fatty acid metabolic regulators, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), in the fat body, resulting in decreased lipid storage. Our findings demonstrate that <em>SinvGr43a</em> functions primarily as an internal fructose sensor, linking nutrient detection with neuropeptide signaling and lipid metabolism to maintain energy homeostasis in <em>S. invicta</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104440"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145476501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of the photoperiod-responsive circadian clock gene period on reproductive diapause in Chrysoperla nipponensis (Okamoto)","authors":"Xue Kong ,&nbsp;Dandan Li ,&nbsp;Minghui Xu ,&nbsp;Shaofeng Zhong ,&nbsp;Shaoye Liu ,&nbsp;Jeremiah Joe Kabissa ,&nbsp;Yongyu Xu ,&nbsp;Zhenzhen Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reproductive diapause in insects is a crucial seasonal adaptation, predominantly regulated by photoperiod, with the circadian clock providing the internal time reference to measure day or night length. Despite its importance, the role of core circadian clock genes in photoperiodic responses and reproductive diapause induction remains poorly understood. The green lacewing, <em>Chrysoperla nipponensis</em>, an important predatory natural enemy, undergoes reproductive diapause under short-day (SD) conditions. This study aimed to investigate the role of circadian clock gene <em>period</em> (<em>per</em>) in photoperiod-mediated diapause of <em>C. nipponensis</em>. Firstly, we identified and molecularly characterized <em>per</em> in <em>C. nipponensis</em>. The encoded PER protein contains conserved domains (PAS, PAC, Period_C) and clusters phylogenetically with neuropteran and coleopteran orthologs. Next, we examined the spatiotemporal expression pattern of <em>per</em>, revealing that its expression was significantly influenced by photoperiod. The daily expression pattern of <em>per</em> indicates that it measures night length. Functional RNAi assays demonstrated that <em>per</em> knockdown under diapause-inducing (short-day) conditions upregulated other core clock genes (<em>timeless1</em>, <em>cycle</em>, <em>clock</em>), abolished diapause phenotypes (ovarian arrest, lipid accumulation), and triggered precocious reproduction. Furthermore, transcriptional analysis revealed that <em>per</em> silencing upregulates the core circadian clock gene <em>cry1</em> as well as 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling genes, and reprograms lipid synthesis and metabolism genes under short-day conditions in <em>C. nipponensis</em>. Overall, these findings establish <em>per</em> as a critical genetic switch linking circadian timing to diapause induction in <em>C. nipponensis</em>, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation in seasonal adaptations of natural enemies, with potential applications in biological control of agricultural pests.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104444"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145487347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temperature-responsive spatial-temporal regulation underlies phenotypic plasticity of body pigmentation in Eastern honey bee","authors":"Shuai Wang ,&nbsp;Lifei Qiu ,&nbsp;Yashuai Wu ,&nbsp;Zhenfang Li ,&nbsp;Zhengwei Wang ,&nbsp;Zhenhua Chen ,&nbsp;Shanlin Liu ,&nbsp;Xin Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Temperature-induced variation in body coloration is a widespread form of phenotypic plasticity among insects, often mediated by the differential expression of pigmentation-related genes. Despite extensive documentation of this phenomenon, the molecular mechanisms by which environmental cues modulate pigmentation pathways remain largely unresolved. In this study, we investigated seasonal darkness plasticity in <em>Apis cerana</em>, the Eastern honey bee exhibiting a characteristic “yellow-black” abdominal pattern that responds dynamically to ambient temperature. Individuals reared under lower temperature conditions developed a markedly darker phenotype compared to those maintained at higher temperatures, highlighting a temperature-dependent shift in cuticular pigmentation. Exposure to low temperature also resulted in thicker adult cuticles and a concomitant reduction in water loss rate. The co-occurrence of darkened pigmentation and cuticle thickening corresponds with the colder and drier conditions characteristic of winter in the natural habitat of <em>A. cerana</em>. Furthermore<em>,</em> the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway was found to be enriched during early development stages. Notably, its target gene <em>optomotor-blind</em> (<em>omb</em>), a key temperature-sensitive regulator, was upregulated under decreased temperature, establishing the spatial arrangement of the black stripe at the posterior end of each abdominal tergite. Moreover, transcriptional suppression of <em>omb</em> induced upregulation of the pigmentation gene <em>ebony</em>, whose intrinsic thermally responsive expression directly enhances phenotypic plasticity in epidermal pigmentation, serving as a regulatory amplifier for environment-dependent melanin patterning. At the Pb (black eyes with an unpigmented body) in the mid-pupal period, temperature significantly influences 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) titers. Integrated analyses combining <em>in vivo</em> 20E injection and LC-MS-based hormone quantification revealed that elevated developmental temperature upregulates 20E titers during the temperature-sensitive window, thereby suppressing the expression of pigmentation-related genes. These findings reveal a two-phase mechanism in which spatial patterning and hormonal signaling are temporally decoupled: <em>omb</em> acts early to establish the pigmentation boundary, while 20E acts later to adjust pigment intensity in a temperature-dependent manner. This layered control system allows <em>A. cerana</em> to fine-tune both the position and extent of abdominal pigmentation, providing a flexible strategy for thermal adaptation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104454"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145652935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Independent evolution of geraniol-8-hydroxylase activity involved in iridoid formation in the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)","authors":"Maithili Datta ,&nbsp;Katrin Luck ,&nbsp;Song Wu ,&nbsp;Feng Chen ,&nbsp;Yuko E. Ulrich ,&nbsp;Sarah E. O'Connor ,&nbsp;Tobias G. Köllner","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iridoids are bicyclic monoterpenoids that function as defense and signaling compounds in both plants and insects. Although recent research suggested that iridoids evolved independently in these two kingdoms of life, it remained unclear whether independent evolution of iridoid biosynthesis also occurred across different insect lineages. In order to gain insight into the evolution of iridoids in insects, we examined the first committed step of iridoid biosynthesis, the hydroxylation of geraniol to 8-hydroxygeraniol, in the Argentine ant (<em>Linepithema humile</em>) of the order Hymenoptera. This transformation is typically catalyzed by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in both plants and insects. By integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses across various body parts, we identified candidate P450 genes potentially involved in this reaction. The candidate genes were heterologously expressed in yeast, and enzyme activity was assessed by supplying geraniol to the yeast cultures. One candidate P450 enzyme displayed geraniol 8-hydroxylase (G8H) activity and was designated LhG8H. Phylogenetic analysis showed that LhG8H is evolutionarily distinct from previously characterized G8H enzymes in the pea aphid (<em>Acyrthosiphon pisum</em>) of the order Hemiptera and the mustard leaf beetle (<em>Phaedon cochleariae</em>) of the order Coleoptera. These results support the hypothesis that geraniol 8-hydroxylase activity, a key step in iridoid biosynthesis, evolved independently within the insect orders Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104441"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145475253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lysosomal acid lipase-1 functions in autophagy occurrence and lipid homeostasis dependent of heat shock protein 83 in insects","authors":"Peng Zeng ,&nbsp;Xiaodong Li ,&nbsp;Xuan Jin ,&nbsp;Qien Zhong ,&nbsp;Fareed Uddin Memon ,&nbsp;Youliang Pan ,&nbsp;Yang Xiao ,&nbsp;Kang Li ,&nbsp;Ling Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lysosomal Acid Lipase (LAL) is the key enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing cholesteryl esters and triglycerides within lysosomes. Its dysfunction is linked to various metabolic disorders in humans. However, its biological functions display tissue-specific heterogeneity, and the roles of its homologs in invertebrates remain largely unexplored. Herein, we demonstrated the lysosomal localization of acid lipase-1 (BmAL1) in <em>Bombyx mori</em> through fluorescent protein observation and Co-immunoprecipitation with the lysosomal membrane glycoprotein BmLAMP1. <em>BmAL1</em> overexpression promoted lysosomal acidification, enhanced autophagy, and reduced lipid droplet (LD) formation after oleic acid or palmitic acid treatment. Conversely, <em>BmAL1</em> knockout or knockdown inhibited lysosomal acidification, autophagic flux, and lipid degradation. Subsequently, immunoprecipitation coupled with LC-MS analysis revealed that the BmAL1-interacting proteins were mainly associated with metabolic and human-disease pathways. Notably, functional disruption of BmAL1-interacting protein BmHSP83/BmHSP90 (heat shock protein) compromised BmAL1-mediated lysosomal acidification, autophagy induction, lipid metabolism, and the physical interaction between BmAL1 and BmLAMP1. These data fill a critical gaps in LAL research in invertebrates, and highlight potential targets for the utilization of beneficial insects and the development of pest control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104447"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145527177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CSP15 attenuates chlorpyrifos toxicity through sequestration and bioactivation suppression in Nilaparvata lugens","authors":"Mengqing Deng,&nbsp;Xiyue Xu,&nbsp;Zhiming Yang,&nbsp;Kai Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating problem of insecticide resistance in agricultural pests highlights the need to identify non-canonical resistance mechanisms. In this study, comparative transcriptional analysis identified five chemosensory protein (CSP) genes significantly overexpressed in a chlorpyrifos (CPF)-resistant strain of <em>Nilaparvata lugens</em>. RNA interference and heterologous expression confirmed their contribution to resistance, with <em>CSP15</em>, exhibiting 42.98-fold overexpression, identified as a key mediator. <em>CSP15</em> knockdown increased CPF susceptibility 1.76-fold, while its bacterial expression raised tolerance 5.47-fold. Competitive fluorescence binding assays showed that CSP15 binds CPF (<em>K</em>_i = 3.32 μM) with higher affinity than its toxic metabolite chlorpyrifos-oxon (CPO; <em>K</em>_i = 6.00 μM). Structural modeling revealed a CPF-binding pocket mediated by Arg84 and Lys118. CPO binding utilized four hydrogen bonds with Lys28; the K28A mutation induced structural rearrangement through neo-formed interactions with Arg84 and Lys118, reducing the binding free energy by −40.95 kcal mol⁻¹. Mutagenesis revealed that R84A/K118A double mutants lost 62.85–64.37 % of CPF-binding capacity, whereas the K28A variant increased CPO affinity by 22.65 %. <em>In vivo</em> metabolic profiling indicated that <em>CSP15</em> knockdown promoted CPF degradation and CPO accumulation, supporting its role in suppressing bioactivation. Yeast two-hybrid assays confirmed a direct interaction between CSP15 and CYP6BD12, the P450 enzyme responsible for CPF bioactivation. Additionally, <em>CSP15</em> expression was regulated by the transcription factor Lim1β through two conserved promoter <em>cis</em>-elements. Together, these findings reveal a novel dual resistance mechanism wherein CSP15 acts synergistically by sequestering CPF and binding CYP6BD12, thereby effectively suppressing bioactivation and identifying promising targets for pest management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104453"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Limited association of m6A RNA modification with post-transcriptional regulation during honeybee caste differentiation","authors":"Chen Yang ,&nbsp;Yu Zhu He ,&nbsp;Yu Xiang Wang ,&nbsp;Xing Chao Yan ,&nbsp;Xu Han ,&nbsp;Zhi Jiang Zeng ,&nbsp;Xu Jiang He","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104446","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104446","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Honeybee caste differentiation is a prime example of phenotypic plasticity in eusocial insects and serves as a valuable model for epigenetic studies. Various epigenetic modifications such as non-coding RNAs and histone modifications, have been implicated in caste differentiation. However, the role of some epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation still remains controversial. Similarly, mRNA m⁶A modification has been suggested to participate in honeybee caste differentiation. Here we used Oxford Nanopore technology to compare m⁶A modifications in 2d, 4d, and 6d queen and worker larvae. Our data indicated that m⁶A modification is unlikely to exert a direct role in the caste differentiation at the developmental stages examed in this study. We identified 363, 1074, and 1000 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in 2d, 4d, and 6d queen-worker larval comparisons, respectively, 74 of which were mapped in seven key KEGG pathways (e.g., mTOR, Notch, FoxO, MAPK, Wnt, Hippo, Hedgehog) associated with honeybee caste differentiation. In contrast, only 16, 39, and 11 differentially m⁶A-modified transcripts (m⁶A-DMTs) were found in the 2d, 4d and 6d comparisons, with very few m⁶A-DMTs involved in key pathways for caste differentiation. Notably, no correlation was observed between m⁶A modification levels and transcript expression, including DETs and m⁶A-DMTs. The motifs of m⁶A modifications remained unchanged across all three developmental time points. When the original samples were randomly regrouped, the number of m⁶A-DMTs did not change significantly, but the DETs related to caste differentiation were dramatically altered. Therefore, the functional relevance of m⁶A in honeybee caste differentiation is still under debate and requires more comprehensive studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104446"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145522484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Master genetic switches controlling sexual development in Leptinotarsa decemlineata","authors":"Jiangjie Li ,&nbsp;Yimeng Chen ,&nbsp;Jing Wang,&nbsp;Clauvis NT. Taning,&nbsp;Kristof De Schutter","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104451","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104451","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex determination is a fundamental process during early embryonic development that shapes the morphological, physiological, and behavioral sexual dimorphism of an organism. Insects, the most diverse group of animals on earth, have evolved a wide range of sex determination systems. This study investigates the sex determination and differentiation in the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), a species with an X0 sex chromosome system, by identifying key regulatory genes involved in these processes. Our findings reveal that the genes <em>Sex-lethal</em> (<em>Sxl</em>), <em>transformer-2</em> (<em>tra2</em>), <em>doublesex</em> (<em>dsx</em>), and <em>fruitless</em> (<em>fru</em>) are highly conserved and all contribute to fertility. Among them, <em>dsx</em> and <em>tra2</em> emerge as key genetic switches of sex differentiation in CPB: Disruption of <em>dsx</em> leads to feminization of male traits and abnormal female development. Additionally, <em>tra2</em> appears to regulate the alternative splicing of <em>dsx</em>, promoting the production of the female-specific transcripts. This study highlights the pivotal roles of <em>dsx</em> and <em>tra2</em> in CPB sex determination and provides valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of sex determination mechanisms in insects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104451"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145577126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of the Niemann–Pick type C2 protein as a sperm-binding protein in honeybees","authors":"Jin Myung Kim ,&nbsp;Bo Yeon Kim ,&nbsp;Yun Hui Kim ,&nbsp;Hyung Joo Yoon ,&nbsp;Yong Soo Choi ,&nbsp;Kyeong Yong Lee ,&nbsp;Dong Won Kim ,&nbsp;Kwang Sik Lee ,&nbsp;Byung Rae Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Niemann–Pick type C2 protein (NPC2) functions as a cholesterol modulator in the sperm membrane and enhances sperm physiological functions in vertebrates and some invertebrates. In insects, NPC2 is involved in lipid metabolism, immune response signaling, and chemical communication. However, the role of NPC2 as a sperm-associated protein in insect sperm remains to be elucidated. This study identified a novel function of the <em>Apis mellifera</em> NPC2 protein (AmNPC2) as a sperm-binding protein. Immunoassays and binding assays using recombinant AmNPC2 protein and its specific antibody revealed that AmNPC2 is expressed in the testes of drones and is localized on the sperm surface as a sperm-binding protein. Furthermore, a reduction in AmNPC2 levels on the sperm surface decreased sperm viability. AmNPC2 also appeared to play a protective role in maintaining sperm viability under both oxidative and temperature stress conditions. Our findings indicate that AmNPC2 is a sperm-binding protein that enhances the viability of honeybee sperm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":330,"journal":{"name":"Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology","volume":"186 ","pages":"Article 104443"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145480450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}