A gustatory receptor tuned to the steroid plant hormone brassinolide in <i>Plutella xylostella</i> (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33305735.
- Also identified by DOI 10.7554/eLife.64114 and PMC identifier 7806260.
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Abstract
Feeding and oviposition deterrents help phytophagous insects to identify host plants. The taste organs of phytophagous insects contain bitter gustatory receptors (GRs). To explore their function, the GRs in <i>Plutella xylostella</i> were analyzed. Through RNA sequencing and qPCR, we detected abundant <i>PxylGr34</i> transcripts in the larval head and adult antennae. Functional analyses using the <i>Xenopus</i> oocyte expression system and 24 diverse phytochemicals showed that PxylGr34 is tuned to the canonical plant hormones brassinolide (BL) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBL). Electrophysiological analyses revealed that the medial sensilla styloconica of 4<sup>th</sup> instar larvae are responsive to BL and EBL. Dual-choice bioassays demonstrated that BL inhibits larval feeding and female oviposition. Knock-down of PxylGr34 by RNAi attenuates the taste responses to BL, and abolishes BL-induced feeding inhibition. These results increase our understanding of how herbivorous insects detect compounds that deter feeding and oviposition, and may be useful for designing plant hormone-based pest management strategies.
Medical subject headings
- Brassinosteroids
- Oviposition
- Phytosterols
- Plant Growth Regulators
- Steroids, Heterocyclic