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Functional characterization of fatty acid synthase gene (FAS) in the reproduction of mirid predator, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2025

Kui Hu ,
Ying Wang ,
Yuanyuan Peng ,
Yuancui Zhong ,
Yijie Xu ,
Ruidong Zhang ,
Lin Qiu  and
Fang Liu Open the ORCID record for Fang Liu [Opens in a new window]
Kui Hu
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Ying Wang
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Yuanyuan Peng
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Yuancui Zhong
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Yijie Xu
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Ruidong Zhang
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Lin Qiu
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
Fang Liu*
Affiliation:
College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
*
Corresponding author: Fang Liu; Email: liufang@yzu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Natural enemies serve a crucial role in crop protection through the regulation of pest population dynamics. Cyrtorhinus lividipennis is an important natural enemy of rice planthoppers. Fatty acid synthase (FAS), a multifunctional enzyme crucial for fatty acid biosynthesis, serves as a vital energy source for insect reproduction. However, the function of FAS in the reproductive processes of C. lividipennis remains incompletely understood. In this study, the ClFAS gene was successfully cloned from C. lividipennis. The open reading frame of ClFAS was 7224 bp, encoding a putative protein of 2407 amino acids. The expression levels of ClFAS were notably elevated in the fifth-instar nymphs, adults, as well as in the fat body and ovaries of female individuals. Silencing of ClFAS resulted in a reduction of 58.4%, 34.6%, and 49.0% in the expression levels of ClVg at 1-, 2-, and 3-days post-dsRNA injection, respectively. Furthermore, RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated depletion of ClFAS not only suppressed the Vg protein expression but also significantly impaired oocyte maturation and ovarian development. The fecundity of dsFAS-treated C. lividipennis females was markedly reduced by 49.5%, accompanied by significant decreases of 32.7% in oviposition duration and 26.3% in female adult lifespan. Our findings showed that ClFAS positively regulates the reproduction of C. lividipennis by promoting vitellogenesis and ovarian development, which provides valuable insights into how lipid metabolism governs fecundity in predatory insects.

Keywords

Cyrtorhinus lividipennisfatty acid synthaselipidnatural enemyreproduction

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Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 8
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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Footnotes

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These authors contributed equally to this work.

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