AUTHOR=Yi Jiankun , Wang Shang , Wang Zhun , Wang Xiao , Li Gongfeng , Zhang Xinxin , Pan Yu , Zhao Shiwen , Zhang Juhong , Zhou Jing-Jiang , Wang Jun , Xi Jinghui 

TITLE=Identification of Candidate Carboxylesterases Associated With Odorant Degradation in Holotrichia parallela Antennae Based on Transcriptome Analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.674023

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2021.674023

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Insects rely on their olfactory systems in antennae to recognize sex pheromones and plant volatiles in surrounding environments. Some carboxylesterases (CXEs) are odorant-degrading enzymes (ODEs), degrading odorant signals to protect the olfactory neurons against continuous excitation. However, there is no report about CXEs in <italic>Holotrichia parallela</italic>, one of the most major agricultural underground pests in China. In the present study, 20 candidate <italic>CXEs</italic> were identified based on transcriptome analysis of female and male antennae. Sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis were performed to investigate the characterization of these candidate <italic>CXEs</italic>. The expression profiles of <italic>CXEs</italic> were compared by RT-qPCR analysis between olfactory and non-olfactory tissues of both genders. <italic>HparCXE4, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19,</italic> and <italic>20</italic> were antenna-biased expressed genes, suggesting their possible roles as ODEs. <italic>HparCXE6, 10, 11, 13,</italic> and <italic>16</italic> showed significantly higher expression profiles in male antennae, whereas <italic>HparCXE18</italic> was expressed more in female antennae. This study highlighted candidate CXE genes linked to odorant degradation in antennae, and provided a useful resource for further work on the <italic>H. parallela</italic> olfactory mechanism and selection of target genes for integrative control of <italic>H. parallela</italic>.</p>