Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em>
Chitin synthase (CHS) is a large transmembrane enzyme that polymerizes Uridine diphosphate <i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine into chitin. The genomes of insects often encode two chitin synthases, CHS1 and CHS2. Their functional roles have been investigated in several insects: CHS1 is mainly res...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/1/47 |
| _version_ | 1797412151853318144 |
|---|---|
| author | Hulda María Harðardóttir Rune Male Frank Nilsen Sussie Dalvin |
| author_facet | Hulda María Harðardóttir Rune Male Frank Nilsen Sussie Dalvin |
| author_sort | Hulda María Harðardóttir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chitin synthase (CHS) is a large transmembrane enzyme that polymerizes Uridine diphosphate <i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine into chitin. The genomes of insects often encode two chitin synthases, CHS1 and CHS2. Their functional roles have been investigated in several insects: CHS1 is mainly responsible for synthesizing chitin in the cuticle and CHS2 in the midgut. <i>Lepeophtheirus salmonis</i> is an ectoparasitic copepod on salmonid fish, which causes significant economic losses in aquaculture. In the present study, the tissue-specific localization, expression, and functional role of <i>L. salmonis</i> chitin synthases, <i>LsCHS1</i> and <i>LsCHS2</i>, were investigated. The expressions of <i>LsCHS1</i> and <i>LsCHS2</i> were found in oocytes, ovaries, intestine, and integument. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) chitin staining signals were detected in ovaries, oocytes, intestine, cuticle, and intestine in adult female <i>L. salmonis</i>. The functional roles of the <i>Ls</i>CHSs were investigated using RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of <i>LsCHS1</i> and <i>LsCHS2</i>. Knockdown of <i>LsCHS1</i> in pre-adult I lice resulted in lethal phenotypes with cuticle deformation and deformation of ovaries and oocytes in adult lice. RNAi knockdown of <i>LsCHS2</i> in adult female <i>L. salmonis</i> affected digestion, damaged the gut microvilli, reduced muscular tissues around the gut, and affected offspring. The results demonstrate that both <i>Ls</i>CHS1 and <i>Ls</i>CHS2 are important for the survival and reproduction in <i>L. salmonis</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:57:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-405303572a124105b64274b26372a495 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:57:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-405303572a124105b64274b26372a4952023-12-03T13:03:22ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-01-011114710.3390/life11010047Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em>Hulda María Harðardóttir0Rune Male1Frank Nilsen2Sussie Dalvin3Sea Lice Research Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, N-5020 Bergen, NorwaySea Lice Research Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, N-5020 Bergen, NorwaySea Lice Research Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7803, N-5020 Bergen, NorwaySea Lice Research Centre, Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, NorwayChitin synthase (CHS) is a large transmembrane enzyme that polymerizes Uridine diphosphate <i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine into chitin. The genomes of insects often encode two chitin synthases, CHS1 and CHS2. Their functional roles have been investigated in several insects: CHS1 is mainly responsible for synthesizing chitin in the cuticle and CHS2 in the midgut. <i>Lepeophtheirus salmonis</i> is an ectoparasitic copepod on salmonid fish, which causes significant economic losses in aquaculture. In the present study, the tissue-specific localization, expression, and functional role of <i>L. salmonis</i> chitin synthases, <i>LsCHS1</i> and <i>LsCHS2</i>, were investigated. The expressions of <i>LsCHS1</i> and <i>LsCHS2</i> were found in oocytes, ovaries, intestine, and integument. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) chitin staining signals were detected in ovaries, oocytes, intestine, cuticle, and intestine in adult female <i>L. salmonis</i>. The functional roles of the <i>Ls</i>CHSs were investigated using RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of <i>LsCHS1</i> and <i>LsCHS2</i>. Knockdown of <i>LsCHS1</i> in pre-adult I lice resulted in lethal phenotypes with cuticle deformation and deformation of ovaries and oocytes in adult lice. RNAi knockdown of <i>LsCHS2</i> in adult female <i>L. salmonis</i> affected digestion, damaged the gut microvilli, reduced muscular tissues around the gut, and affected offspring. The results demonstrate that both <i>Ls</i>CHS1 and <i>Ls</i>CHS2 are important for the survival and reproduction in <i>L. salmonis</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/1/47chitindouble-stranded RNAin situ hybridizationsea liceaquacultureecdysis |
| spellingShingle | Hulda María Harðardóttir Rune Male Frank Nilsen Sussie Dalvin Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em> Life chitin double-stranded RNA in situ hybridization sea lice aquaculture ecdysis |
| title | Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em> |
| title_full | Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em> |
| title_fullStr | Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em> |
| title_short | Chitin Synthases Are Critical for Reproduction, Molting, and Digestion in the Salmon Louse (<em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis)</em> |
| title_sort | chitin synthases are critical for reproduction molting and digestion in the salmon louse em lepeophtheirus salmonis em |
| topic | chitin double-stranded RNA in situ hybridization sea lice aquaculture ecdysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/1/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huldamariaharðardottir chitinsynthasesarecriticalforreproductionmoltinganddigestioninthesalmonlouseemlepeophtheirussalmonisem AT runemale chitinsynthasesarecriticalforreproductionmoltinganddigestioninthesalmonlouseemlepeophtheirussalmonisem AT franknilsen chitinsynthasesarecriticalforreproductionmoltinganddigestioninthesalmonlouseemlepeophtheirussalmonisem AT sussiedalvin chitinsynthasesarecriticalforreproductionmoltinganddigestioninthesalmonlouseemlepeophtheirussalmonisem |