Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis
The white wax secreted by the male insects of the Chinese white wax scale (CWWS) is a natural high-molecular-weight compound with important economic value. However, its regulatory mechanism of wax biosynthesis is still unclear. In this study, a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was...
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Genes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/8/1364 |
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| author | Wei-Feng Ding Xiao-Fei Ling Qin Lu Wei-Wei Wang Xin Zhang Ying Feng Xiao-Ming Chen Hang Chen |
| author_facet | Wei-Feng Ding Xiao-Fei Ling Qin Lu Wei-Wei Wang Xin Zhang Ying Feng Xiao-Ming Chen Hang Chen |
| author_sort | Wei-Feng Ding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The white wax secreted by the male insects of the Chinese white wax scale (CWWS) is a natural high-molecular-weight compound with important economic value. However, its regulatory mechanism of wax biosynthesis is still unclear. In this study, a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to analyze transcriptome data of first- and second-instar females, early and late female adults, and first- and second-instar males. A total of 19 partitioned modules with different topological overlaps were obtained, and three modules were identified as highly significant for wax secretion (<i>p</i> < 0.05). A total of 30 hub genes were obtained through screening, among which elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids protein (ELOVL) and fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) are important catalytic enzymes of fatty acid metabolism. Furthermore, their metabolic catalytic products are involved in the synthesis of wax biosynthesis. The results demonstrate that WGCNA can be used for insect transcriptome analysis and effectively screen out the key genes related to wax biosynthesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:56:33Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:56:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
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| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-a31b443e2a76415b9bcd50e01c1e66192023-12-01T23:44:04ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252022-07-01138136410.3390/genes13081364Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network AnalysisWei-Feng Ding0Xiao-Fei Ling1Qin Lu2Wei-Wei Wang3Xin Zhang4Ying Feng5Xiao-Ming Chen6Hang Chen7Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, ChinaKey Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650224, ChinaKey Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650224, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming 650224, ChinaThe white wax secreted by the male insects of the Chinese white wax scale (CWWS) is a natural high-molecular-weight compound with important economic value. However, its regulatory mechanism of wax biosynthesis is still unclear. In this study, a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to analyze transcriptome data of first- and second-instar females, early and late female adults, and first- and second-instar males. A total of 19 partitioned modules with different topological overlaps were obtained, and three modules were identified as highly significant for wax secretion (<i>p</i> < 0.05). A total of 30 hub genes were obtained through screening, among which elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids protein (ELOVL) and fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) are important catalytic enzymes of fatty acid metabolism. Furthermore, their metabolic catalytic products are involved in the synthesis of wax biosynthesis. The results demonstrate that WGCNA can be used for insect transcriptome analysis and effectively screen out the key genes related to wax biosynthesis.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/8/1364weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA)transcriptome sequencinggene networkfatty acid metabolismwax biosynthesis |
| spellingShingle | Wei-Feng Ding Xiao-Fei Ling Qin Lu Wei-Wei Wang Xin Zhang Ying Feng Xiao-Ming Chen Hang Chen Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis Genes weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) transcriptome sequencing gene network fatty acid metabolism wax biosynthesis |
| title | Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis |
| title_full | Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis |
| title_short | Identification of the Key Pathways and Genes Involved in the Wax Biosynthesis of the Chinese White Wax Scale Insect (<i>Ericerus pela</i> Chavannes) by Integrated Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis |
| title_sort | identification of the key pathways and genes involved in the wax biosynthesis of the chinese white wax scale insect i ericerus pela i chavannes by integrated weighted gene coexpression network analysis |
| topic | weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) transcriptome sequencing gene network fatty acid metabolism wax biosynthesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/8/1364 |
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