Logo image
Ovi-protective mothers: exploring the proteomic profile of weevil (Gonipterus) egg capsules
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Ovi-protective mothers: exploring the proteomic profile of weevil (Gonipterus) egg capsules

Natalia M Souza, Tianfang Wang, Saowaros Suwansa-ard, Helen Nahrung and Scott Cummins
Heliyon, Vol.8(9), pp.1-10
2022
PMCID: PMC9475328
PMID: 36119877
pdf
Ovi-protective mothers- exploring the proteomic profile of weevil (Gonipterus) egg capsules3.24 MBDownloadView
Published Version Open Access CC BY-NC-ND V4.0
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10516View
Published Version

Abstract

ootheca mucin spidroin vitellogenin anti-chymotrypsin structural protein UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages
Insects of different orders produce elaborate structures to protect their eggs from the many threats they may face from the environment and natural enemies. In the weevil genus Gonipterus, their dark, hardened egg capsule is possibly generated by a mixture of the insects' excrement and glandular substances. To test this hypothesis, this study focused on the elucidation of protein components present in the egg capsule cover and interrogated them through comparative analysis and gene expression to help infer potential functions. First, female Gonipterus sp. n. 2 reproductive and alimentary tissues were isolated to establish a reference transcriptome-derived protein database. Then, proteins from weevil frass (excrement) and egg capsule cover were identified through mass spectrometry proteomics. We found that certain egg capsule cover proteins were both exclusive and shared between frass and egg capsule cover, including those of plant origin (e.g. photosystem II protein) and others secreted by the weevil, primarily from reproductive tissue. Among them, a mucin/spidroin-like protein and novel proteins with repetitive units that likely play a structural role were identified. We have confirmed the dual origin of the egg capsule cover substance as a blend of the insects' frass and secretions. Novel proteins secreted by the weevils are key candidates for holding the egg case cover together.

Details

Metrics

4 File views/ downloads
42 Record Views

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Web Of Science research areas
Entomology

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger
#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: SDGs from InCites

Logo image