OcomCSP12, a Chemosensory Protein Expressed Specifically by Ovary, Mediates Reproduction in Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are considered to be the transporter linking odorant chemicals and receptors on sensory neurons. However, the extensive expression patterns of CSPs in insects suggest that CSPs are also involved in other physiological processes; the range of their functions, however, remains uncertain. In this study, we successfully characterized and cloned the CSP12 of <i>Ophraella communa</i> (<i>OcomCSP12</i>). The open reading frame of <i>OcomCSP12</i> encodes 131 amino acids, with four conserved cysteine residues. The expression patterns of <i>OcomCSP12</i> validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that <i>OcomCSP12</i> is specifically expressed in female ovary. Furthermore, compared with the control treatment, silencing <i>OcomCSP12</i> resulted in significantly reduced oviposition in females. Surprisingly, the knock-down rate of <i>OcomCSP12</i> exceeded 95% and remained depressed for more than 15 days, indicating that RNA interference (RNAi) was a suitable method for exploring the function of CSP12 in <i>O. communa.</i> These findings increase our understanding of the expression profile and function of the CSP gene family in insects.