Mechanisms Responsible for Larval Diapause in Anastatus japonicus Ashmead, Shown by Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses

TL;DR

This study explores the molecular mechanisms behind larval diapause in the parasitic wasp Anastatus japonicus using transcriptomic and proteomic data.

Contribution

The study identifies five candidate gene–protein pairs involved in diapause regulation in A. japonicus.

Findings

Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed 3399 differentially expressed genes and 3112 differentially expressed proteins in diapause versus non-diapause larvae.

Five gene–protein pairs, including farnesol dehydrogenase and cytochrome P450, showed consistent differential expression and may regulate diapause.

Juvenile hormone-related signaling appears to play a role in the physiological and biochemical changes during diapause.

Abstract

Diapause is a developmental arrest induced by unfavorable environmental conditions and involves coordinated physiological and biochemical adjustments, governed by multiple interacting regulatory pathways. In parasitoid wasps, which serve as important natural enemies of agricultural pests, diapause functions as an adaptive strategy to extend the storage period of biological control products. However, despite its applied relevance, the molecular mechanisms controlling larval diapause in Anastatus japonicus remain poorly understood. In the present study, integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses were performed to compare diapausal and non-diapausal mature larvae. Five candidate genes were identified as potential regulators of the diapause process. The results offer insight into the molecular foundation of diapause in A. japonicus.

Diapause enables insect survival in unfavorable environments. The parasitic wasp A. japonicus, a natural enemy of several fruit-tree pests, undergoes larval diapause. Previous work has shown that larval diapause in A. japonicus can be induced by medium temperatures in combination with short-day photoperiods; however, the molecular functions associated with this response remain poorly understood. Here, integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches were employed to investigate the molecular signatures associated with larval diapause in A. japonicus. The identification of 3399 differentially expressed genes and 3112 differentially expressed proteins was carried out between diapause and non-diapause larvae. Among these, five gene–protein pairs showed consistent differential expression, including farnesol dehydrogenase, crystallin (associated with longevity-related pathways), forkhead-associated (FHA) domain-containing proteins, and the detoxification enzyme cytochrome P450. These findings show that larval diapause in A. japonicus is accompanied by extensive physiological and biochemical remodeling, and juvenile hormone-related signaling is likely involved in this process. In summary, these results provide insights into future gene function research, especially with regard to the mechanism of larval diapause in A. japonicus.

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