PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Binbin Jin
AU  - Yijie Zhao
AU  - Peiwen Liu
AU  - Yan Sun
AU  - Xiaocong Li
AU  - Xin Zhang
AU  - Xiao-Guang Chen
AU  - Jinbao Gu
TI  - The direct regulation of <em>Aalbdsx</em> on <em>AalVgR</em> is indispensable for ovarian development in <em>Aedes albopictus</em>
AID  - 10.1101/2020.07.26.222224
DP  - 2020 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2020.07.26.222224
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/26/2020.07.26.222224.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/26/2020.07.26.222224.full
AB  - BACKGROUND Aedes albopictus is an important vector with an extensive worldwide distribution. Only female mosquitoes play a significant role in the transmission of pathogens. Doublesex (dsx) is a central nexus gene in the insect somatic sex determination hierarchy.RESULTS In this study, we characterized the full-length sex-specific splicing forms of the Ae. albopictus dsx gene (Aalbdsx). Then, we identified 15 direct target genes of DSX in adult females using digital gene expression (DGE) combined with qPCR following a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) with specific DSX antibodies. The knockdown of Aalbdsx suppressed ovarian development, and the transcript levels of the Aalbdsx target vitellogenin receptor (VgR) gene decreased, whereas vitellogenin (Vg) expression showed an increase in the fat body. Genes in the major Vg regulatory pathway were also upregulated. Our results suggest that the effects of Aalbdsx RNAi on ovarian development are exerted mainly via VgR rather than Vg.CONCLUSION The results of our study not only provide a reference for the further elucidation of the sex determination cascade and comparative analyses of dsx target interactions in mosquitoes but also reveal potential molecular targets for application to the development of sterile male mosquitoes to be released for vector control.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.