Kr��ppel homolog 1, a juvenile hormone transcription factor, regulates the reproduction and development of Aedes albopictus(Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae).
Ya-Hui Chen: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
Cheng Wu: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
Yu-Yang Xie: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
Yan-Hui Zhang: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
Xi-Tong Huang: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China.
Fen Hu: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China. fenhu@fjmu.edu.cn.
Li-Hua Xie: Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, No.1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, China. lhxie@fjmu.edu.cn.
The control of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), a vector for several important viral diseases, is crucial for mitigating mosquito-borne diseases. This study focused on the Kr��ppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1) gene, a transcription factor in juvenile hormone (JH) signaling, which plays a pivotal role in inhibiting metamorphosis and promoting adult reproduction. We characterized Aedes albopictus Kr-h1(AalbKr-h1), identified its eight zinc finger domains, and confirmed its orthology among insects through phylogenetic analysis. Expression profiling across life stages showed high level of expression in eggs, late larvae, and adults, with minimal expression in pupae. In adults, AalbKr-h1 was most active in the fat body and ovaries. Exposing larvae to a JH analogue significantly upregulated AalbKr-h1 expression in both larval and adult stages. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Kr-h1 protein reduced egg reproduction, survival rate and gene expression levels. These results provide a solid foundation for further exploration of the function of the AalbKr-h1 gene and the potential development of novel strategies for mosquito control and prevention of mosquito-borne diseases.
