Genome-wide Identification and Bioinformatics Analysis of Scavenger Receptor Gene Family in Plutella xylostella

Abstract

【Objective】The resistance of Plutella xylostella to chemical insecticides is increasing year by year, which makes RNAi (RNA interference) pesticides widely concerned. The P. xylostella SR have phagocytic and pathogenclearing abilities in cellular immunity, rendering them a promising target for RNAi pesticides. This study explores alternative targets for such pesticides by investigating the SR gene family in P. xylostella.【Method】Based on the P. xylostella genome, we comprehensively analyzed the physicochemical properties, transmembrane structure, phylogenetic evolution, secondary and tertiary structure prediction, conserved protein motifs and phosphorylation site prediction of SR gene family.【Result】The SR gene family of P. xylostella has 12 CD36 protein sequences with similar physicochemical properties and functional structures, all of which contain multiple hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions as well as two transmembrane helical regions. Their secondary and tertiary structures feature irregular coiling with the highest serine content in the phosphorylation site. A total of six species, including P. xylostella, Bombyx mori, Anopheles gambiae, Drosophila melanogaster, Manduca sexta and Tribolium castaneum contained 117 CD36 protein sequences that were classified into five distinct branches on the evolutionary tree. Genes with similar structures were grouped together within the same branch, indicating a high conservation throughout evolution. CD36px4 and CD36px5 exhibit more intricate tertiary structures. The motif 19 and motif 20 are exclusive to CD36px4, suggesting their potential involvement in species evolution. With a staggering 143 phosphorylation sites, CD36px4 may play a crucial role in the phagocytosis and clearance of apoptotic cells.【Conclusion】The 12 SRs identified are transmembrane proteins with abundant phosphorylation sites, predicted to participate in various physiological processes such as intracellular and extracellular material transport, signal transduction, energy metabolism, and apoptosis regulation. They also possess the functions of mediating phagocytosis and clearance of cellular debris. These receptors represent a promising target for RNAi-based pesticides. The results have provided a crucial foundation for the screening of RNAi pesticide targets.

Keywords

• plutella xylostella
• scavenger receptor
• gene family
• cd36
• rnai
• functional structure