The proteins involved in larval colouration in the cuticle and haemolymph of two strains of Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

The proteome profiles of the cuticle and haemolymph of two strains of the Chinese Oak silk moth A. pernyi, with cyan and yellow coloured bodies, were compared in order to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that determine the differences in the colouration of the two strains. A total of 324 DEPs, including 124 up-regulated and 200 down-regulated proteins, were identified in the cuticles of the cyan and yellow coloured individuals, and 286 DEPs including 79 up-regulated and 207 down-regulated proteins in the haemolymph of the cyan and yellow coloured individuals. Several DEPs associated with the colour of larvae of A. pernyi were screened, including an ommochrome-binding protein, juvenile hormone esterase, protein yellow, L-dopachrome tautomerase yellow-f2 and fumarylacetoacetase, the expression levels in the cuticle and haemolymph of the yellow larvae were higher than those in the cyan coloured larvae, indicating their possible roles underlying the colouration of the yellow larvae of A. pernyi.

Keywords

• chinese oak silk moth
• larva
• body colouration
• proteomics
• pigment pattern