Functional Analysis Of NlHox3 In Embryonic Development Of Nilaparvata Lugens

The brown planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens(Hemiptera: Delphacidae),is a destructive insect pest of rice plants in Asian countries,dose great harm to rice in recent years.Hox genes encode transcriptional regulatory proteins that control axial patterning in all bilaterians.The regulatory effect of Hox gene plays in Nilaparvata lugens has not been studied.For the first time to study the function of Hox gene in embryonic of Nilaparvata lugens,this study would provide important scientific data for looking into the function of Hox gene and the development mechanism of Nilaparvata lugens.During analysis of the N.lugens transcriptome in this study,58 sequences of Hox family were founded genes.These quences were aligned in multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree was constructed using bioinformatics methods.We identified a Hox3-like gene(NlHox3)that was highly and specifically expressed in the embryonic stage.The sequence analysis showed that NlHox3 is homologous to the Hox3 gene and is most closely related with zen of Drosophila.We performed functional analysis on the gene to identify its roles in embryonic development.We injected double-stranded RNA of NlHox3(dsNlHox3)in newly emerged female adult brown planthoppers.After then,we observered phenotys and got statistical data in treatment group and the control.The result produced no significant differences in oviposition between the treated and control females;however,there was a large difference in the hatchability of the eggs laid,where no eggs from the treated group hatched normally.Result of phynotype observation proved that injecting female adult brown planthoppers with ds NlHox3 led to necrosis of the offspring embryos,with eye reversal and undeveloped organs,suggesting that NlHox3 is an essential gene for embryonic development.It controls the process of eyespot formation and normal development of embryo.