Silencing of transcription factor E93 inhibits adult morphogenesis and disrupts cuticle, wing and ovary development in Locusta migratoria.

Ecdysone-induced protein 93F (E93) plays important roles during the metamorphosis process in insects. In this study, a cDNA of the LmE93 gene was identified from the transcriptome of Locusta migratoria, which consists of the 3378-nucleotide open-reading frame (ORF) and encodes 1125 amino acids with helix-turn-helix (HTH) motifs. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that LmE93 was highest expressed in ovary. The LmE93 expression level was markedly low from the 3rd to 4th instar nymphs, and greatly increased in 1-day-old 5th instar nymphs with a peak on middle nymphal days, then declined in the late nymphal days. Moreover, injected dsLmE93 into 4th and 5th instar nymphs greatly reduced LmE93 transcripts, respectively, and prevented the process of metamorphosis, causing supernumerary nymphal stages. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the integument showed that the apolysis occurred in advance in 4th instar nymphs, and old cuticle degradation was decreased in dsLmE93-injected locusts of 5th instar nymphs. Smaller and no fully developed wings with reduced columns between the anterior and posterior regions were found in N6 and N7 supernumerary nymphs. In addition, the development of the ovary in dsLmE93-injected locusts was severely blocked, the yolk was almost not formed and there was no development of ovarioles. The results indicated that LmE93 play key roles in the metamorphosis, cuticle, wing and ovarian development of locusts.