Protein N-glycosylation and N-glycan trimming are required for postembryonic development of the pest beetle Tribolium castaneum

摘要

In holometabolous insects the transition from larva to adult requires a complete body reorganizationand relies on N-glycosylated proteins. N-glycosylation is an important posttranslational modificationthat influences protein activity but its impact on the metamorphosis has not been studied yet. Herewe used the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, to perform a first comprehensive study on theinvolvement of the protein N-glycosylation pathway in metamorphosis. The transcript levels for genesencoding N-glycan processing enzymes increased during later developmental stages and, in turn,transition from larva to adult coincided with an enrichment of more extensively modified paucimannoseglycans, including fucosylated ones. Blockage of N-glycan attachment resulted in larval mortality, whileRNAi of α-glucosidases involved in early N-glycan trimming and quality control disrupted the larvato pupa transition. Additionally, simultaneous knockdown of multiple genes responsible for N-glycanprocessing towards paucimannose structures revealed their novel roles in pupal appendage formationand adult eclosion. Our findings revealed that, next to hormonal control, insect post-embryonicdevelopment and metamorphosis depend on protein N-glycan attachment and efficient N-glycanprocessing. Consequently, disruption of these processes could be an effective new approach for insectcontrol.