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Silencing of the T-type voltage-gated calcium channel α1 subunit by fungus-mediated RNAi altered the structure of F-actin and caused defective behaviors in Ditylenchus destructor

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Abstract

Background

T-type calcium channels, characterized as low-voltage activated (LVA) calcium channels, play crucial physiological roles across a wide range of tissues, including both the neuronal and nonneuronal systems. Using in situ hybridization and RNA interference (RNAi) techniques in vitro, we previously identified the tissue distribution and physiological function of the T-type calcium channel α1 subunit (DdCα1G) in the plant-parasitic nematode Ditylenchus destructor.

Methods and results

To further characterize the functional role of DdCα1G, we employed a combination of immunohistochemistry and fungus-mediated RNAi and found that DdCα1G was clearly distributed in stylet-related tissue, oesophageal gland-related tissue, secretory-excretory duct-related tissue and male spicule-related tissue. Silencing DdCα1G led to impairments in the locomotion, feeding, reproductive ability and protein secretion of nematodes. To confirm the defects in behavior, we used phalloidin staining to examine muscle changes in DdCα1G-RNAi nematodes. Our observations demonstrated that defective behaviors are associated with related muscular atrophy.

Conclusion

Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the physiological functions of T-type calcium channels in plant-parasitic nematodes. The T-type calcium channel can be considered a promising target for sustainable nematode management practices.

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Data availability

The data of the present study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31872038), Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grant No.2022JJ30302), the National Key R&D Program of China (No.2023YFD1400013).

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31872038), Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Grant No.2022JJ30302), the National Key R&D Program of China (No.2023YFD1400013).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, 410128, China

    Jiahao Yang, Siyu Zhou, Ziqi Yang, Xuqi Shi, Haoran Liu, Zhuhong Yang, Zhong Ding & Shan Ye

  2. Hunan Provincial Engineering & Technology Research Center for Biopesticide and Formulation Processing, Changsha, Hunan, 410128, China

    Zhuhong Yang, Zhong Ding & Shan Ye

  3. State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China

    Deliang Peng

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Contributions

Shan Ye, Zhong Ding, Zhuhong Yang and Deliang Peng designed the research. Jiahao Yang, Siyu Zhou and Ziqi Yang performed the experiments. Xuqi Shi and Haoran Liu performed the data analysis. Jiahao Yang, Zhong Ding and Shan Ye wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Zhong Ding or Shan Ye.

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Yang, J., Zhou, S., Yang, Z. et al. Silencing of the T-type voltage-gated calcium channel α1 subunit by fungus-mediated RNAi altered the structure of F-actin and caused defective behaviors in Ditylenchus destructor. Mol Biol Rep 51, 673 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09626-y

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