D3362: pBurs RNAi influences the immunity and growth-related gene expression in the red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum

Bursicon is a heterodimeric neuropeptide composed of bursicon (burs) and partner of burs (pburs) subunits responsible for cuticle sclerotization and wing maturation in insects. Bursicon subunits could also form homodimers and burs homodimers have been shown to be involved in midgut stem cell proliferation and prophylactic immunity. However, the specific role of pburs homodimers remains elusive. In the present study, transcriptome analysis of the gene expression profiles in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, revealed distinctive alterations in the expression of genes involved in immunity, metabolism, growth and development, and reproduction 12 h and 24 h post dspburs treatment. A set of randomly selected genes were analyzed using qRT-PCR to confirm the reliability of the transcriptome data. Collectively, this in-depth transcription analysis revealed that pburs mediates directly or indirectly the expression of genes involved in immunity, metabolism, growth and reproduction of T. castaneum.