Figure 5
Changes in the gene expression and lipid composition in the sphingomyelin metabolism. (A,B) Quantification of the relative peak area of major sphingomyelin (A) and middle sphingomyelin (B) lipid species in parasitized and control aphids. Data are means ± SEM; n = 6/group. ***p < 0.01. (C) The sphingomyelin metabolism is induced in A. gossypii after exposure to cold conditions. Select sphingomyelin metabolites in the KEGG pathway, were significantly regulated in parasitized aphids. Red boxes indicate increased gene expression levels in parasitized insects and blue boxes indicate the high expression levels of sphingomyelin components. Cers, ceramide synthetase; KDSR, 3-dehydrosphinganine reductase; SGMS, shingomyelin synthase; Lacz, beta-galactosidase; GBA, glucosylceramidase. (D) Sphingomyelin base chemistry and fatty acyl chains in parasitized and control aphids. Data are means ± SEM (n = 6/group).
