Horizontal gene transfer and duplication of SUC1 contributed to evolution of lepidopteran insects

RNA-seq revealed that the interruption of SUC disrupted larvae metabolic homeostasis and affected silk gland development and protein synthesis. our findings highlight not only the universal function of SUC with a potential link to the maintenance carbohydrate metabolism but also an underexplored space in the gene function of silk gland. This study provides valuable insights into how post-transfer duplication and subsequent functional diversification contribute to evolutionary advantages and lineage-specific adaptations on insects.