Effects of a protease inhibitor protein on Buchnera aphidicola and gene expression in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

Aphids are serious insect pests for agricultural and horticultural crops and may cause major economic losses. Insecticides used to control aphids have caused environmental pollution and insecticide residues in agricultural products. A new protease inhibitor gene from bacterium Xenorhabdus bovienii (Xbpi-1) and the protease inhibitor protein expressed by the gene against the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris; Hemiptera: Aphididae) have been reported, however, effects of the PIP on the symbiotic bacteria, Buchnera aphidicola, and gene expression in pea aphids are unknown. By assessing the quantity of B. aphidicola, the primary symbiotic bacterium, in the aphid fed on an artificial diet containing 100 and 500 μg/ml Xbpi-1, we observed a substantial reduction in its population by 27% and 46%, respectively, as analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, the growth of other aphid-associated bacteria was also significantly inhibited by Xbpi-1. To el..., 1. Previous studies reported that B. aphidicola was related to aphid nutrition and important for aphid growth and survival (Muller et al., 2001; Nishikor et al., 2009). Therefore, the effects of the PIP on the quantity of B. aphidicola in pea aphids were further investigated by qRT-PCR analysis. The expression level of the GROEL gene was chosen to reflect the number of B. aphidicola as that of the previous report (Sakurai et al., 2005). Relative numbers of B. aphidicola in aphids fed on the artificial diet containing different concentrations of the PIP were calculated. The GROEL gene from B. aphidicola was used for this quantitative analysis. The primer sequences were as follows: GROEL-F (5'-CGTTTCAGATCCATTGGATTCA-3') and GROEL-R (5'-AGCTCAAATGGTAAAAGAAGTTGCA-3').
2. Three-day-old aphids were placed in a glass tube with both ends closed by sealing film. Artificial feed was added into the sealing film at one end, and then the glass tube was placed in a light incubator for feeding. The ap..., , # Effects of a protease inhibitor protein on *Buchnera aphidicola* and gene expression in pea aphids (*Acyrthosiphon pisum*)

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b2rbnzsqk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b2rbnzsqk)

## Description of the data and file structure

PIP = protease inhibitor protein

Data files include:

* protease inhibitor protein (PIP)_Mortality.txt
* PIP_Relative_quantity_of_Buchnera_aphidicola.txt
* biological_process.txt
* cellular_component.txt
* molecular_function.txt
* CK.reads_mapped_stat.txt
* PIP.reads_mapped_stat.txt
* differential_Pvalue.gene.txt

### Files and variables

#### File: PIP\_Relative\_quantity\_of\_Buchnera\_aphidicola.txt

**Description:** Shows the relative quantity of *Buchnera aphidicola* (%)

##### Variables

*  0 μg/ml PIP, 100 μg/ml PIP, 500 μg/ml PIP.

### File: PIP\_Mortality.txt

**Description:** Shows aphid mortality.

##### Variables

*  0 μg/ml PIP, 100 μg/ml PIP, 500 μg/ml PIP.

### File: biological\_process.txt, cellular\_component.txt, m...