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Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (LRP2) is a multifunctional endocytic receptor expressed in epithelial cells. In mammals, it acts as an endocytic receptor that mediates the cellular uptake of cholesterol-containing apolipoproteins to maintain lipid homeostasis. However, little is known about the role of LRP2 in lipid homeostasis in insects. In the present study, we investigated the function of LRP2 in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria (LmLRP2). The mRNA of LmLRP2 is widely distributed in various tissues, including integument, wing pads, foregut, midgut, hindgut, Malpighian tubules and fat body, and the amounts of LmLRP2 transcripts decreased gradually in the early stages and then increased in the late stages before ecdysis during the nymphal developmental stage. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that the LmLRP2 protein is mainly located in cellular membranes of the midgut and hindgut. Using RNAi to silence LmLRP2 caused molting defects in nymphs (more than 60%), and the neutral lipid was found to accumulate in the midgut and surface of the integument, but not in the fat body, of dsLmLRP2-treated nymphs. The results of a lipidomics analysis showed that the main components of lipids (diglyceride and triglyceride) were significantly increased in the midgut, but decreased in the fat body and hemolymph. Furthermore, the content of total triglyceride was significantly increased in the midgut, but markedly decreased in the fat body and hemolymph in dsLmLRP2-injected nymphs. Our results indicate that LmLRP2 is located in the cellular membranes of midgut cells, and is required for lipid export from the midgut to the hemolymph and fat body in locusts. |
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