AUTHOR=Xu Kang-Kang , Pan Bi-Ying , Wang Yuan-Yuan , Ren Qian-Qian , Li Can 

TITLE=Roles of the PTP61F Gene in Regulating Energy Metabolism of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.01071

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2020.01071

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator in the insulin signaling pathway. It belongs to a class of non-receptor phosphatases of protein tyrosine phosphatase and can catalyze the dephosphorylation of tyrosine to regulate cell differentiation, growth, and metabolism. However, few studies have focused on the role of PTP1B in regulating energy metabolism of insects. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles and the functions of a <italic>PTP1B</italic> gene (designated <italic>TcPTP61F</italic>) in the red flour beetle <italic>Tribolium castaneum</italic>. Quantitative real-time PCR analyzed showed that <italic>TcPTP61F</italic> was highly expressed in the pupal and adult stages. In adult tissues, <italic>TcPTP61F</italic> was prominently expressed in the tarsus and head. RNA interference-mediated silencing of <italic>TcPTP61F</italic> reduced the expression of eight genes in trehalose metabolic and glycolytic pathways. <italic>TcPTP61F</italic> depletion also caused a significant change in the distribution of trehalose, glucose, and glycogen. Additionally, knockdown of <italic>TcPTP61F</italic> inhibited the pyruvate kinase (PK) activity and significantly decreased the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level. The results suggest that <italic>TcPTP61F</italic> is indispensible for trehalose and energy metabolism of <italic>T. castaneum</italic>.</p>