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CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of the Corazonin Gene Indicates Its Regulation on the Cuticle Development of Desert Locusts (Schistocerca gregaria)

He, Yingying; Yan, Qiang; Bi, Yong; Liu, Guosheng; Hou, Shuang; Chen, Xinyi; Zhao, Xiaoming; Zhang, Xueyao; Zhang, Min; Zhang, Jianzhen; Ma, Binbin; Warren, Benjamin; Roth, Siegfried; Zhang, Tingting

Authors

Yingying He

Qiang Yan

Yong Bi

Guosheng Liu

Shuang Hou

Xinyi Chen

Xiaoming Zhao

Xueyao Zhang

Min Zhang

Jianzhen Zhang

Binbin Ma

Siegfried Roth

Tingting Zhang



Abstract

The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) represents one of the most destructive agricultural pests globally, renowned for its ability to form massive swarms that can devastate crops and threaten food security across vast regions. Despite the widespread application of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system in several insect orders, its utilization in locusts, particularly in the desert locust, has remained relatively unexplored. We established a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing workflow for the desert locust using gene encoding for neuropeptide corazonin (Crz) as a target. We also analyzed the phenotypic and physiological characteristics of the mutant using paraffin sectioning, HE staining, and chitin staining techniques. Our findings revealed that while Crz knockout desert locusts were viable and maintained normal fertility, they exhibited striking phenotypic alterations, including albinism and a significant reduction in cuticle thickness. These observations not only highlight the functional role of Crz in pigmentation and cuticle development but also underscore the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 as a powerful tool for dissecting gene function in locusts. Furthermore, the successful application of CRISPR/Cas9 in desert locusts also paves the way for similar genetic studies in other non-model insects, expanding the scope of functional genomics in entomology.

Citation

He, Y., Yan, Q., Bi, Y., Liu, G., Hou, S., Chen, X., Zhao, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, M., Zhang, J., Ma, B., Warren, B., Roth, S., & Zhang, T. (2025). CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of the Corazonin Gene Indicates Its Regulation on the Cuticle Development of Desert Locusts (Schistocerca gregaria). Insects, 16(7), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16070704

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 7, 2025
Online Publication Date Jul 9, 2025
Publication Date 2025
Deposit Date Jul 31, 2025
Journal Insects
Electronic ISSN 2075-4450
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 16
Issue 7
Article Number 704
Pages 1-14
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16070704
Keywords CRISPR/Cas9, corazonin, Schistocerca gregaria, cuticle
Public URL https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1328308



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