Identification and Characterization Analysis of Transient Receptor Potential Mucolipin Protein of Laodelphax striatellus Fallén

Simple Summary The small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus is a destructive pest of rice, maize and wheat crops in Asia, causing damage by directly sucking phloem sap and transmitting plant viruses, and thus seriously impacting crops yields. Transient receptor potential mucolipin (TRPML) protein plays a vital role in Ca2+ ions release, resulting in membrane trafficking, autophagy and ion homeostasis; however, till now, we have learned little about the TRPML protein of agricultural pests. In this study, we first identified the TRPML of L. striatellus. We analyzed not only the gene evolutionary features and expression profiles but also clarified the protein subcellular localization and lipid-binding characteristics of Ls-TRPML. We found that TRPML is evolutionarily conserved among agricultural pests. Ls-TRPML is predominately expressed in L. striatellus ovary. Moreover, we found that Ls-TRPML localizes in the nuclear membrane in Spodoptera frugiperda cells and the intestine and ovary of L. striatellus. The binding of Ls-TRPML with lipids was detected by lipid-binding assay, indicating the potential role of Ls-TRPML in lipid interaction. Thus, our findings first helped us analyze the gene characterization of Ls-TRPML and then identify the binding of Ls-TRPML with lipids; our findings will broaden our understanding of TRPML’s roles in agricultural pests. Abstract Transient receptor potential mucolipin (TRPML) protein in flies plays a pivotal role in Ca2+ ions release, resulting in membrane trafficking, autophagy and ion homeostasis. However, to date, the characterization of TRPML in agricultural pests remains unknown. Here, we firstly reported the TRPML of a destructive pest of gramineous crops, Laodelphax striatellus. The L. striatellus TRPML (Ls-TRPML) has a 1818 bp open reading frame, encoding 605 amino acid. TRPML in agricultural pests is evolutionarily conserved, and the expression of Ls-TRPML is predominately higher in the ovary than in other organs of L. striatellus at the transcript and protein level. The Bac–Bac system showed that Ls-TRPML localized in the plasma membrane, nuclear membrane and nucleus and co-localized with lysosome in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The immunofluorescence microscopy analysis showed that Ls-TRPML localized in the cytoplasm and around the nuclei of the intestine cells or ovary follicular cells of L. striatellus. The results from the lipid-binding assay revealed that Ls-TRPML strongly bound to phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate, as compared with other phosphoinositides. Overall, our results helped is identify and characterize the TRPML protein of L. striatellus, shedding light on the function of TRPML in multiple cellular processes in agricultural pests.


Bioinformatics
The amino acid (aa) sequence of Nilaparvata lugens TRPML (XP_039298120) was used as a query to search the L. striatellus genome (GCA_017141395.1). We obtained the TRPML mRNA sequence and cloned, sequenced the open reading frame (ORF), then submitted the ORF sequence to the NCBI GenBank (MZ476564). The functional modules of Ls-TRPML was predicted by using InterPro (online website: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/interpro/, accessed on 11 December 2021) and Smart (online website: http://smart.embl-heidelberg.de/, accessed on 11 December 2021). The signal peptide of Ls-TRPML was predicted by using NovoPro (online website: https://novopro.cn/tools/signalp, accessed on 11 December 2021). The nuclear localization signal of Ls-TRPML was predicted by using the cNLS Mapper online website (http://nls-mapper.iab.keio.ac.jp/cgi-bin/NLS_Mapper_form.cgi, accessed on 11 December 2021). The amino acid sequences of TRPML or Mucolipin of the agricultural pest insects and Drosophila melanogaster were obtained from the NCBI database. The phylogenetic tree was built with the neighbor-joining method, using MEGA7 software, based on the alignment of the sequences determined, using ClustalW. The boot-strap consensus tree was inferred from 5000 replicates.

RNA Extraction and RT-qPCR Assay
The total RNA of pools (50 L. striatellus) of second-to-fifth instar nymphs, female and male adults and various organs (central nervous system, salivary gland, intestine, ovary and testis) dissected with tweezers under an optical microscope from 100 L. striatellus adults were extracted by RNAiso plus (Takara), according to the manufacturer's instructions. The cDNA was reverse-transcribed from 1 µg extracted total RNA with PrimeScript™ RT reagent kit with gDNA Eraser (Takara), following the manufacturer's instructions. RT-qPCR was conducted by using IQ™ 5 multicolor real-time PCR detection system (BIO-RAD) with TB Green Premix Ex Taq reagent (Takara). The relative gene expression was normalized to an internal control gene, alpha tubulin (primers listed in Table S1), as we described previously [27], and calculated by 2 −∆∆CT (cycle threshold) method. Each experiment contained three independent biological and three technical replications.

Baculovirus Expression of Ls-TRPML in Sf9 Cells
A recombinant baculovirus expression system was used to investigate the localization of Ls-TRPML expressed in Sf9 cells, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Briefly, Ls-TRPML fused with a 6× His tag (Ls-TRPML-His) (primers listed in Table S1) was cloned and then inserted into a pFastBac1 vector. The pFastBac1-Ls-TRPML-His plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli DH10 Bac cells (Thermo) to prepare the recombinant bacmids. Then the recombinant bacmids DNA were transfected into Sf9 cells, using Lipofectamine 3000 reagent (Thermo) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The culture supernatant was collected at 3 days after the recombinant bacmids transfected. After 30 h of incubation with the Ls-TRPML-His recombinant baculovirus (culture supernatant), the infected Sf9 cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy.

Immunofluorescence Microscopy
The intestines and ovaries of adult L. striatellus were dissected on iced 1× PBS (pH 7.4) (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China) with tweezers, under an optical microscope; fixed with 2% PFA for 2 h; and then permeabilized with 2% Triton X-100 for 30 min. The organs were immunolabeled with Ls-TRPML-specific peptide rabbit antibody (produced by GenScript, 1:200) for 1 h; then they were rinsed with 1 × PBS for 3 times and immunolabeled with goat anti-rabbit IgG H&L (Alexa Fluor ® 594) (Abcam, 1:200) for 1 h at room temperature. At last, the L. striatellus organs were dyed with DAPI (C1005, Beyotime Biotec.) for 10 min at room temperature. The Ls-TRPML antibody unlabeled organs of L. striatellus were set as the control. All samples were analyzed with LSM 710 (ZEISS, Jena, Germany) for confocal microscopy.
For baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells, the cells were rinsed with 1× PBS for 3 times, fixed with 2% PFA for 30 min and then permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 for 15 min. The cells were immunolabeled with 6× His-tag antibody (Thermo, MA1-21315-A555, 1:100) for 1 h, then rinsed and dyed with DAPI for 5 min at room temperature. The cells directly incubated with LysoTracker™ Deep Red (Invitrogen, 1:200) for 30 min at dark environment. The LysoTracker-treated cells were rinsed, fixed, permeabilized and immunolabeled with 6× His-tag antibody (Thermo) for 1 h; then they were rinsed and dyed with DAPI for 5 min at room temperature. All samples were analyzed with LSM 710 (ZEISS, Jena, Germany).

Plasmid Construction
The nucleotide sequence of Ls-TRPML open reading frame of L. striatellus was amplified by PrimeSTAR ® Max DNA Polymerase (Takara) and cloned into pEASY-Blunt zero vector (TransGen Biotech) for sequencing. The Ls-TRPML gene was amplified by the primers listed in Table S1 and constructed into pMal-C2X for protein expression. The positive clones were sequenced and detected with the restriction enzyme (Takara) by double digestion, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Protein Expression and Purification
The E. coli BL21 (DE3) Rosetta cells containing expression plasmids were grown at 37 • C to an optical density at 600 nm (OD 600 ) of 0.6-0.8 and induced with 0.4 mM IPTG at 16 • C for 16 h. The induced cells were centrifuged at 12,000 rpm, 4 • C for 10 min, and then sonicated in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, 200 mM NaCl, 5% glycerol, 5 mM DTT and 1% Triton X-100, pH 8.0). The sonicated cells were centrifuged at 15,000× g, 4 • C for 30 min. Then the supernatant was filtered with 0.45 µm filter before incubation with amylose column for maltose binding protein (MBP)-tagged protein at 4 • C for 1 h. MBP-tagged proteins were washed with reduced salt (20 mM Tris-HCl, 25 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM β-mercaptoethanol, pH 8.0) and eluted with maltose elution buffer (3.6 mg/mL maltose in reduced salt). The purified proteins were store at −20 • C for further use.

Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed by using the SPSS software (version 19.0). One-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test, was applied for multiple comparisons.

Identification of TRPML in L. striatellus
The amino acid (aa) sequence of Nilaparvata lugens TRPML (AOR81477.1,~66.33 kilodalton, KDa) was used as a query to search the L. striatellus genome (GCA_017141395.1). We amplified, cloned and sequenced the open reading frame of Ls-TRPML (1818 bp) ( Figure S1B) and then submitted the sequence to NCBI GenBank (MZ476564). TRPML in Caenorhabditis elegans and flies contains five or six transmembrane regions [2]. To analyze the potential functional modules of Ls-TRPML, we firstly predicted Ls-TRPML domains by using the Smart online website and found that Ls-TRPML encodes 605 amino acids protein (~66.55 KDa) and contains five transmembrane regions, from 304 to 522 aa ( Figure S1A,C). Additionally, we analyzed the Ls-TRPML protein by InterPro online website and found that Ls-TRPML is one canonical member of Mucolipin (TRPML) family, contains one transmembrane region (304-326 aa) and a Polycystic kidney diseases (PKD) channel domain (335-528 aa) ( Figure S1D), indicating that Ls-TRPML is one member of TRPML and the functional modules are similar to the TRPML of flies and worms.
To analyze whether TRPML is conserved in agricultural pests, we constructed a phylogenetic tree of the TRPML protein sequences of 25 agricultural pest insects from Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Thysanoptera and Hemiptera. The result showed that TRPML of Leptinotarsa decemlineat from the Coleoptera has a close relation with the Lepidoptera TRPML protein sequence ( Figure 1A). The TRPML protein is evolutionarily conserved in Lepidoptera; interestingly, the Plutella xylostella has a relative distal relevance to other insects TRPML of Lepidoptera ( Figure 1A). What is more, the Bemisia tabaci from Hemiptera has a close relation with thrips from the Thysanoptera ( Figure 1A). We found that the TRPML amino acids of aphids, including Sipha flava, Aphis gossypii, Diuraphis noxia, Myzus persicae and Acyrthosiphon pisum, have close genetic relationship, the Sipha flava have a relative distal relevance to the other four aphids TRPML ( Figure 1A). Additionally, we found that the D. melanogaster TRPML protein sequence has a 57.12% similarity with Ls-TRPML, and Nl-TRPML protein sequence has a 92.41% similarity with Ls-TRPML (Figure 1), indicating that TRPML is evolutionarily conserved in insects. All of these data suggested that TRPML is highly conserved in agricultural pests. In order to analyze the Ls-TRPML property in more detail, we analyzed and found that Ls-TRPML does not contain signal peptide. Moreover, the nuclear localization signals of Ls-TRPML were predicted by using the cNLS Mapper online website, and we found that Ls-TRPML contains a bipartite nuclear localization signal (573-600 aa, KRTVSKLCCWRKPTLTSFVL-Insects 2021, 12, 1107 6 of 14 GRKKTYPP), with a cutoff score of 6 ( Figure S1A,B), indicating that Ls-TRPML may play roles in the nuclei of L. striatellus.
x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 13 and found that Ls-TRPML does not contain signal peptide. Moreover, the nuclear localization signals of Ls-TRPML were predicted by using the cNLS Mapper online website, and we found that Ls-TRPML contains a bipartite nuclear localization signal (573-600 aa, KRTVSKLCCWRKPTLTSFVLGRKKTYPP), with a cutoff score of 6 ( Figure S1A,B), indicating that Ls-TRPML may play roles in the nuclei of L. striatellus.

The Expression Profile Analysis of Ls-TRPML
In order to investigate the potential role of Ls-TRPML in the life progress of L. striatellus, we analyzed the expression profiles of Ls-TRPML in second instar to fifth instar, female and male adult L. striatellus. We found that the transcript level of Ls-TRPML in adult L. striatellus was notably higher than that in nymphs, and the expression of Ls-TRPML in the female rice planthopper was significantly higher than the expression in male L. striatellus (Figure 2A), indicating the possible role of Ls-TRPML in females. What is more, we found that the expression of Ls-TRPML in third-instar L. striatellus was relative higher than in other instar nymphs L. striatellus, and there were no significant differences among second, fourth and fifth instar L. striatellus nymphs (Figure 2A).

The Expression Profile Analysis of Ls-TRPML
In order to investigate the potential role of Ls-TRPML in the life progress of L. striatellus, we analyzed the expression profiles of Ls-TRPML in second instar to fifth instar, female and male adult L. striatellus. We found that the transcript level of Ls-TRPML in adult L. striatellus was notably higher than that in nymphs, and the expression of Ls-TRPML in the female rice planthopper was significantly higher than the expression in male L. striatellus (Figure 2A), indicating the possible role of Ls-TRPML in females. What is more, we found that the expression of Ls-TRPML in third-instar L. striatellus was relative higher than in other instar nymphs L. striatellus, and there were no significant differences among second, fourth and fifth instar L. striatellus nymphs (Figure 2A).
To reveal the expression of Ls-TRPML at the protein level, we prepared the rabbit anti-Ls-TRPML polyclonal antibody against Ls-TRPML peptide KGWDPTREVSSYPPC (produced by GenScript) to detect the Ls-TRPML expression in different instars, female and male L. striatellus. The Ls-TRPML peptide antibody could detect Ls-TRPML protein specifically ( Figure S2). The accumulation of Ls-TRPML in females was significantly higher than that in other instars or male L. striatellus ( Figure 2B), as was consistent with the transcript levels of Ls-TRPML in L. striatellus.  Table S1) gene and estimated by using the 2 −ΔΔCt (cycle threshold) method. CNS, central nervous system; Sg, salivary gland; Intes, intestine; Ov, ovary. Multiple comparisons of the means (±SE) were conducted by using a one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. Values are the means (±SE) of three biological replicates.
In order to elucidate the expression of Ls-TRPML further, we dissected the organs (central nervous system, salivary gland, intestine, ovary and testis) of adult L. striatellus and detected the transcript expression levels of Ls-TRPML. We found that the abundance of Ls-TRPML in the ovary was significantly higher than that in other tissues, and there were no differences of Ls-TRPML expression in other tissues of L. striatellus ( Figure 2C). Additionally, Western blotting was performed to detect the protein accumulation of Ls-TRPML in different organs. We found that the expression of Ls-TRPML was notably higher in the ovary than in other organs ( Figure 2D). These data suggest the potential role that Ls-TRPML played in the ovary of L. striatellus. Taken together, all of the data indicated that Ls-TRPML may play a role in female adult L. striatellus. To reveal the expression of Ls-TRPML at the protein level, we prepared the rabbit anti-Ls-TRPML polyclonal antibody against Ls-TRPML peptide KGWDPTREVSSYPPC (produced by GenScript) to detect the Ls-TRPML expression in different instars, female and male L. striatellus. The Ls-TRPML peptide antibody could detect Ls-TRPML protein specifically ( Figure S2). The accumulation of Ls-TRPML in females was significantly higher than that in other instars or male L. striatellus ( Figure 2B), as was consistent with the transcript levels of Ls-TRPML in L. striatellus.

The Subcellular Localization of Ls-TRPML in Sf9 Cells
In order to elucidate the expression of Ls-TRPML further, we dissected the organs (central nervous system, salivary gland, intestine, ovary and testis) of adult L. striatellus and detected the transcript expression levels of Ls-TRPML. We found that the abundance of Ls-TRPML in the ovary was significantly higher than that in other tissues, and there were no differences of Ls-TRPML expression in other tissues of L. striatellus ( Figure 2C). Additionally, Western blotting was performed to detect the protein accumulation of Ls-TRPML in different organs. We found that the expression of Ls-TRPML was notably higher in the ovary than in other organs ( Figure 2D). These data suggest the potential role that Ls-TRPML played in the ovary of L. striatellus. Taken together, all of the data indicated that Ls-TRPML may play a role in female adult L. striatellus.

The Subcellular Localization of Ls-TRPML in Sf9 Cells
To further uncover the localization of Ls-TRPML, we first introduced the baculovirus expression system to investigate the Ls-TRPML subcellular localization in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. We found that the recombinant bacmids of Ls-TRPML-His (presented as red) were expressed in the plasma membrane, nuclear membrane, nucleus, and some aggregated and formed punctate structures in the cytoplasm, as indicated with arrows (Figure 3A). Undoubtedly, no fluorescence signal of His protein was detected in the baculovirus uninfected Sf9 cells ( Figure 3A).
Insects 2021, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW To further uncover the localization of Ls-TRPML, we first introduced the bacul expression system to investigate the Ls-TRPML subcellular localization in Spodopte giperda (Sf9) cells. We found that the recombinant bacmids of Ls-TRPML-His (pres as red) were expressed in the plasma membrane, nuclear membrane, nucleus, and aggregated and formed punctate structures in the cytoplasm, as indicated with a ( Figure 3A). Undoubtedly, no fluorescence signal of His protein was detected in th ulovirus uninfected Sf9 cells ( Figure 3A). TRPML is an endolysosomal calcium channel and a key player in the endolyso pathway [28]. To examine the localization of Ls-TRPML in more detail, we explor localization relations of Ls-TRPML with lysosome in Sf9 cells; we found that LysoTr the indicator of lysosome, was localized in the cytoplasm and formed punctate stru TRPML is an endolysosomal calcium channel and a key player in the endolysosomal pathway [28]. To examine the localization of Ls-TRPML in more detail, we explored the localization relations of Ls-TRPML with lysosome in Sf9 cells; we found that LysoTracker, the indicator of lysosome, was localized in the cytoplasm and formed punctate structures (presented as green) in the control treated Sf9 cells (indicated with arrows), while Ls-Insects 2021, 12, 1107 9 of 14 TRPML (presented as red) mainly co-localized with LysoTracker (presented as green) in the cytoplasm of Ls-TRPML-His baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells ( Figure 3B). Thus, these results revealed the characterization and localization of Ls-TRPML further.

The Subcellular Localization of Ls-TRPML in L. striatellus
The TRPML channels are the only cation channels known so far to be localized and function in the cellular digestive tract [5]. The intestine of the insect is a pivotal organ for studying genes characterization. To investigate the localization of Ls-TRPML in real condition, we dissected and immunolabeled the intestine of adult L. striatellus and found that Ls-TRPML polypeptide antibody could be specifically detected in the epithelial cells of the intestine, the Ls-TRPML located in the cytoplasm and some of the Ls-TRPML located around the nuclei of L. striatellus cells ( Figure 4A). Due to the high expression of Ls-TRPML in the ovary, we also dissected and immunolabeled the ovary with Ls-TRPML polypeptide antibody. The Ls-TRPML specifically localized in the cytosol of follicular cells ( Figure 4B), suggesting the potential role of Ls-TRPML in female L. striatellus.
Insects 2021, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 13 (presented as green) in the control treated Sf9 cells (indicated with arrows), while Ls-TRPML (presented as red) mainly co-localized with LysoTracker (presented as green) in the cytoplasm of Ls-TRPML-His baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells ( Figure 3B). Thus, these results revealed the characterization and localization of Ls-TRPML further.

The Subcellular Localization of Ls-TRPML in L. striatellus
The TRPML channels are the only cation channels known so far to be localized and function in the cellular digestive tract [5]. The intestine of the insect is a pivotal organ for studying genes characterization. To investigate the localization of Ls-TRPML in real condition, we dissected and immunolabeled the intestine of adult L. striatellus and found that Ls-TRPML polypeptide antibody could be specifically detected in the epithelial cells of the intestine, the Ls-TRPML located in the cytoplasm and some of the Ls-TRPML located around the nuclei of L. striatellus cells ( Figure 4A). Due to the high expression of Ls-TRPML in the ovary, we also dissected and immunolabeled the ovary with Ls-TRPML polypeptide antibody. The Ls-TRPML specifically localized in the cytosol of follicular cells ( Figure 4B), suggesting the potential role of Ls-TRPML in female L. striatellus.

Discussion
Although the function of TRPML has been studied extensively in flies and worms, the TRPML function in agricultural pests remains unknown. In contrast, TRPML1 has six transmembrane segments and a pore loop between transmembrane segments [1], and Ls-TRPML has five transmembrane regions from 304-522 aa predicted by Smart online website ( Figure S1A,C). However, protein-domain prediction by InterPro showed that Ls-TRPML contains one transmembrane region and one polycystic kidney disease (PKD) channel ( Figure S1A). The PKD channel was related to TRPP, the unclassical TRPs [32]. We analyzed the identity of Ls-TRPML with Ls-TRPP-like protein (RZF41628.1) and found that the two proteins only share 8.27% of identity ( Figure S4). However, whether Ls-TRPML has a TRPP function in cellular processes in L. striatellus needs further exploration. The different predictions between InterPro and Smart may be caused by the database or algorithm difference referred by the website. The TRPML of different agricultural

Discussion
Although the function of TRPML has been studied extensively in flies and worms, the TRPML function in agricultural pests remains unknown. In contrast, TRPML1 has six transmembrane segments and a pore loop between transmembrane segments [1], and Ls-TRPML has five transmembrane regions from 304-522 aa predicted by Smart online website ( Figure S1A,C). However, protein-domain prediction by InterPro showed that Ls-TRPML contains one transmembrane region and one polycystic kidney disease (PKD) channel ( Figure S1A). The PKD channel was related to TRPP, the unclassical TRPs [32]. We analyzed the identity of Ls-TRPML with Ls-TRPP-like protein (RZF41628.1) and found that the two proteins only share 8.27% of identity ( Figure S4). However, whether Ls-TRPML has a TRPP function in cellular processes in L. striatellus needs further exploration. The different predictions between InterPro and Smart may be caused by the database or algorithm difference referred by the website. The TRPML of different agricultural insect pests is evolutionarily conserved (Figure 1A), and Ls-TRPML shares 92.41% of its amino acid identity with the Nl-TRPML of another rice planthopper; whether the TRPMLs shares similar functions in agricultural pests needs to be amply investigated in the future.
One notable sequence motif in Ls-TRPML is a typical bipartite nuclear localization signal, as with other TRPMLs [33]. We observed that Ls-TRPML-His localized in the nuclear membrane and some aggregated in the nuclei of Sf9 cells ( Figure 3A); whether the nucleus entry Ls-TRPML phosphorylated to modulate other proteins functions in L. striatellus needs to be explored further. Consistent with the localization of Drosophila TRPML in HEK293 and Drosophila cells [7,34], Ls-TRPML-His localized in the plansma membrane, nuclear membrane and nucleus and co-localized with lysosome in Sf9 cells ( Figure 3A,B). The specific polypeptide antibody was used to detect the localization by immunofluorescence microscopy, and we found that Ls-TRPML was located around the nuclei in L. striatellus intestine and follicular cells ( Figure 4A,B). The results are consistent with the localization of Ls-TRPML-His in Sf9 cells. The localization to the plasma membrane and lysosome suggests that Ls-TRPML may be involved in mediating membrane and endolysosome trafficking.
Ls-TRPML is ubiquitously expressed among different organs. The transcript and protein level of Ls-TRPML in the ovary were notably higher than that in other organs, resulting the high expression in female adult L. striatellus (Figure 2A,B). TRP channels, as the calcium permeable cation channel, exert their role as sensory detectors in both male and female gametes and play regulatory functions in germ cell development and maturation [35]. The Ca 2+ is taken up and stored in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to be utilized during oocyte maturation and fertilization [36,37]. What is more, the requirement of Ca 2+ for egg activation and ovulation is evolutionarily conserved and found throughout the animal kingdom, from arthropods to higher primates [35,38]. Whether Ls-TRPML responds to a variety of signals to change the Ca 2+ waves during oocyte maturation and fertilization and then modulates the reproduction needs further investigation.
TRPML, as a key regulator, could be activated by PI(3,5)P 2 and manipulates Ca 2+ release to regulate the autophagy pathway [7,34,39]. In this study, we found that Ls-TRPML was bound to PI(3,5)P 2 stronger than with other PIPs by lipid-binding assay ( Figure 5E), indicating that PI(3,5)P 2 , the low-abundance PIPs [40], may play a role in manipulating autophagy biogenesis. Viral infection triggers autophagy response in vector insect [41,42]. As L. striatellus is the vector of various crops viruses, whether Ls-TRPML interacts with or is hijacked by other host factors to modulate the autophagy pathway to regulate the viral infection needs to be further explored by detailed studies. In nonimmune cells, the TRPML2 channel, as one of the interferon stimulating genes, enhances yellow fever virus infectivity by promoting viral uptake [43][44][45], while in immune cells, the higher expression of TRPML2 directly improves and activates PAMP receptor engagement to clear the virus [46][47][48]. Whether viral infection increased Ls-TRPML expression to arouse or inhibit the immune response pathway to regulate viral infection in L. striatellus needs further exploration. Such research studies will not only advance our knowledge of fundamental processes of Ls-TRPML involved in cell biology, but also will help us to elucidate the TRPML function in pathogenesis modulated by pathogenic microbes.

Conclusions
Here, in this study, we identified and characterized the TRPML protein of one agricultural pest, Laodelphax striatellus (small brown planthopper). We first analyzed the evolutionary tree of TRPML proteins of agricultural pests and found a close evolutionary relationship between Ls-TRPML and Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper). Next, we examined and found that Ls-TRPML is predominately expressed in the ovary of L. striatellus at the transcript and protein levels. Subsequently, we revealed the subcellular localization of Ls-TRPML protein in Spodoptera frugiperda cells and L. striatellus organs by the Bac-Bac system and immunofluorescence microscopy, respectively. At last, we elucidated the interaction of Ls-TRPML with phosphoinositides by lipid-binding assay. The high expression of Ls-TRPML in the ovary deserves further specific studies to evaluate the potential role in the ovary development or reproduction of L. striatellus. Moreover, the specific binding of Ls-TRPML with phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P 2 ] suggests the complex role of Ls-TRPML in multiple cellular process.
Supplementary Materials: The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10 .3390/insects12121107/s1. Figure Figure S2: Detection of Ls-TRPML polypeptide antibody by Western blotting. Arrow indicates the desired protein. Figure S3: Double digestion detection of Pmal-c2X-TRPML. Figure S4: Protein-sequence identity of Ls-TRPML and Ls-TRPP-like protein. Table S1: Primers used in the research. Sequence in lowercase is the vector sequence. Underlined sequence is 6×His-tag sequence. Red color sequence is target gene sequence.