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Nuclear Receptor Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNF4) Controls Reproduction and Survival in Cotton Aphids by Regulating Lipid Metabolism
by
Nanthini Sadasivam
1, 
Woo-Ram Park
2,
Byungyoon Choi
2,
Ji-Won Baek
1,
Sunmin Kim
1,
Hui-Jin Bae
1 and
Don-Kyu Kim
1,2,*
1
Department of Integrative Food, Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
2
Host-Directed Antiviral Research Centre, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(12), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16121216 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 22 October 2025
/
Revised: 20 November 2025
/
Accepted: 27 November 2025
/
Published: 28 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Molecular Biology and Genomics)
Simple Summary
Nuclear receptors are a family of ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate key physiological processes, including development, reproduction, and metabolism in insects. Although nuclear receptors are known to be involved in several processes, the structural and functional role of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) in aphids remain largely unexplored. Understanding how HNF4 contributes to lipid metabolism is essential to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying aphid survival and reproduction. Therefore, this study aims to characterized the HNF4 gene in cotton aphid Aphis gossypii (AgHNF4), and investigate the functional role in lipid metabolism, survival, and reproduction though molecular characterization, expression profiling, and RNAi mediated gene silencing. These findings highlight AgHNF4 as a potential molecular target for aphid pest management.
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are a family of ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate the development, reproduction, survival, and immune responses in insects. However, the structural, biological, and molecular functions of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) in aphids remain unknown. Aphids are small agricultural pests that directly affect crops due to their rapid reproductive ability, which is influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and photoperiod. In this study, we cloned full-length cDNA encoding HNF4 from the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii (A. gossypii, Hemiptera: Aphididae) (AgHNF4) and investigated its role in regulating lipid metabolic gene expression, aphid survival, and reproduction. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AgHNF4 shares an evolutionary lineage with other hemipteran insects. The ligand binding domain region of AgHNF4 showed significance in nuclear localization and transcriptional activity. The expression pattern of AgHNF4 was detected in the stages of the aphid life cycle, with notable expression during the 2nd instar, 4th instar, and adult stages. Furthermore, to understand the role of HNF4 in regulating lipid metabolic genes involved in fatty acid synthesis and transport, HNF4-silenced A. gossypii individuals were analyzed. The results showed downregulation of lipid metabolic genes and reduced offspring production and survival rates. Therefore, A. gossypii HNF4 serves as a potential target for regulating lipid metabolism, and targeting HNF4 expression could offer a promising approach to aphid pest control.
Keywords:
nuclear receptors; HNF4; cotton aphids; survival; reproduction; lipid metabolism; lipid mobilization
