Leucine aminopeptidase1 controls egg deposition and hatchability in male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Xiaomei Sun, Xueli Wang, Kai Shi, Xiangyang Lyu, Jian Sun, Alexander S. Raikhel and Zhen Zou ()
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Xiaomei Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xueli Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Kai Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiangyang Lyu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jian Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Alexander S. Raikhel: University of California
Zhen Zou: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Aedes aegypti are vectors for several arboviruses infecting hundreds of millions of people annually. Controlling mosquito populations by regulating their reproduction is a potential strategy to minimize viral transmission in the absence of effective antiviral therapies or vaccines. Here, we demonstrate that leucine aminopeptidase1 (LAP1), detected by a SWATH-MS-based proteomic screen of female spermathecae, is a crucial determinant in mosquito population expansion. Mitochondrial defects and aberrant autophagy of sperm in LAP1 mutant males (LAP1−/−), prepared using CRISPR/Cas9 system, result in a reduction of reproduction in wild-type females that mated with them. The fitness of LAP1−/− males is strong enough to efficiently transmit genetic changes to mosquito populations through a low number of hatchable offspring. Thus, LAP1−/− males represent an opportunity to suppress mosquito populations and further studies should be undertaken to characterize LAP1’s suitability for gene drive usage.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44444-z

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