The N-glycan profile of the peritrophic membrane in the Colorado potato beetle larva (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

Abstract The insect peritrophic membrane (PM) is a non-cellular structure composed of secreted proteins imbedded in a proteoglycan matrix together with chitin. It separates the midgut epithelium from the intestinal contents, and functions in the digestion of food. Furthermore it acts as a protective barrier against abrasive particles and microbial infections. Here we studied for the first time the N -glycome of the PM. We identified the N -glycan structures present in the PM of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) at the fourth larval stage using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In parallel, we correlated the N -glycan data to the presence of the N -glycosylation related genes (NGRGs) in the transcriptome of epithelial midgut cells. The presumed activities of the identified genes support the N -glycan profile resolved for the proteins in the PM. To our knowledge these data are the first report on the N -glycome of the PM of a pest insect. These results will contribute to the study of the importance of N -glycosylation in the function and structure of the PM. In addition, the data can help to find novel targets and design better biopesticides for pest control.