Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41833004›Full record

ArticleAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)2026

A Testis-Specific Aralkylamine N-Acetyltransferase Regulates Dimorphic Sperm Function and Male Fertility in Moths.

Hao Sun, Peng-Yi Huang, Zhi-Ruo Zhang, Cong-Fen Gao, Subba Reddy Palli, Shun-Fan Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Hao SunState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1004-9261
Peng-Yi HuangState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Zhi-Ruo ZhangState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Cong-Fen GaoState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Subba Reddy PalliDepartment of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Shun-Fan WuState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0096-147X

Funding

Key Research and Development Project of Xizang Autonomous Region XZ202401ZY0031National Key R&D Program of China 2025YFE0210000National Natural Science Foundation of China 32022011
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Most Lepidopterans produce two distinct sperm types-nucleated eupyrene (fertile) and anucleate apyrene (non-fertile), yet the genetic mechanisms governing this dimorphism remain poorly understood. Using the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) as a model, we identified a Lepidoptera-conserved, testis-specific arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (LTNAT) indispensable for male fertility. Functional analyses showed that LTNAT is expressed in both sperm types, and its depletion disrupts mitochondrial derivatives (MDs) in eupyrene sperm and drastically impairs apyrene sperm motility. Multi-omics analyses revealed LTNAT mutation perturbs energy metabolism, lipid homeostasis, and transmembrane transport-alterations correlating with abnormal MD structure. Furthermore, LTNAT deficiency likely compromises apyrene sperm motility by downregulating Sex-lethal and flagellar assembly genes (e.g., dyneins and intraflagellar transport proteins). CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of LTNAT homologs in two other lepidopteran species similarly reduced male fertility, confirming functional conservation. Mass release of LTNAT-deficient males significantly suppressed female fertility in caged experiments. Collectively, LTNAT is a core regulator of dimorphic sperm development in Lepidoptera, highlighting its potential as a target for innovative insecticidal or genetic pest control.

Indexed as

Arylalkylamine N-AcetyltransferaseFertilityMothsSpermatozoaSpodopteraTestisAnimalsMaleSperm MotilityArylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferasearylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferasedimorphic spermLepidopteramitochondrial derivativessperm motility

Identifiers

PMID41833004
PMCPMC13248844

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.