N-terminal acetylation is a ubiquitous protein modification conserved from yeast to human, which has a widespread biological role. Extensive research about histone and other proteins revealed the role of co-translational and post-transcriptional modifications and their impact on chromatin folding and activity of relevant genes. We used Tribolium castaneum, a model insect, to identify the role of individual histone acetyltransferase in hormone action. We performed RNAi mediated knockdown studies of various HAT genes. In this study, we show that, N-alpha-acetyltransferase, Tc015921 (NAA40) plays a significant role in metamorphosis and development. Developmental profiles of TC015921 mRNA showed increases at the later stages of last instar larvae and early pupal stage. The knockdown of the TC015921 gene showed a larval phenotype with dorsal split. Ecdysone analog, 20E induced Tc015921 expression in TcA Cells. Knockdown of TC015921 in the final instar larvae suppressed the expression of genes coding for proteins involved in ecdysone action. RNA-seq analysis of dsTc015921 identified 248 DEG at 24 h and 752 genes at 72 h and 580 genes at 120 h after dsRNA injection. We found cuticular protein significantly downregulated in all the time points. Furthermore, western blot identified changes in acetylation of Histone H4 status in Tc015921 knockdown larvae. Together, our result suggests that TC015921 affects the acetylation of histone, resulting in a change in chromatin status and expression of genes involved in development and metamorphosis.
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