The OnSPN2 from the nipa palm hispid beetle Octodonta nipae is a multipurpose defense tool against proteases from different peptidase families

Abstract Serpins (serine protease inhibitors) constitute a superfamily of proteins with functional diversity and unusual conformational flexibility. In insects, serpins act as multiple inhibitors, by forming inactive acyl‐enzyme complexes, in regulating Spätzles activation, phenoloxidases (POs) activity, and other cytokines. In this study, we present the cloning and characterization of Octodonta nipae serpin2 (OnSPN2), a 415 residues protein homologous to Tenebrio molitor 42Dd‐like. Notably, OnSPN2 features an arginine residue (R364) at the P1 position, and additional arginine residues (R362, R367) at the P3 and P3′ positions, respectively which is crucial for protease inhibition. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot analyses revealed that OnSPN2 is primarily synthesized in plasmatocytes and then released into the plasma to exert its function. RNA interference results indicated that OnSPN2 knockdown may depress serine protease in melanization and remarkably increase the transcript level of Attacin in hemolymph, but its messenger RNA levels were not changed upon immune induction. Reciprocal co‐immunoprecipitation assay results confirmed that OnSPN2 binds to OnPPAF1 and OnSP8, indicating its role as a negative regulator in the PO and AMP pathway. Intriguingly, several cathepsin‐L isoforms were identified in the OnSPN2 immunoprecipitated samples. The cathepsin‐L inhibition assays and protein–protein docking results, identified cathepsin‐L as a potential target of OnSPN2. These results indicate that OnSPN2 is produced as an intracellular resident and additionally is associated with the PO and AMP pathway. OnSPN2 represents a multiple defense tool that may provide multiple antiproteolytic functions.