Characterization of sulfakinin and sulfakinin receptor and their roles in food intake in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

•Sulfakinin and sulfakinin receptor genes of Tribolium castaneum were cloned and proteins conserved in their active regions.•qPCR demonstrated expression in over different developmental stages and high expression in the head.•RNAi experiments with dssk and dsskr caused an increase of food intake.•Injection of a SK analog in larval stages reduced food intake. Sulfakinins (SK) are multifunctional neuropeptides widely found in insects that are structurally and functionally homologous to the mammalian gastrin/cholecystokinin (CCK) neuropeptides. CCK is involved in various biological processes such as the feeding regulation where it induces satiety. In this project we characterized SK and SK receptor (SKR) of an important pest and model beetle insect, the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, with the aim to better understand the SK signaling pathway and its function in food intake. The sk gene encoded a SK precursor with 113 amino acids and the skr gene a seven-transmembrane SKR with 554 amino acids. Both genes were expressed in the larval, pupal and adult stages with different expression levels in tested tissues. By RNA interference, sk dsRNA and skr dsRNA reduced the expression of the corresponding target gene by 80–90% and 30–50%, respectively, and stimulated food intake in the larvae. In parallel, we injected insects with a SK analog reducing food intake. In conclusion, the data are discussed in relation to the SK signaling pathway and its physiological-endocrinological role in regulating food intake and potential usage in the control of important pest insects.