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Li J, Lyu B, Song Q. TGF-β Type II Receptor Punt Suppresses Antimicrobial Peptide Expression and Influences Development in Tribolium castaneum. INSECTS 2023; 14:515. [PMID: 37367331 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily in insects regulated various physiological events, including immune response, growth and development, and metamorphosis. This complex network of signaling pathways involves conserved cell-surface receptors and signaling co-receptors that allow for precisely coordinated cellular events. However, the roles of TGF-β receptors, particularly the type II receptor Punt, in mediating the innate immunity in insects remains unclear. In this study, we used the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, as a model species to investigate the role of TGF-β type II receptor Punt in mediating antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression. Developmental and tissue-specific transcript profiles revealed Punt was constitutively expressed throughout development, with the highest transcript level in 1-day female pupae and the lowest transcript level in 18-day larvae. Tissue specific expression profiles showed the highest transcript level of Punt was observed in the Malpighian tubule and ovary in 18-day larvae and 1-day female adults, respectively, suggesting Punt might have distinct functions in larvae and adults. Further results indicated that Punt RNAi in the 18-day larvae led to increased transcript level of AMP genes through transcription factor Relish, leading to inhibition of Escherichia coli proliferation. Knockdown of Punt in larvae also led to splitting of adult elytra and abnormal compound eyes. Furthermore, knockdown of Punt during the female pupal stage resulted in increased transcript levels of AMP genes, as well as abnormal ovary, reduced fecundity, and failure of eggs to hatch. This study deepens our understanding of the biological significance of Punt in insect TGF-β signaling and lays the groundwork for further research of its role in insect immune response, development, and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Bo Lyu
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Li J, Yin L, Bi J, Stanley D, Feng Q, Song Q. The TGF-β Receptor Gene Saxophone Influences Larval-Pupal-Adult Development in Tribolium castaneum. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27186017. [PMID: 36144752 PMCID: PMC9505606 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27186017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily encodes a large group of proteins, including TGF-β isoforms, bone morphogenetic proteins and activins that act through conserved cell-surface receptors and signaling co-receptors. TGF-β signaling in insects controls physiological events, including growth, development, diapause, caste determination and metamorphosis. In this study, we used the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, as a model species to investigate the role of the type I TGF-β receptor, saxophone (Sax), in mediating development. Developmental and tissue-specific expression profiles indicated Sax is constitutively expressed during development with lower expression in 19- and 20-day (6th instar) larvae. RNAi knockdown of Sax in 19-day larvae prolonged developmental duration from larvae to pupae and significantly decreased pupation and adult eclosion in a dose-dependent manner. At 50 ng dsSax/larva, Sax knockdown led to an 84.4% pupation rate and 46.3% adult emergence rate. At 100 ng and 200 ng dsSax/larva, pupation was down to 75.6% and 50%, respectively, with 0% adult emergence following treatments with both doses. These phenotypes were similar to those following knockdowns of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor genes, ecdysone receptor (EcR) or ultraspiracle protein (USP). Expression of 20E biosynthesis genes disembodied and spookier, 20E receptor genes EcR and USP, and 20E downstream genes BrC and E75, were suppressed after the Sax knockdown. Topical application of 20E on larvae treated with dsSax partially rescued the dsSax-driven defects. We can infer that the TGF-β receptor gene Sax influences larval-pupal-adult development via 20E signaling in T. castaneum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Li
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Letong Yin
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jingxiu Bi
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Institution of Quality Standard and Testing Technology for Agro-Product, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan 250100, China
| | - David Stanley
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Biological Control of Insect Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Station (USDA/ARS), Columbia, MO 65203, USA
| | - Qili Feng
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence:
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Antson H, Tõnissoo T, Shimmi O. The developing wing crossvein of Drosophila melanogaster: a fascinating model for signaling and morphogenesis. Fly (Austin) 2022; 16:118-127. [PMID: 35302430 PMCID: PMC8942417 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2022.2040316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila wing has been used as a model for studying tissue growth, morphogenesis and pattern formation. The wing veins of Drosophila are composed of two distinct structures, longitudinal veins and crossveins. Although positional information of longitudinal veins is largely defined in the wing imaginal disc during the larval stage, crossvein primordial cells appear to be naive until the early pupal stage. Here, we first review how wing crossveins have been investigated in the past. Then, the developmental mechanisms underlying crossvein formation are summarized. This review focuses on how a conserved trafficking mechanism of BMP ligands is utilized for crossvein formation, and how various co-factors play roles in sustaining BMP signalling. Recent findings further reveal that crossvein development serves as an excellent model to address how BMP signal and dynamic cellular processes are coupled. This comprehensive review illustrates the uniqueness, scientific value and future perspectives of wing crossvein development as a model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Antson
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tambet Tõnissoo
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Osamu Shimmi
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Ye ZF, Zhang P, Gai TT, Lou JH, Dai FY, Tong XL. Sob gene is critical to wing development in Bombyx mori and Tribolium castaneum. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:65-77. [PMID: 33822467 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of insect appendages requires the expression of multiple genes in a strict spatial and temporal order. The odd-skipped family genes are vital transcriptional factors involved in embryonic development. The development and morphogenesis of the insect wing requires multiple transcription factors to regulate the expression of wing patterning genes at the transcriptional level. However, the function of odd-related genes in insect wing morphogenesis and development during postembryonic stages is unclear. We focused on the roles of the sister of odd and bowl (sob) gene, a member of odd-skipped family genes, during the wing morphopoiesis in Bombyx mori using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 system and in Tribolium castaneum by RNA interference. The results showed that the wings were significantly smaller and degenerated, and wing veins were indistinct in the sob gene loss-of-function group in both B. mori and T. castaneum. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that the Tcsob gene regulated the expression of wing development genes, such as the cht 7 and the vg gene. The findings suggest the importance of sob gene in insect wing morphology formation during postembryonic stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Feng Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ting-Ting Gai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing-Hou Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang-Yin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Ling Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Wang Y, Wang J, Xia X, Wu G. Functional Identification of Px-fringe and Px-engrailed Genes under Heat Stress in Chlorpyrifos-Resistant and -Susceptible Plutela xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11050287. [PMID: 32392846 PMCID: PMC7290670 DOI: 10.3390/insects11050287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In our previous research, the fitness cost of resistance of the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella found in insecticide-resistant DBM (Rc-DBM) under heat stress was based on heavier damage to wing veins when compared to insecticide-susceptible DBM (Sm-DBM). To investigate the molecular mechanism of the damage to the veins between Rc- and Sm-DBM, the full-length sequences of two related genes involved in the development of wing veins, fringe (Px-fng) and engrailed (Px-en) of DBM were cloned, and the mRNA expressions of both Px-fng and Px-en were studied. The Px-fng and Px-en cDNA contained 1038 bp and 1152 bp of open reading frames (ORFs), respectively, which encoded a putative protein comprising 345 and 383 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 39.59 kDa and 42.69 kDa. Significantly down regulated expressions of Px-fng and Px-en under heat stress were found in pupae and adults of Rc-DBM compared to Sm-DBM, and a result of higher damage to wing veins in Rc-DBM under heat stress. Based on RNAi experiments, significant inhibitions on expressions of Px-fng and Px-en in both Sm-DBM and Rc-DBM were found when the pupae were infected by dsFng or dsEn. Corresponding to these, infections of dsFng or dsEn resulted in significant decrease of eclosion rate and increase malformation rate of DBM. Our results suggest that the higher damage of wing veins in DBM might be related to the heavier inhibitions of Px-fng and Px-en expression, and the Px-fng and Px-en are involved in the development of wings and veins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.W.); (J.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jingnan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.W.); (J.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.W.); (J.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (X.X.); (G.W.)
| | - Gang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.W.); (J.W.)
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (X.X.); (G.W.)
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Banerjee TD, Monteiro A. Molecular mechanisms underlying simplification of venation patterns in holometabolous insects. Development 2020; 147:dev.196394. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.196394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
How mechanisms of pattern formation evolve has remained a central research theme in the field of evolutionary and developmental biology. The mechanism of wing vein differentiation in Drosophila is a classic text-book example of pattern formation using a system of positional-information, yet very little is known about how species with a different number of veins pattern their wings, and how insect venation patterns evolved. Here, we examine the expression pattern of genes previously implicated in vein differentiation in Drosophila in two butterfly species with more complex venation Bicyclus anynana and Pieris canidia. We also test the function of some of these genes in B. anynana. We identify both conserved as well as new domains of decapentaplegic, engrailed, invected, spalt, optix, wingless, armadillo, blistered, and rhomboid gene expression in butterflies, and propose how the simplified venation in Drosophila might have evolved via loss of decapentaplegic, spalt and optix gene expression domains, silencing of vein inducing programs at Spalt-expression boundaries, and changes in gene expression of vein maintenance genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirtha Das Banerjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antónia Monteiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Yale-NUS College, Singapore
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