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Colizzi FS, Martínez-Torres D, Helfrich-Förster C. The circadian and photoperiodic clock of the pea aphid. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:627-639. [PMID: 37482577 PMCID: PMC11226554 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-023-01660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a paradigmatic photoperiodic species that exhibits a remarkable annual life cycle, which is tightly coupled to the seasonal changes in day length. During spring and summer, characterised by longer days, aphid populations consist exclusively of viviparous females that reproduce parthenogenetically. When autumn comes and the days shorten, aphids switch their reproductive mode and generate males and oviparous sexual females, which mate and produce cold-resistant eggs that overwinter and survive the unfavourable season. While the photoperiodic responses have been well described, the nature of the timing mechanisms which underlie day length discrimination are still not completely understood. Experiments from the 1960's suggested that aphids rely on an 'hourglass' clock measuring the elapsed time during the dark night by accumulating a biochemical factor, which reaches a critical threshold at a certain night length and triggers the switch in reproduction mode. However, the photoperiodic responses of aphids can also be attributed to a strongly dampened circadian clock. Recent studies have uncovered the molecular components and the location of the circadian clock in the brain of the pea aphid and revealed that it is well connected to the neurohormonal system controlling aphid reproduction. We provide an overview of the putative mechanisms of photoperiodic control in aphids, from the photoreceptors involved in this process to the circadian clock and the neuroendocrine system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sara Colizzi
- University of Würzburg, Neurobiology and Genetics, Biocenter, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - David Martínez-Torres
- Institut de Biologia Integrativa de Sistemes, Parc Cientific Universitat de València, C/ Catedrático José Beltrán nº 2, 46980, Paterna,, València, Spain
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Jiang W, Nasir M, Zhao C. Variation of insulin-related peptides accompanying the differentiation of Aphis gossypii biotypes and their expression profiles. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10306. [PMID: 37456079 PMCID: PMC10349280 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin signaling plays a critical role in regulating various aspects of insect biology, including development, reproduction, and the formation of wing polyphenism. This leads to differentiation among insect populations at different levels. The insulin family exhibits functional variation, resulting in diverse functional pathways. Aphis gossypii Glover, commonly known as the cotton-melon aphid, is a highly adaptable aphid species that has evolved into multiple biotypes. To understand the genetic structure of the insulin family and its evolutionary diversification and expression patterns in A. gossypii, we conducted studies using genome annotation files and RNA-sequencing data. Consequently, we identified 11 insulin receptor protein (IRP) genes in the genomes of the examined biotypes. Among these, eight AgosIRPs were dispersed across the X chromosome, while two were found in tandem on the A1 chromosome. Notably, AgosIRP2 exhibited alternative splicing, resulting in the formation of two isoforms. The AgosIRP genes displayed a high degree of conservation between Hap1 and Hap3, although some variations were observed between their genomes. For instance, a transposon was present in the coding regions of AgosIRP3 and AgosIRP9 in the Hap3 genome but not in the Hap1 genome. RNA-sequencing data revealed that four AgosIRPs were expressed ubiquitously across different morphs of A. gossypii, while others showed specific expression patterns in adult gynopara and adult males. Furthermore, the expression levels of most AgosIRPs decreased upon treatment with the pesticide acetamiprid. These findings demonstrate the evolutionary diversification of AgosIRPs between the genomes of the two biotypes and provide insights into their expression profiles across different morphs, developmental stages, and biotypes. Overall, this study contributes valuable information for investigating aphid genome evolution and the functions of insulin receptor proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Jiang
- Basic Experimental Teaching Center of Life SciencesYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Muhammad Nasir
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI)FaisalabadPakistan
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control/College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
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Yuan Y, Wang Y, Ye W, Yuan E, Di J, Chen X, Xing Y, Sun Y, Ge F. Functional evaluation of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway in determination of wing polyphenism in pea aphid. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:816-828. [PMID: 36178731 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wing polyphenism is a common phenomenon that plays key roles in environmental adaptation of insects. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway is a highly conserved pathway in regulation of metabolism, development, and growth in metazoans. It has been reported that IIS is required for switching of wing morph in brown planthopper via regulating the development of the wing pad. However, it remains elusive whether and how IIS pathway regulates transgenerational wing dimorphism in aphid. In this study, we found that pairing and solitary treatments can induce pea aphids to produce high and low percentage winged offspring, respectively. The expression level of ILP5 (insulin-like peptide 5) in maternal head was significantly higher upon solitary treatment in comparison with pairing, while silencing of ILP5 caused no obvious change in the winged offspring ratio. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of FoxO (Forkhead transcription factor subgroup O) in stage 20 embryos significantly increased the winged offspring ratio. The results of pharmacological and quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments showed that the embryonic insulin receptors may not be involved in wing polyphenism. Additionally, ILP4 and ILP11 exhibited higher expression levels in 1st wingless offspring than in winged offspring. We demonstrate that FoxO negatively regulates the wing morph development in embryos. ILPs may regulate aphid wing polyphenism in a developmental stage-specific manner. However, the regulation may be not mediated by the canonical IIS pathway. The findings advance our understanding of IIS pathway in insect transgenerational wing polyphenism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Yuan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Jinan, China
| | - Yanyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Wanwan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Erliang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Di
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xin Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yanling Xing
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yucheng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Ge
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Plant Virology, Jinan, China
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Ribeiro Lopes M, Gaget K, Renoz F, Duport G, Balmand S, Charles H, Callaerts P, Calevro F. Bacteriocyte plasticity in pea aphids facing amino acid stress or starvation during development. Front Physiol 2022; 13:982920. [PMID: 36439244 PMCID: PMC9685537 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.982920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
An important contributing factor to the evolutionary success of insects is nutritional association with microbial symbionts, which provide the host insects with nutrients lacking in their unbalanced diets. These symbionts are often compartmentalized in specialized cells of the host, the bacteriocytes. Even though bacteriocytes were first described more than a century ago, few studies have explored their dynamics throughout the insect life cycle and in response to environmental stressors. Here, we use the Buchnera aphidicola/pea aphid symbiotic system to study how bacteriocytes are regulated in response to nutritional stress throughout aphid development. Using artificial diets, we analyzed the effects of depletion or excess of phenylalanine or leucine, two amino acids essential for aphid growth and whose biosynthetic pathways are shared between the host and the symbiont. Bacteriocytes responded dynamically to those treatments, while other tissues showed no obvious morphological change. Amino acid depletion resulted in an increase in bacteriocyte numbers, with the extent of the increase depending on the amino acid, while excess either caused a decrease (for leucine) or an increase (for phenylalanine). Only a limited impact on survival and fecundity was observed, suggesting that the adjustment in bacteriocyte (and symbiont) numbers is sufficient to withstand these nutritional challenges. We also studied the impact of more extreme conditions by exposing aphids to a 24 h starvation period at the beginning of nymphal development. This led to a dramatic drop in aphid survival and fecundity and a significant developmental delay. Again, bacteriocytes responded dynamically, with a considerable decrease in number and size, correlated with a decrease in the number of symbionts, which were prematurely degraded by the lysosomal system. This study shows how bacteriocyte dynamics is integrated in the physiology of insects and highlights the high plasticity of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karen Gaget
- Université de Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, Villeurbanne, France
| | - François Renoz
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, Villeurbanne, France
- UCLouvain, Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Gabrielle Duport
- Université de Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Séverine Balmand
- Université de Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Hubert Charles
- Université de Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Patrick Callaerts
- KU Leuven, Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Federica Calevro
- Université de Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, Villeurbanne, France
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Loth K, Parisot N, Paquet F, Terrasson H, Sivignon C, Rahioui I, Ribeiro Lopes M, Gaget K, Duport G, Delmas AF, Aucagne V, Heddi A, Calevro F, da Silva P. Aphid BCR4 Structure and Activity Uncover a New Defensin Peptide Superfamily. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012480. [PMID: 36293341 PMCID: PMC9604261 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) are among the most detrimental insects for agricultural plants, and their management is a great challenge in agronomical research. A new class of proteins, called Bacteriocyte-specific Cysteine-Rich (BCR) peptides, provides an alternative to chemical insecticides for pest control. BCRs were initially identified in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. They are small disulfide bond-rich proteins expressed exclusively in aphid bacteriocytes, the insect cells that host intracellular symbiotic bacteria. Here, we show that one of the A. pisum BCRs, BCR4, displays prominent insecticidal activity against the pea aphid, impairing insect survival and nymphal growth, providing evidence for its potential use as a new biopesticide. Our comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses indicate that BCRs are restricted to the aphid lineage. The 3D structure of BCR4 reveals that this peptide belongs to an as-yet-unknown structural class of peptides and defines a new superfamily of defensins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Loth
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
- UFR Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Orléans, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Nicolas Parisot
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Françoise Paquet
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Hugo Terrasson
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Isabelle Rahioui
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Karen Gaget
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gabrielle Duport
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Agnès F. Delmas
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Vincent Aucagne
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, CNRS UPR 4301, 45071 Orléans, France
| | - Abdelaziz Heddi
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Federica Calevro
- Univ Lyon, INRAE, INSA Lyon, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Pedro da Silva
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
- Correspondence:
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