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Katsavou E, Sarafoglou C, Balabanidou V, Skoufa E, Nauen R, Linka M, Geibel S, Denecke S, Vontas J. Characterisation of lepidopteran geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase as a putative pesticide target. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:147-156. [PMID: 37962063 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (diphosphate) synthase (GGPPS) plays an important role in various physiological processes in insects, such as isoprenoid biosynthesis and protein prenylation. Here, we functionally characterised the GGPPS from the major agricultural lepidopteran pests Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa armigera. Partial disruption of GGPPS by CRISPR in S. frugiperda decreased embryo hatching rate and larval survival, suggesting that this gene is essential. Functional expression in vitro of Helicoverpa armigera GGPPS in Escherichia coli revealed a catalytically active enzyme. Next, we developed and optimised an enzyme assay to screen for potential inhibitors, such as the zoledronate and the minodronate, which showed a dose-dependent inhibition. Phylogenetic analysis of GGPPS across insects showed that GGPPS is highly conserved but also revealed several residues likely to be involved in substrate binding, which were substantially different in bee pollinator and human GGPPS. Considering the essentiality of GGPPS and its putative binding residue variability qualifies a GGPPS as a novel pesticide target. The developed assay may contribute to the identification of novel insecticide leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia Katsavou
- Pesticide Science Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Chara Sarafoglou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Vasileia Balabanidou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Evangelia Skoufa
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ralf Nauen
- R&D Pest Control, Crop Science Division, Bayer AG, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Marc Linka
- R&D Pest Control, Crop Science Division, Bayer AG, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Sven Geibel
- R&D Pest Control, Crop Science Division, Bayer AG, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Shane Denecke
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - John Vontas
- Pesticide Science Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
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Abstract
Endocrine signaling networks control diverse biological processes and life history traits across metazoans. In both invertebrate and vertebrate taxa, steroid hormones regulate immune system function in response to intrinsic and environmental stimuli, such as microbial infection. The mechanisms of this endocrine-immune regulation are complex and constitute an ongoing research endeavor facilitated by genetically tractable animal models. The 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is the major steroid hormone in arthropods, primarily studied for its essential role in mediating developmental transitions and metamorphosis; 20E also modulates innate immunity in a variety of insect taxa. This review provides an overview of our current understanding of 20E-mediated innate immune responses. The prevalence of correlations between 20E-driven developmental transitions and innate immune activation are summarized across a range of holometabolous insects. Subsequent discussion focuses on studies conducted using the extensive genetic resources available in Drosophila that have begun to reveal the mechanisms underlying 20E regulation of immunity in the contexts of both development and bacterial infection. Lastly, I propose directions for future research into 20E regulation of immunity that will advance our knowledge of how interactive endocrine networks coordinate animals' physiological responses to environmental microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Keith
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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Okamoto N, Fujinaga D, Yamanaka N. Steroid hormone signaling: What we can learn from insect models. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2023; 123:525-554. [PMID: 37717997 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2022.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Ecdysteroids are a group of steroid hormones in arthropods with pleiotropic functions throughout their life history. Ecdysteroid research in insects has made a significant contribution to our current understanding of steroid hormone signaling in metazoans, but how far can we extrapolate our findings in insects to other systems, such as mammals? In this chapter, we compare steroid hormone signaling in insects and mammals from multiple perspectives and discuss similarities and differences between the two lineages. We also highlight a few understudied areas and remaining questions of steroid hormone biology in metazoans and propose potential future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Okamoto
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Daiki Fujinaga
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Naoki Yamanaka
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States.
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