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Zhang S, Xie J, Luo R, Zhang H, Zheng W. MiR-2b-2-5p regulates lipid metabolism and reproduction by targeting CREB in Bactrocera dorsalis. RNA Biol 2023; 20:164-176. [PMID: 37092804 PMCID: PMC10128458 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2023.2204579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In female animals, metabolic homoeostasis and reproductive fitness are critical to population expansion. The trade-off between lipid storage and reproduction inevitably occurs. However, most studies have focused on the complex network of relationships between reproductive and metabolic physiology at the transcriptional level. In this study, we identified a microRNA, miR-2b-2-5p, in a highly invasive quarantine pest, Bactrocera dorsalis. Knockdown of miR-2b-2-5p by antagomiR microinjection impaired ovarian development, reduced fecundity, and decreased triglyceride (TAG) storage in the fat body, whereas overexpression of miR-2b-2-5p by injection of its mimic caused reproductive defects similar to knockdown but increased TAG. Bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase assay indicated that cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) was the target gene of miR-2b-2-5p. RNAi-mediated knockdown of CREB led to excessive lipid storage and reproductive defects. Further starvation treatment revealed that miR-2b-2-5p functions by fine-tuning CREB expression in response to dietary stimuli. These results suggest that miR-2b-2-5p acts as a monitor to regulate CREB mRNA levels in the fat body, maintaining lipid homoeostasis and keeping the reproductive system on track. Thus, our study not only provides new insights into the interaction between metabolism and reproduction at the posttranscriptional level in B. dorsalis, but also providing a potential eco-friendly control strategy (RNAi-based biopesticides targeting essential miRNAs) for this notorious agricultural pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengfeng Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junfei Xie
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rengang Luo
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Effect of Insulin Receptor on Juvenile Hormone Signal and Fecundity in Spodoptera litura (F.). INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13080701. [PMID: 36005325 PMCID: PMC9409390 DOI: 10.3390/insects13080701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura (F.), exemplifies strong reproductive capacities and damages many agricultural crops. The insulin signaling pathway is known as a key determinant of female reproduction in insects. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms in these processes are poorly studied. Here, we injected bovine insulin into the newly emerged moth, resulting in gene expression changes in the insulin pathway, while knockdown of SlInR caused an inverse gene expression change involved in the insulin pathway. Further studies indicated that the content of JH-III, Vg, total proteins and triacylgycerol could be suppressed by SlInR dsRNA injection. Furthermore, stunted ovaries and lower fecundity were observed by RNAi. Our studies indicated that SlInR plays a key role in JH-III synthesis and the ovarian development in S. litura. Abstract Insulin signaling can regulate various physiological functions, such as energy metabolism and reproduction and so on, in many insects, including mosquito and locust. However, the molecular mechanism of this physiological process remains elusive. The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura, is one of the most important pests of agricultural crops around the world. In this study, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (SlPI3K), protein kinase B (SlAKT), target of rapamycin (SlTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (SlS6K) and transcription factor cAMP-response element binding protein (SlCREB) genes, except transcription factor forkhead box class O (SlFoxO), can be activated by bovine insulin injection. Then, we studied the influence of the insulin receptor gene (SlInR) on the reproduction of S. litura using RNA interference technology. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that SlInR was most abundant in the head. The SlPI3K, SlAKT, SlTOR, SlS6K and SlCREB genes were decreased, except SlFoxO, after the SlInR gene knockdown. Further studies revealed that the expression of vitellogenin mRNA and protein, Methoprene-tolerant gene (SlMet), could be down-regulated by the injection of dsRNA of SlInR significantly. Furthermore, a depletion in the insulin receptor by RNAi significantly decreased the content of juvenile hormone III (JH-III), total proteins and triacylgycerol. These changes indicated that a lack of SlInR could impair ovarian development and decrease fecundity in S. litura. Our studies contribute to a comprehensive insight into reproduction, regulated by insulin and the juvenile hormone signaling pathway through nutrition, and a provide theoretical basis for the reproduction process in pest insects.
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Lin XW, Xu WH. Hexokinase is a key regulator of energy metabolism and ROS activity in insect lifespan extension. Aging (Albany NY) 2016; 8:245-59. [PMID: 26852422 PMCID: PMC4789580 DOI: 10.18632/aging.100885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Developmental arrest (diapause) is a ‘non-aging’ state that is similar to the Caenorhabditis elegans dauer stage and Drosophila lifespan extension. Diapause results in low metabolic activity and a profound extension of insect lifespan. Here, we cloned the Helicoverpa armigera Hexokinase (HK) gene, a gene that is critical for the developmental arrest of this species. HK expression and activity levels were significantly increased in nondiapause-destined pupae compared with those of diapause-destined pupae. Downregulation of HK activity reduced cell viability and delayed pupal development by reducing metabolic activity and increasing ROS activity, which suggests that HK is a key regulator of insect development. We then identified the transcription factors Har-CREB, -c-Myc, and -POU as specifically binding the Har-HK promoter and regulating its activity. Intriguingly, Har-POU and -c-Myc are specific transcription factors for HK expression, whereas Har-CREB is nonspecific. Furthermore, Har-POU and -c-Myc could respond to ecdysone, which is an upstream hormone. Therefore, low ecdysone levels in diapause-destined individuals lead to low Har-POU and -c-Myc expression levels, ultimately repressing Har-HK expression and inducing entry into diapause or lifespan extension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Wu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wei-Hua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Jing YP, Wang D, Han XL, Dong DJ, Wang JX, Zhao XF. The Steroid Hormone 20-Hydroxyecdysone Enhances Gene Transcription through the cAMP Response Element-binding Protein (CREB) Signaling Pathway. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:12771-12785. [PMID: 27129227 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.706028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal steroid hormones regulate gene transcription through genomic pathways by binding to nuclear receptors. These steroid hormones also rapidly increase intracellular calcium and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and activate the protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA) nongenomic pathways. However, the function and mechanism of the nongenomic pathways of the steroid hormones are unclear, and the relationship between the PKC and PKA pathways is also unclear. We propose that the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) activates the PKA pathway to enhance 20E-induced gene transcription in the lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera The expression of the catalytic subunit 1 of PKA (PKAC1) increased during metamorphosis, and PKAC1 knockdown blocked pupation and repressed 20E-responsive gene expression. 20E regulated PKAC1 phosphorylation at threonine 200 and nuclear translocation through an ecdysone-responsive G-protein-coupled receptor 2. PKAC1 induced cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation at serine 143, which bound to the cAMP response element on DNA to enhance 20E-responsive gene transcription. Through ecdysone-responsive G-protein-coupled receptor 2, 20E increased cAMP levels, which induced CREB PKA phosphorylation and 20E-responsive gene expression. This study demonstrates that the PKA/CREB pathway tightly and critically regulates 20E-induced gene transcription as well as its relationship with the 20E-induced PKC pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Pu Jing
- From the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Di Wang
- From the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Han
- From the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Du-Juan Dong
- From the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Jin-Xing Wang
- From the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xiao-Fan Zhao
- From the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China.
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Kong HJ, Kim JL, Moon JY, Kim WJ, Kim HS, Park JY, Cho HK, An CM. Characterization, expression profile, and promoter analysis of the Rhodeus uyekii vitellogenin Ao1 gene. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:18804-18. [PMID: 25329620 PMCID: PMC4227248 DOI: 10.3390/ijms151018804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The fish Vitellogenin (Vg) gene has been applied as a biomarker for exposure to estrogenic compounds in the aquatic environment. In this study, we cloned and characterized Vg cDNA from the Korean rose bitterling Rhodeus uyekii (Ru-Vg). The Ru-Vg cDNA encodes a 1424-amino-acid polypeptide that belongs to the VgAo1 family and contains a putative signal peptide, lipovitellin I, phosvitin, and lipovitellin II, but does not contain the vWFD domain or the C-terminal peptide. The deduced Ru-Vg protein has high amino acid identity (73.97%–32.17%) with fish Vg proteins. Pairwise alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ru-Vg is most closely related to Acheilognathus yamatsutae Vg. Ru-Vg transcripts were detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in all tissues tested, with the highest level of expression observed in the ovary. Ru-Vg mRNA was upregulated in R. uyekii hepatopancreas cells in response to treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2) or 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Luciferase reporter expression, driven by the 5'-regulatory region of the Ru-Vg gene spanning from −1020 bp to the start codon was induced by the estrogen receptor and was synergistically activated by treatment with E2 or EE2. These results suggest that R. uyekii and the Ru-Vg gene may be useful as biomarkers for exposure to E2 or EE2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Jeong Kong
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
| | - Ju Lan Kim
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
| | - Ji Young Moon
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
| | - Woo-Jin Kim
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
| | - Hyung Soo Kim
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
| | - Jung Youn Park
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
| | - Hyun Kook Cho
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
| | - Cheul Min An
- Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Busan 619-705, Korea.
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Price DP, Nagarajan V, Churbanov A, Houde P, Milligan B, Drake LL, Gustafson JE, Hansen IA. The fat body transcriptomes of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, pre- and post- blood meal. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22573. [PMID: 21818341 PMCID: PMC3144915 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fat body is the main organ of intermediary metabolism in insects and the principal source of hemolymph proteins. As part of our ongoing efforts to understand mosquito fat body physiology and to identify novel targets for insect control, we have conducted a transcriptome analysis of the fat body of Aedes aegypti before and in response to blood feeding. RESULTS We created two fat body non-normalized EST libraries, one from mosquito fat bodies non-blood fed (NBF) and another from mosquitoes 24 hrs post-blood meal (PBM). 454 pyrosequencing of the non-normalized libraries resulted in 204,578 useable reads from the NBF sample and 323,474 useable reads from the PBM sample. Alignment of reads to the existing reference Ae. aegypti transcript libraries for analysis of differential expression between NBF and PBM samples revealed 116,912 and 115,051 matches, respectively. De novo assembly of the reads from the NBF sample resulted in 15,456 contigs, and assembly of the reads from the PBM sample resulted in 15,010 contigs. Collectively, 123 novel transcripts were identified within these contigs. Prominently expressed transcripts in the NBF fat body library were represented by transcripts encoding ribosomal proteins. Thirty-five point four percent of all reads in the PBM library were represented by transcripts that encode yolk proteins. The most highly expressed were transcripts encoding members of the cathepsin b, vitellogenin, vitellogenic carboxypeptidase, and vitelline membrane protein families. CONCLUSION The two fat body transcriptomes were considerably different from each other in terms of transcript expression in terms of abundances of transcripts and genes expressed. They reflect the physiological shift of the pre-feeding fat body from a resting state to vitellogenic gene expression after feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. Price
- The Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Vijayaraj Nagarajan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch (BCBB), OCICB/OSMO/OD/NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alexander Churbanov
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
- The Roadrunner Sequencing Lab, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Peter Houde
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
- The Roadrunner Sequencing Lab, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Brook Milligan
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
- The Roadrunner Sequencing Lab, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Lisa L. Drake
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - John E. Gustafson
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
- The Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Immo A. Hansen
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
- The Institute of Applied Biosciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
- The Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
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Comparative genomics allows the discovery of cis-regulatory elements in mosquitoes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:3053-8. [PMID: 19211788 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0813264106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery and mapping of cis-regulatory elements is important for understanding regulation of gene transcription in mosquito vectors of human diseases. Genome sequence data are available for 3 species, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae), representing 2 subfamilies (Culicinae and Anophelinae) that are estimated to have diverged 145 to 200 million years ago. Comparative genomics tools were used to screen genomic DNA fragments located in the 5'-end flanking regions of orthologous genes. These analyses resulted in the identification of 137 sequences, designated "mosquito motifs," 7 to 9 nucleotides in length, representing 18 families of putative cis-regulatory elements conserved significantly among the 3 species when compared to the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Forty-one of the motifs were implicated previously in experiments as sites for binding transcription factors or functioning in the regulation of mosquito gene expression. Further analyses revealed associations between specific motifs and expression profiles, particularly in those genes that show increased or decreased mRNA abundance in females following a blood meal, and those accumulating transcription products exclusively or preferentially in the midgut, fat bodies, or ovaries. These results validate the methodology and support a relationship between the discovered motifs and the conservation of hematophagy in mosquitoes.
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Poels J, Vanden Broeck J. Insect basic leucine zipper proteins and their role in cyclic AMP-dependent regulation of gene expression. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CYTOLOGY 2004; 241:277-309. [PMID: 15548422 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7696(04)41005-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway is an important intracellular signal transduction cascade that can be activated by a large variety of stimuli. Activation or inhibition of this pathway will ultimately affect the transcriptional regulation of various genes through distinct responsive sites. In vertebrates, the best- characterized nuclear targets of PKA are the cyclic AMP response element-binding (CREB) proteins. It is now well established that CREB is not only regulated by PKA, but many other kinases can exert an effect as well. Since CREB-like proteins were also discovered in invertebrates, several studies unraveling their physiological functions in this category of metazoans have been performed. This review will mainly focus on the presence and regulation of CREB proteins in insects. Differences in transcriptional responses to the PKA pathway and other CREB-regulating stimuli between cells, tissues, and even organisms can be partially attributed to the presence of different CREB isoforms. In addition, the regulation of CREB appears to show some important differences between insects and vertebrates. Since CREB is a basic leucine zipper (bZip) protein, other insect members of this important family of transcriptional regulators will be briefly discussed as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Poels
- Laboratory for Developmental Physiology, Genomics and Proteomics, Catholic University Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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