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Crosstalk between Nutrition, Insulin, Juvenile Hormone, and Ecdysteroid Signaling in the Classical Insect Model, Rhodnius prolixus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010007. [PMID: 36613451 PMCID: PMC9819625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The rigorous balance of endocrine signals that control insect reproductive physiology is crucial for the success of egg production. Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-feeding insect and main vector of Chagas disease, has been used over the last century as a model to unravel aspects of insect metabolism and physiology. Our recent work has shown that nutrition, insulin signaling, and two main types of insect lipophilic hormones, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroids, are essential for successful reproduction in R. prolixus; however, the interplay behind these endocrine signals has not been established. We used a combination of hormone treatments, gene expression analyses, hormone measurements, and ex vivo experiments using the corpus allatum or the ovary, to investigate how the interaction of these endocrine signals might define the hormone environment for egg production. The results show that after a blood meal, circulating JH levels increase, a process mainly driven through insulin and allatoregulatory neuropeptides. In turn, JH feeds back to provide some control over its own biosynthesis by regulating the expression of critical biosynthetic enzymes in the corpus allatum. Interestingly, insulin also stimulates the synthesis and release of ecdysteroids from the ovary. This study highlights the complex network of endocrine signals that, together, coordinate a successful reproductive cycle.
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Aiello D, Giglio A, Talarico F, Vommaro ML, Tagarelli A, Napoli A. Mass Spectrometry-Based Peptide Profiling of Haemolymph from Pterostichus melas Exposed to Pendimethalin Herbicide. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144645. [PMID: 35889523 PMCID: PMC9315633 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pendimethalin-based herbicides are used worldwide for pre-emergence selective control of annual grasses and weeds in croplands. The endurance of herbicides residues in the environment has an impact on the soil biodiversity and fertility, also affecting non-target species, including terrestrial invertebrates. Carabid beetles are known as natural pest control agents in the soil food web of agroecosystems, and feed on invertebrates and weed seeds. Here, a mass spectrometry untargeted profiling of haemolymph is used to investigate Pterostichus melas metabolic response after to pendimethalin-based herbicide exposure. Mass spectrometric data are examined with statistical approaches, such as principal component analysis, for possible correlation with biological effects. Those signals with high correlation are submitted to tandem mass spectrometry to identify the associated biomarker. The time course exposure showed many interesting findings, including a significant downregulation of related to immune and defense peptides (M-lycotoxin-Ls4a, Peptide hormone 1, Paralytic peptide 2, and Serine protease inhibitor 2). Overall, the observed peptide deregulations concur with the general mechanism of uptake and elimination of toxicants reported for Arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Aiello
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (D.A.); (A.T.)
| | - Anita Giglio
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (A.G.); (F.T.); (M.L.V.)
| | - Federica Talarico
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (A.G.); (F.T.); (M.L.V.)
| | - Maria Luigia Vommaro
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Science, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (A.G.); (F.T.); (M.L.V.)
| | - Antonio Tagarelli
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (D.A.); (A.T.)
| | - Anna Napoli
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; (D.A.); (A.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Lange AB, Leyria J, Orchard I. The hormonal and neural control of egg production in the historically important model insect, Rhodnius prolixus: A review, with new insights in this post-genomic era. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 321-322:114030. [PMID: 35317995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Rhodnius prolixus, the blood gorging kissing bug, is a model insect, extensively used by Sir Vincent Wigglesworth and others, upon which the foundations of insect physiology, endocrinology, and development are built. It is also medically important, being a principal vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease in humans. The blood meal stimulates and enables egg production, and since an adult mated female can take several blood meals, each female can produce hundreds of offspring. Understanding the reproductive biology of R. prolixus is therefore of some critical importance for controlling the transmission of Chagas disease. The R. prolixus genome is available and so the post-genomic era has arrived for this historic model insect. This review focuses on the female reproductive system and coordination over the production of eggs, emphasizing the classical (neuro)endocrinological studies that led to a model describing inputs from feeding and mating, and the neural control of egg-laying. We then review recent insights brought about by molecular analyses, including transcriptomics, that confirm, support, and considerably extends this model. We conclude this review with an updated model describing the events leading to full expression of egg production, and also provide a consideration of questions for future exploration and experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela B Lange
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Biology, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
| | - Jimena Leyria
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Biology, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
| | - Ian Orchard
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Biology, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
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NPF activates a specific NPF receptor and regulates food intake in Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20912. [PMID: 34686694 PMCID: PMC8536682 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00238-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptides function through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with high specificity, implying a significant degree of neuropeptide-GPCR coevolution. However, potential neuropeptide signaling systems in non-chordates are relatively elusive. We determined the specificity of the neuropeptide F (Hdh-NPF) signaling system with a cognate receptor (Hdh-NPFR) in the Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. Phylogenetic and exon–intron arrangement analyses of bilaterian NPF and the chordate ortholog NPY with their receptor sequences revealed a likely common ancestor, and Hdh-NPFR was similar to the NPYR2 subtype among the NPYR1, NPYR2, and NPYR5 subtypes. Among four Hdh-NPFR-related receptors, Hdh-NPFR specifically responded to Hdh-NPF peptide, supported by the dose–response luciferase reporter curve, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and its inhibition with a protein kinase C inhibitor. Peptide fragmentations and shuffling of Hdh-NPF with human NPY could not activate the cellular response of Hdh-NPFR. Three-dimensional in silico modeling suggested that interaction of Hdh-NPF C-terminal amino acids with the extracellular loops of Hdh-NPFR is critical for Hdh-NPFR activation. In vivo injection of Hdh-NPF peptide increased food consumption, and knockdown of Hdh-NPF expression decreased food consumption in Pacific abalone. These findings provide evidence for co-evolution of the NPF/Y ligand-receptor system, enabling further research on mollusk orexigenic neuropeptides.
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Godoy RSM, Barbosa RC, Procópio TF, Costa BA, Jacobs-Lorena M, Martins GF. FMRF-related peptides in Aedes aegypti midgut: neuromuscular connections and enteric nervous system. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 385:585-602. [PMID: 33961128 PMCID: PMC9841599 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03462-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) are a class of neuropeptides that participate in a variety of physiological processes in invertebrates. They occur in nerves of stomatogastric ganglia and enteroendocrine cells of the insect digestive tract, where they may control muscle functions. However, their direct involvement in muscle function has never been shown in situ. We studied the relationship between FaRPs and midgut muscle during larval-pupal transition of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. In late L4, FaRP-positive neuronal extensions attach to the bundles of the external circular muscle layer, and muscle stem cells start to undergo mitosis in the internal circular layer. Thereafter, the external muscle layer degenerates, disappearing during early pupal development, and is completely absent in the adult mosquito. Our results indicate that FaRP-based neural signals are involved in the reorganization of the muscle fibers of the mosquito midgut during the larval-pupal transition. In addition to confirming FaRP involvement in muscle function, we show that the mosquito midgut muscles are largely innervated, and that circular and longitudinal muscle have specific neuron bodies associated with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel S. M. Godoy
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil,Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Renata C. Barbosa
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Thamara F. Procópio
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-420, Brazil
| | - Breno A. Costa
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Gustavo F. Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil
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Qiao H, Jiang S, Xiong Y, Zhang W, Xu L, Jin S, Gong Y, Wu Y, Fu H. Molecular cloning, characterization and functional analysis of two neuropeptide F genes from the oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 253:110844. [PMID: 33186705 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In invertebrates, neuropeptide F (NPF) has many regulatory functions, similar to NPY, its homologous peptide. In this study, two neuropeptide F genes were identified in Macrobrachium nipponense: Mn-NPF1 and Mn-NPF2. Mn-NPF2 shared the same amino acid sequence with Mn-NPF1, except for a 37 amino acid insert in the middle of the NPF region. The quantitative-PCR (qPCR) results indicated that Mn-NPF1 expression was positively correlated with ovarian maturation, whereas Mn-NPF2 had opposing expression patterns. Both Mn-NPFs were poorly expressed at early embryonic stages, but enhanced expression levels were observed up to day 10 after hatching, when the gonads began to differentiate. Ovary in situ hybridization (ISH) analyses showed that both Mn-NPFs were present at all stages, but were differentially localized to distinct compartments. Temperature gradient studies showed that both Mn-NPFs were implicated in the seasonal regulation of reproduction. A double-stranded (ds) RNA-Mn-NPF2 injection led to a significant 38.5% increase in the vitellogenin (VG) transcript (P < 0.05). These results demonstrated that Mn-NPF2 plays an important role in inhibiting ovarian maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Sufei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwei Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Xu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shubo Jin
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongsheng Gong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongtuo Fu
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fisheries and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China; Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Nässel DR, Zandawala M. Hormonal axes in Drosophila: regulation of hormone release and multiplicity of actions. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 382:233-266. [PMID: 32827072 PMCID: PMC7584566 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03264-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hormones regulate development, as well as many vital processes in the daily life of an animal. Many of these hormones are peptides that act at a higher hierarchical level in the animal with roles as organizers that globally orchestrate metabolism, physiology and behavior. Peptide hormones can act on multiple peripheral targets and simultaneously convey basal states, such as metabolic status and sleep-awake or arousal across many central neuronal circuits. Thereby, they coordinate responses to changing internal and external environments. The activity of neurosecretory cells is controlled either by (1) cell autonomous sensors, or (2) by other neurons that relay signals from sensors in peripheral tissues and (3) by feedback from target cells. Thus, a hormonal signaling axis commonly comprises several components. In mammals and other vertebrates, several hormonal axes are known, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis or the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis that regulate reproduction and metabolism, respectively. It has been proposed that the basic organization of such hormonal axes is evolutionarily old and that cellular homologs of the hypothalamic-pituitary system can be found for instance in insects. To obtain an appreciation of the similarities between insect and vertebrate neurosecretory axes, we review the organization of neurosecretory cell systems in Drosophila. Our review outlines the major peptidergic hormonal pathways known in Drosophila and presents a set of schemes of hormonal axes and orchestrating peptidergic systems. The detailed organization of the larval and adult Drosophila neurosecretory systems displays only very basic similarities to those in other arthropods and vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dick R. Nässel
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Meet Zandawala
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI USA
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Leyria J, Orchard I, Lange AB. What happens after a blood meal? A transcriptome analysis of the main tissues involved in egg production in Rhodnius prolixus, an insect vector of Chagas disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008516. [PMID: 33057354 PMCID: PMC7591069 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-sucking hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus is a vector of Chagas disease, one of the most neglected tropical diseases affecting several million people, mostly in Latin America. The blood meal is an event with a high epidemiological impact since adult mated females feed several times, with each meal resulting in a bout of egg laying, and thereby the production of hundreds of offspring. By means of RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) we have examined how a blood meal influences mRNA expression in the central nervous system (CNS), fat body and ovaries in order to promote egg production, focusing on tissue-specific responses under controlled nutritional conditions. We illustrate the cross talk between reproduction and a) lipids, proteins and trehalose metabolism, b) neuropeptide and neurohormonal signaling, and c) the immune system. Overall, our molecular evaluation confirms and supports previous studies and provides an invaluable molecular resource for future investigations on different tissues involved in successful reproductive events. These analyses serve as a starting point for new investigations, increasing the chances of developing novel strategies for vector population control by translational research, with less impact on the environment and more specificity for a particular organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Leyria
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Ian Orchard
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Angela B. Lange
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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Marciniak P, Witek W, Szymczak M, Pacholska-Bogalska J, Chowański S, Kuczer M, Rosiński G. FMRFamide-Related Peptides Signaling Is Involved in the Regulation of Muscle Contractions in Two Tenebrionid Beetles. Front Physiol 2020; 11:456. [PMID: 32477164 PMCID: PMC7235380 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptidergic signaling regulates various physiological processes in insects. Neuropeptides are important messenger molecules that act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators or hormones. Neuropeptides with myotropic properties in insects are known as FMRFamide-like peptides (FaLPs). Here, we describe the myotropic effects of the endogenous FaLPs in the regulation of contractile activity of the heart, ejaculatory duct, oviduct and the hindgut in two beetle species, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus. A putative receptor was identified in silico in both species. Using RT-PCR these putative FaLPs receptors were found in the various tissues of both beetles, including visceral organs. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the receptor indicated that it is similar to other insect FaLPs receptors and belongs to G-protein coupled receptors. A synthetic FaLP (NSNFLRFa) found as the bioanalogue of both species demonstrated concentration-dependent and organ-specific myoactive properties. The peptide had species–specific cardioactivity, in that it stimulated Z. atratus heart contractions, while slightly inhibiting that of T. molitor and had mainly myostimulatory effect on the examined visceral organs of both beetle species, with the lowest activity in the ejaculatory duct of these beetles. The peptide was the most active in the hindgut of both species, but only at high concentration of 10–5 M. The results suggest that FaLPs are potent modulators of endogenous contractile activity of the visceral muscles in beetles and may indirectly affect various physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Marciniak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Wojciech Witek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Monika Szymczak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Szymon Chowański
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Mariola Kuczer
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Rosiński
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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Latorre-Estivalis JM, Sterkel M, Ons S, Lorenzo MG. Transcriptomics supports local sensory regulation in the antenna of the kissing-bug Rhodnius prolixus. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:101. [PMID: 32000664 PMCID: PMC6993403 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6514-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhodnius prolixus has become a model for revealing the molecular bases of insect sensory biology due to the publication of its genome and its well-characterized behavioural repertoire. Gene expression modulation underlies behaviour-triggering processes at peripheral and central levels. Still, the regulation of sensory-related gene transcription in sensory organs is poorly understood. Here we study the genetic bases of plasticity in antennal sensory function, using R. prolixus as an insect model. Results Antennal expression of neuromodulatory genes such as those coding for neuropeptides, neurohormones and their receptors was characterized in fifth instar larvae and female and male adults by means of RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq). New nuclear receptor and takeout gene sequences were identified for this species, as well as those of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and processing of neuropeptides and biogenic amines. Conclusions We report a broad repertoire of neuromodulatory and neuroendocrine-related genes expressed in the antennae of R. prolixus and suggest that they may serve as the local basis for modulation of sensory neuron physiology. Diverse neuropeptide precursor genes showed consistent expression in the antennae of all stages studied. Future studies should characterize the role of these modulatory components acting over antennal sensory processes to assess the relative contribution of peripheral and central regulatory systems on the plastic expression of insect behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Manuel Latorre-Estivalis
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou - FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. .,Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Insectos - Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos - CREG, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Marcos Sterkel
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Insectos - Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos - CREG, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sheila Ons
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Insectos - Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos - CREG, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Gustavo Lorenzo
- Vector Behaviour and Pathogen Interaction Group, Instituto René Rachou - FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Vafopoulou X, Hindley-Smith M, Steel CGH. Neuropeptide- and serotonin- cells in the brain of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera) associated with the circadian clock. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 278:25-41. [PMID: 30048647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The neuronal pathways of the circadian clock in the brain of R. prolixus have been described in detail previously, but there is no information concerning the cells or their pathways which relay either inputs to the clock (e.g. for light entrainment), or outputs from it to driven rhythms. Here, we employ antisera to three neuropeptides (type A allatostatin-7, crustacean cardioactive peptide and FMRFamide), and serotonin in confocal laser scanning immunohistochemistry to analyze the distribution of cell bodies and their projections in relation to the principle circadian clock cells (lateral cells, LNs) for all four neuron types. LNs are revealed following labelling with anti- pigment dispersing factor in double labelled preparations. Regions of potential communication between ramifications of the LNs and each of the four other neuron types is described (identified by close superposition of their neurites in various brain regions), as is their detailed projections within the brain. Neuromodulation is sometimes suggested by close, but not intimate, proximity of varicosities of neurites. We infer that some neuron types comprise input pathways to the LNs, some are outputs to neuroendocrine or behavioral rhythms, and others participate in both input and output pathways, sometimes by the same neuron type but in different locations. For example, one retinula cell in each ommatidium is immunoreactive for allatostatin A; its axon projects to the medulla making superpositions with LNs, as do serotonin cells in the optic lobe, indicating roles of both neuron types in light input (entrainment) to the clock. But in other brain areas, these same types appear to mediate outputs from the clock. The accessory medulla has been widely reported as the principle center of integration in other insects; but we found sparse evidence of this in R. prolixus as it contains few neurites other than those from the clock cells. Rather, the importance of neural pathways involving the medulla and the superior protocerebrum is emphasized. We conclude that there is a vast and complex web of interactions in the brain with the LNs, which potentially receive multiple pathways of inputs and outputs that could drive rhythmicity in a multitude of downstream cells, rendering a host of output pathways rhythmic, notably hormone release from neurosecretory cells and behaviors.
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12
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Tan S, Li A, Wang Y, Shi W. Role of the neuropeptide F 1 in regulating the appetite for food in Locusta migratoria. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:1304-1309. [PMID: 30350452 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropeptide F (NPF) is an intercellular signaling molecule that mediates many physiological and behavioral processes. However, the function of neuropeptide F in mediating the feeding behavior of Locusta migratoria has been unclear. RESULTS The neuropeptide F 1 precursor cDNA from L. migratoria was obtained and analyzed, and its amino acid sequence deduced. Mature LmiNPF1 was composed of 36 amino acids and was similar to that of Schistocerca gregaria. The spatial and temporal expression profiles of LmiNPF1 were investigated. LmiNPF1 was primarily expressed in the central nervous system, especially in the brain, and the expression levels were higher during the day than during the night. However, starvation activated LmiNPF1 expression increases, and downregulation of LmiNPF1 inhibited locust feeding behavior. CONCLUSION LmiNPF1 promotes the feeding behavior of the locust and is a potential molecular target to control locust feeding. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqian Tan
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Aomei Li
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Wangpeng Shi
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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13
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Llopis-Giménez A, Han Y, Kim Y, Ros VID, Herrero S. Identification and expression analysis of the Spodoptera exigua neuropeptidome under different physiological conditions. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 28:161-175. [PMID: 30171635 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuropeptides are small signalling molecules acting as neurohormones, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Being part of the chemical communication system between cells within an organism, they are involved in the regulation of different aspects of animal physiology and behaviour such as feeding, reproduction, development and locomotion. Transcriptomic data from larval and adult tissues have been obtained and mined to generate a comprehensive neuropeptidome for the polyphagous insect pest Spodoptera exigua. Sixty-three neuropeptides have been identified and described based on their tissue specificity and their regulation in response to different abiotic perturbations. Expression analyses have identified those neuropeptides involved in ingestive and digestive behaviour of S. exigua larvae and revealed a general pattern of upregulation in the midgut during larval starvation. Our results represent a comprehensive neuropeptidome of a lepidopteran species that will be highly relevant to future studies and provide novel information of the insect's perception of its environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Llopis-Giménez
- Department of Genetics and Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI-BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot (Valencia), Spain
| | - Y Han
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Y Kim
- Department of Bio-Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - V I D Ros
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - S Herrero
- Department of Genetics and Estructura de Recerca Interdisciplinar en Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (ERI-BIOTECMED), Universitat de València, Burjassot (Valencia), Spain
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14
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Lenaerts C, Monjon E, Van Lommel J, Verbakel L, Vanden Broeck J. Peptides in insect oogenesis. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2019; 31:58-64. [PMID: 31109674 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The physiological control of reproduction in insects depends on a combination of environmental and internal cues. In the adult stage, insects become sexually mature and generate gametes. In females, the latter process is designated as oogenesis. Peptides are a versatile class of extracellular signalling molecules that regulate many processes, including oogenesis. At present, the best documented physiological control mechanism of insect oogenesis is the insulin-related peptide signalling pathway. It regulates different stages of the process and provides a functional link between nutritional status and reproduction. Several other peptides have been shown to exert gonadoregulatory activities, but in most cases their exact mode of action still has to be unravelled and their effects on oogenesis could be direct or indirect. Some regulatory peptides, such as the Drosophila sex peptide, are being transferred from the male to the female during the mating process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Lenaerts
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emilie Monjon
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joachim Van Lommel
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lina Verbakel
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, P.O. Box 02465, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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15
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Sedra L, Paluzzi JP, Lange AB. Characterization and expression of a long neuropeptide F (NPF) receptor in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202425. [PMID: 30114273 PMCID: PMC6095579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a long neuropeptide F receptor of the blood-feeding hemipteran, Rhodnius prolixus (RhoprNPFR) has been cloned and characterized. Approximately 70% of the RhoprNPFR deduced protein sequence is identical to that of other hemipteran NPFRs. RhoprNPFR has seven highly-conserved transmembrane domains, two cysteine residues in the 2nd and 3rd extracellular loops that likely form a disulfide bond integral for maintaining the structure of the receptor, and a conserved DRY motif after the third transmembrane domain. All of these characteristics are typical of class A rhodopsin-like GPCRs. The receptor transcript is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and gut of both fifth instar and adult R. prolixus. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we identified six bilaterally-paired large median neurosecretory cells (approximately 30μm in diameter) in the brain that express the RhoprNPFR mRNA transcript. We also found RhoprNPFR transcript expression in endocrine cells in the anterior midgut of fifth instars, as well as in putative pre-follicular cells present in the germarium and between developing oocytes, and in the nutritive cord. These results suggest that RhoprNPFR may play a role within the CNS, and in digestion and possibly egg production and/or egg development in R. prolixus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sedra
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Angela B. Lange
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
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16
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Li X, Qu MJ, Zhang Y, Li JW, Liu TX. Expression of Neuropeptide F Gene and Its Regulation of Feeding Behavior in the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Front Physiol 2018; 9:87. [PMID: 29487538 PMCID: PMC5816806 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide F (NPF) signaling systems are widespread and highly evolutionarily conserved from vertebrates to invertebrates. In fact, NPF has been identified in many insect species and plays regulatory roles in diverse physiological processes, such as feeding, learning, reproduction and stress responses. NPF operates by interacting with the NPF receptor (NPFR). Here, we characterized and determined the presumed role of NPF signaling in the wingless parthenogenetic pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that the expression levels of both NPF and NPFR transcripts varied across developmental stages, which implies that the NPF signaling system might participate in the developmental regulation of aphid physiological processes or behaviors. The NPF transcript was mainly detected in the head but not in the gut, whereas the NPFR transcript was mainly detected in both the gut and head. In addition, the NPF transcript levels were markedly up-regulated in starved aphids compared with satiated aphids, and the transcript levels recovered after re-feeding. In contrast, the NPFR transcript levels remained stable in starved and re-fed aphids. Furthermore, RNAi knockdown by the injection of NPF dsRNA into wingless adult aphids significantly reduced their food intake. Further analysis of the modification of aphid feeding behavior on broad bean plants using electrical penetration graphs (EPGs) revealed that both the probing time and the total duration of phloem activity decreased significantly in the NPF treatment group. These results indicated a lower appetite for food after NPF knockdown, which could explain the reduction in aphid food intake. NPF silencing was also shown to reduce reproduction but not survival in aphids. Overall, the results of these experiments suggest that NPF plays an important role in regulation of feeding in A. pisum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ming-Jing Qu
- Shandong Peanut Research Institute, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jian-Wen Li
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Tong-Xian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, and Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on the Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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17
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Predel R, Neupert S, Derst C, Reinhardt K, Wegener C. Neuropeptidomics of the Bed Bug Cimex lectularius. J Proteome Res 2017; 17:440-454. [PMID: 29148801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The bed bug Cimex lectularius is a globally distributed human ectoparasite with fascinating biology. It has recently acquired resistance against a broad range of insecticides, causing a worldwide increase in bed bug infestations. The recent annotation of the bed bug genome revealed a full complement of neuropeptide and neuropeptide receptor genes in this species. With regard to the biology of C. lectularius, neuropeptide signaling is especially interesting because it regulates feeding, diuresis, digestion, as well as reproduction and also provides potential new targets for chemical control. To identify which neuropeptides are translated from the genome-predicted genes, we performed a comprehensive peptidomic analysis of the central nervous system of the bed bug. We identified in total 144 different peptides from 29 precursors, of which at least 67 likely present bioactive mature neuropeptides. C. lectularius corazonin and myosuppressin are unique and deviate considerably from the canonical insect consensus sequences. Several identified neuropeptides likely act as hormones, as evidenced by the occurrence of respective mass signals and immunoreactivity in neurohemal structures. Our data provide the most comprehensive peptidome of a Heteropteran species so far and in comparison suggest that a hematophageous life style does not require qualitative adaptations of the insect peptidome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Predel
- Department for Biology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne , Zülpicher Straße 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Susanne Neupert
- Department for Biology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne , Zülpicher Straße 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Derst
- Department for Biology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne , Zülpicher Straße 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Klaus Reinhardt
- Applied Zoology, Department of Biology, Technical University of Dresden , Zellescher Weg 20b, D-01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Wegener
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg , Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
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