Cyclin-dependent kinase regulatory subunit 1 promotes cell proliferation by insulin regulation

Disruption of Cdyl gene impairs mouse lung epithelium differentiation and maturation

CDYL is a chromodomain protein that has been identified as a transcriptional co-repressor that is primarily involved in the formation of repressor complexes which coordinate histone modifications to repress gene transcription. However, most functions and mechanisms of action of the CDYL protein are unknown. In this study, we show that Cdyl-/- mice died of respiratory distress immediately at birth because of distinct abnormalities in distal lung morphogenesis which was characterized by thickened septal and expiratory alveolus atelectasis. Furthermore, Cdyl deletion in mice led to excessive proliferation of immature epithelial cells and an arrest in alveolar epithelium cell differentiation in late gestation which were associated with decreased secretion of mature surfactant proteins in alveolus. Microarray analysis showed that Cdyl gene deletion influenced the expression of genes regulating neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, cell adhesion, and cell cycle. We validated that Cdyl repressed the transcriptional activity of Cks1 in vitro. In conclusion, Cdyl gene participates in the perinatal respiratory epithelium differentiation and maturation that is important for normal lung function at birth.

Transcriptomic responses of the zearalenone (ZEN)-detoxifying yeast Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans to ZEN exposure

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a potent oestrogenic mycotoxin that is mainly produced by Fusarium species and is a serious environmental pollutant in animal feeds. Apiotrichum mycotoxinivorans has been widely used as a feed additive to detoxify ZEN. However, the effects of ZEN on A. mycotoxinivorans and its detoxification mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses were used to investigate the molecular responses of A. mycotoxinivorans to ZEN exposure and the genetic basis of ZEN detoxification. We detected 1424 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 446 were upregulated and 978 were downregulated. Functional and enrichment analyses showed that ZEN-induced genes were significantly associated with xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress response, and active transport systems. However, ZEN-inhibited genes were mainly related to cell division, cell cycle, and fungal development. Subsequently, bioinformatic analysis identified candidate ZEN-detoxification enzymes. The Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases and carboxylesterases, which are responsible for the formation and subsequent hydrolysis of a new ZEN lactone, respectively, were significantly upregulated. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to conjugation and transport involved in the xenobiotic detoxification pathway were significantly upregulated. Moreover, the expression levels of genes encoding enzymatic antioxidants and those related to growth and apoptosis were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively, which made it possible for A. mycotoxinivorans to survive in a highly toxic environment and efficiently detoxify ZEN. This is the first systematic report of ZEN tolerance and detoxification in A. mycotoxinivorans. We identified the metabolic enzymes that were potentially involved in detoxifying ZEN in the GMU1709 strain and found that ZEN-induced transcriptional regulation of genes is key to withstanding highly toxic environments. Hence, our results provide valuable information for developing enzymatic detoxification systems or engineering this detoxification pathway in other species.

The Insulin Receptor: An Important Target for the Development of Novel Medicines and Pesticides

The insulin receptor (IR) is a transmembrane protein that is activated by ligands in insulin signaling pathways. The IR has been considered as a novel therapeutic target for clinical intervention, considering the overexpression of its protein and A-isoform in multiple cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans. Meanwhile, it may also serve as a potential target in pest management due to its multiple physiological influences in insects. In this review, we provide an overview of the structural and molecular biology of the IR, functions of IRs in humans and insects, physiological and nonpeptide small molecule modulators of the IR, and the regulating mechanisms of the IR. Xenobiotic compounds and the corresponding insecticidal chemicals functioning on the IR are also discussed. This review is expected to provide useful information for a better understanding of human IR-related diseases, as well as to facilitate the development of novel small-molecule activators and inhibitors of the IR for use as medicines or pesticides.

Gills full-length transcriptomic analysis of osmoregulatory adaptive responses to salinity stress in Coilia nasus

Salinity changes will threaten the survival of aquatic animals. However, osmoregulatory mechanism of Coilia nasus has not been explored. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing was performed in C. nasus gills during hypotonic and hyperosmotic stress. 23.8 G clean reads and 27,659 full-length non-redundant sequences were generated via ONT sequencing. Alternative splicing, alternative polyadenylation, transcript factors, and long noncoding RNA were identified. During hypotonic stress, 58 up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 36 down-regulated DEGs were identified. During hypertonic stress, 429 up-regulated DEGs and 480 down-regulated DEGs were identified. These DEGs were associated with metabolism, cell cycle, and transport. The analysis of these DEGs indicated that carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism were activated to provide energy for cell cycle and transport during hypotonic and hypertonic stress. Cell cycle was also promoted during hypotonic and hypertonic stress. To resist hypotonic stress, polyamines metabolism, ion absorption and water transport from extra-cellular to intra-cellular were promoted, while ion secretion was inhibited. During hypotonic stress, glutamine, alanine, proline, and inositol metabolism were activated. Ion absorption and water transport from intra-cellular to extra-cellular were inhibited. Moreover, different transcript isoforms generated from the same gene performed different expression patterns during hypotonic and hypertonic stress. These findings will be beneficial to understand osmoregulatory mechanism of Coilia nasus.

Autophagy triggers CTSD (cathepsin D) maturation and localization inside cells to promote apoptosis

CTSD/CathD/CATD (cathepsin D) is a lysosomal aspartic protease. A distinguishing characteristic of CTSD is its dual functions of promoting cell proliferation via secreting a pro-enzyme outside the cells as a ligand, and promoting apoptosis via the mature form of this enzyme inside cells; however, the regulation of its secretion, expression, and maturation is undetermined. Using the lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera, a serious agricultural pest, as a model, we revealed the dual functions and regulatory mechanisms of CTSD secretion, expression, and maturation. Glycosylation of asparagine 233 (N233) determined pro-CTSD secretion. The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) promoted CTSD expression. Macroautophagy/autophagy triggered CTSD maturation and localization inside midgut cells to activate CASP3 (caspase 3) and promote apoptosis. Pro-CTSD was expressed in the pupal epidermis and was secreted into the hemolymph to promote adult fat body endoreplication/endoreduplication, cell proliferation, and association. Our study revealed that the differential expression and autophagy-mediated maturation of CTSD in tissues determine its roles in apoptosis and cell proliferation, thereby determining the cell fates of tissues during lepidopteran metamorphosis.Abbreviations: 20E: 20-hydroxyecdysone; 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; ACTB/β-actin: actin beta; AKT: protein kinase B; ATG1: autophagy-related 1; ATG4: autophagy-related 4; ATG5: autophagy-related 5; ATG7: autophagy-related 7; ATG14: autophagy-related 14; BSA: bovine serum albumin; CASP3: caspase 3; CQ: choroquine; CTSD: cathepsin D; DAPI: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; DPBS: dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline; DsRNA: double-stranded RNA; EcR: ecdysone receptor; EcRE: ecdysone response element; EdU: 5-ethynyl-2´-deoxyuridine; G-m-CTSD: glycosylated-mautre-CTSD; G-pro-CTSD: glycosylated-pro-CTSD; HaEpi: Helicoverpa armigera epidermal cell line; HE staining: hematoxylin and eosin staining; IgG: immunoglobin G; IM: imaginal midgut; JH: juvenile hormone; Kr-h1: krueppel homologous protein 1; LM: larval midgut; M6P: mannose-6-phosphate; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PCD: programmed cell death; PNGase: peptide-N-glycosidase F; RFP: red fluorescent protein; RNAi: RNA interference; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; SYX17: syntaxin 17; USP1: ultraspiracle isoform 1.

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone counteracts insulin signaling via insulin receptor dephosphorylation

The insulin receptor (INSR) binds insulin to promote body growth and maintain normal blood glucose levels. While it is known that steroid hormones such as estrogen and 20-hydroxyecdysone counteract insulin function, the molecular mechanisms responsible for this attenuation remain unclear. In the present study, using the agricultural pest lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera as a model, we proposed that the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) induces dephosphorylation of INSR to counteract insulin function. We observed high expression and phosphorylation of INSR during larval feeding stages that decreased during metamorphosis. Insulin upregulated INSR expression and phosphorylation, whereas 20E repressed INSR expression and induced INSR dephosphorylation in vivo. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B, encoded by Ptpn1) dephosphorylated INSR in vivo. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) was critical for 20E-induced INSR dephosphorylation by maintaining the transcription factor Forkhead box O (FoxO) in the nucleus, where FoxO promoted Ptpn1 expression and repressed Insr expression. Knockdown of Ptpn1 using RNA interference maintained INSR phosphorylation, increased 20E production, and accelerated pupation. RNA interference of Insr in larvae repressed larval growth, decreased 20E production, delayed pupation, and accumulated hemolymph glucose levels. Taken together, these results suggest that a high 20E titer counteracts the insulin pathway by dephosphorylating INSR to stop larval growth and accumulate glucose in the hemolymph.

The Role of Peptide Hormones in Insect Lipid Metabolism

Lipids are the primary storage molecules and an essential source of energy in insects during reproduction, prolonged periods of flight, starvation, and diapause. The coordination center for insect lipid metabolism is the fat body, which is analogous to the vertebrate adipose tissue and liver. The fat body is primarily composed of adipocytes, which accumulate triacylglycerols in intracellular lipid droplets. Genomics and proteomics, together with functional analyses, such as RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9-targeted genome editing, identified various genes involved in lipid metabolism and elucidated their functions. However, the endocrine control of insect lipid metabolism, in particular the roles of peptide hormones in lipogenesis and lipolysis are relatively less-known topics. In the current review, the neuropeptides that directly or indirectly affect insect lipid metabolism are introduced. The primary lipolytic and lipogenic peptide hormones are adipokinetic hormone and the brain insulin-like peptides (ILP2, ILP3, ILP5). Other neuropeptides, such as insulin-growth factor ILP6, neuropeptide F, allatostatin-A, corazonin, leucokinin, tachykinins and limostatin, might stimulate lipolysis, while diapause hormone-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, short neuropeptide F, CCHamide-2, and the cytokines Unpaired 1 and Unpaired 2 might induce lipogenesis. Most of these peptides interact with one another, but mostly with insulin signaling, and therefore affect lipid metabolism indirectly. Peptide hormones are also involved in lipid metabolism during reproduction, flight, diapause, starvation, infections and immunity; these are also highlighted. The review concludes with a discussion of the potential of lipid metabolism-related peptide hormones in pest management.

Comparisons of lung and gluteus transcriptome profiles between yaks at different ages

The yak, Bos grunniens, is the only large mammal in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and has been bred to provide meat, milk, and transportation. Previous studies indicate that the immune system contributes to the yak's adaptation to high-altitude environments. In order to further investigate changes in immune function during yak development, we compared the transcriptome profiles of gluteus and lung tissues among yaks at 6, 30, 60, and 90 months of age. Analyses of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lung tissues revealed that immune function was more activated at 6-months and less activated at 90-months than in the 30 and 60-month-old animals. DEG exploration in gluteal tissues revealed that immune functions were more highly activated at both 6 and 90-months, compared with 30 and 60-months. Immune system activation in the muscle and lung tissues of 30-month-old yaks may increase their resistance to infections, while decreased may be due to aging. Furthermore, the higher immune activation status in the gluteal tissues in 90-month-old yaks could be due to muscle injury and subsequent regeneration, which is supported by the fact that 5 unigenes related with muscle injury and 3 related to muscle regeneration displayed greater expression levels at 90-months than at 30 and 60-months. Overall, the present study highlights the important role of the immune system in yak development, which will facilitate future investigations.

Insulin and 20-hydroxyecdysone oppose each other in the regulation of phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 expression during insect pupation

Insulin promotes larval growth of insects by stimulating the synthesis of the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which induces pupation and apoptosis. However, the mechanism underlying the coordinate regulation of insect pupation and apoptosis by these two functionally opposing hormones is still unclear. Here, using the lepidopteran insect and serious agricultural pest Helicoverpa armigera (cotton bollworm) as a model, we report that phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) and forkhead box O (FoxO) play key roles in these processes. We found that the transcript levels of the PDK1 gene are increased during the larval feeding stages. Moreover, PDK1 expression was increased by insulin, but repressed by 20E. dsRNA-mediated PDK1 knockdown in the H. armigera larvae delayed pupation and resulted in small pupae and also decreased Akt/protein kinase B expression and increased FoxO expression. Furthermore, the PDK1 knockdown blocked midgut remodeling and decreased 20E levels in the larvae. Of note, injecting larvae with 20E overcame the effect of the PDK1 knockdown and restored midgut remodeling. FoxO overexpression in an H. armigera epidermal cell line (HaEpi) did not induce apoptosis, but promoted autophagy and repressed cell proliferation. These results reveal cross-talk between insulin and 20E and that both hormones oppose each other's activities in the regulation of insect pupation and apoptosis by controlling PDK1 expression and, in turn, FoxO expression. We conclude that sufficiently high 20E levels are a key factor for inducing apoptosis during insect pupation.

Insulin regulation of gluconeogenesis

The coordinated regulation between cellular glucose uptake and endogenous glucose production is indispensable for the maintenance of constant blood glucose concentrations. The liver contributes significantly to this process by altering the levels of hepatic glucose release, through controlling the processes of de novo glucose production (gluconeogenesis) and glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis). Various nutritional and hormonal stimuli signal to alter hepatic gluconeogenic flux, and suppression of this metabolic pathway during the postprandial state can, to a significant extent, be attributed to insulin. Here, we review some of the molecular mechanisms through which insulin modulates hepatic gluconeogenesis, thus controlling glucose production by the liver to ultimately maintain normoglycemia. Various signaling pathways governed by insulin converge at the level of transcriptional regulation of the key hepatic gluconeogenic genes PCK1 and G6PC, highlighting this as one of the focal mechanisms through which gluconeogenesis is modulated. In individuals with compromised insulin signaling, such as insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, insulin fails to suppress hepatic gluconeogenesis, even in the fed state; hence, an insight into these insulin-moderated pathways is critical for therapeutic purposes.

Protein kinase C delta phosphorylates ecdysone receptor B1 to promote gene expression and apoptosis under 20-hydroxyecdysone regulation

The nuclear receptor EcRB1, which is activated by the insect steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), is reportedly phosphorylated by a protein kinase after 20E induction. However, the protein kinase has not been identified, and the significance of EcRB1 phosphorylation is unclear. In this study, we identified a protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) isoform (the E isoform) that phosphorylates EcRB1 in the lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera, a serious agricultural pest worldwide, to promote apoptotic gene expression and apoptosis during metamorphosis. Through activation of the EcRB1/USP1 transcription complex by 20E, PKCδ expression was up-regulated in several tissues during the metamorphic stage. Knockdown of PKCδ caused failure to transition from larvae to pupae, prevented tissues from undergoing programmed cell death (PCD), and down-regulated the expression of the transcription factor Brz-7 and the apoptosis executors caspase-3 and caspase-6 The threonine residue at position 1343 of PKCδ was phosphorylated and was critical for its proapoptotic function. Overexpression of the PKCδ catalytic domain was localized to the nuclei in HaEpi cells, which increased caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. PKCδ directly phosphorylated a threonine residue at position 468 in the amino acid sequence of EcRB1. The phosphorylation of EcRB1 was critical for its heterodimeric interaction with the USP1 protein and for binding to the ecdysone response element. The data suggested that 20E up-regulates PKCδ expression to regulate EcRB1 phosphorylation for EcRB1/USP1 transcription complex formation, apoptotic gene transcription, and apoptosis.

ZNF692 promotes proliferation and cell mobility in lung adenocarcinoma

By analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets, we discovered that the zinc finger protein 692 (ZNF692) were over-expressed in Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (P < 0.0001). In this study, we investigated the function of ZNF692 in the progression of LUAD. We found that ZNF692 knockdown inhibited LUAD cells proliferation, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. And LUAD cell apoptosis was induced following the down-regulation of ZNF692. Our results show that ZNF692 is over-expressed in LUAD tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, and hyper-expression of ZNF692 in LUAD is an independent risk factor for worse overall survival in LUAD patients (HR: 8.800, 95%CI: 1.082-71.560, P = 0.042) by Tissue Microarray stain assay (TMA). GO analysis indicated that most genes were enriched in metabolic process which were associated highly with ZNF692 levels. Collectively, our results suggested that ZNF692 may serve as a potential oncogene and biomarker in LUAD by influencing cell metabolism.

Malagasy Conostigmus (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea) and the secret of scutes

We revise the genus Conostigmus Dahlbom 1858 occurring in Madagascar, based on data from more specimens than were examined for the latest world revision of the genus. Our results yield new information about intraspecific variability and the nature of the atypical latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) observed in Ceraphronoidea. We also investigate cellular processes that underlie body size polyphenism, by utilizing the correspondence between epidermal cells and scutes, polygonal units of leather-like microsculpture. Our results reveal that body size polyphenism in Megaspilidae is most likely related to cell number and not cell size variation, and that cell size differs between epithelial fields of the head and that of the mesosoma. Three species, Conostigmus ballescoracas Dessart, 1997, C. babaiax Dessart, 1996 and C. longulus Dessart, 1997, are redescribed. Females of C. longulus are described for the first time, as are nine new species: C. bucephalus Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. clavatus Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. fianarantsoaensis Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. lucidus Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. macrocupula, Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. madagascariensis Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. missyhazenae Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., C. pseudobabaiax Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov., and C. toliaraensis Mikó and Trietsch sp. nov. A fully illustrated identification key for Malagasy Conostigmus species and a Web Ontology Language (OWL) representation of the taxonomic treatment, including specimen data, nomenclature, and phenotype descriptions, in both natural and formal languages, are provided.

The Steroid Hormone 20-Hydroxyecdysone Promotes the Cytoplasmic Localization of Yorkie to Suppress Cell Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis

The transcriptional co-activator Yki (Yorkie), a member of the Hippo pathway, regulates cell proliferation or apoptosis, depending on its nuclear or cytoplasmic location. However, the upstream factors regulating the subcellular localization of Yki are unclear. We found that the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) induces phosphorylation of Yki, causing it to remain in the cytoplasm, where it promotes apoptosis in the midgut of the lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera Yki is expressed in various tissues, with an increase in the epidermis and midgut during early metamorphic molting. Yki is localized mainly in the nucleus of feeding larval midgut cells but is mainly localized in the cytoplasm of metamorphic molting larval midgut cells. The knockdown of Yki in the feeding larvae promotes larval-pupal transition, midgut programmed cell death, and repressed IAP1 (inhibitor of apoptosis 1) expression. Knockdown of Yki in the epidermal cell line (HaEpi) induced increased activation of Caspase3/7. Overexpressed Yki in HaEpi cells was mainly localized in the nucleus and induced cell proliferation. 20E promotes the cytoplasmic localization of Yki, reducing the expression of the IAP1, resulting in apoptosis. 20E promotes cytoplasmic retention of Yki by increasing Yki phosphorylation levels and promoting the interaction between Yki and the adaptor protein 14-3-3-ϵ. This regulation of Yki suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis.

G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 terminates G-protein-coupled receptor function in steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone signaling

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit extracellular signals across the cell membrane. GPCR kinases (GRKs) desensitize GPCR signals in the cell membrane. However, the role and mechanism of GRKs in the desensitization of steroid hormone signaling are unclear. In this study, we propose that GRK2 is phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) in response to induction by the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), which determines its translocation to the cell membrane of the lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera. GRK2 protein expression is increased during the metamorphic stage because of induction by 20E. Knockdown of GRK2 in larvae causes accelerated pupation, an increase in 20E-response gene expression, and advanced apoptosis and metamorphosis. 20E induces translocation of GRK2 from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane via steroid hormone ecdysone-responsive GPCR (ErGPCR-2). GRK2 is phosphorylated by PKC on serine 680 after induction by 20E, which leads to the translocation of GRK2 to the cell membrane. GRK2 interacts with ErGPCR-2. These data indicate that GRK2 terminates the ErGPCR-2 function in 20E signaling in the cell membrane by a negative feedback mechanism.

20-hydroxyecdysone activates Forkhead box O to promote proteolysis during Helicoverpa armigera molting

Insulin inhibits transcription factor forkhead box O (FoxO) activity, and the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) activates FoxO; however, the mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that 20E upregulates phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase (PTEN) expression to activate FoxO, thereby promoting proteolysis during molting in the lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera. FoxO expression is increased during molting and metamorphosis. The knockdown of FoxO in fifth instar larvae results in larval molting failure. 20E induces FoxO non-phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Insulin, via Akt, induces FoxO phosphorylation and cytoplasm localization. 20E represses insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation and FoxO phosphorylation. 20E, via ecdysone receptor B1 (EcRB1) and the ultraspiracle protein (USP1), upregulates PTEN expression, which represses Akt phosphorylation, thereby repressing FoxO phosphorylation. The non-phosphorylated FoxO enters the nucleus and attaches to a FoxO binding element in the upstream region of the Broad isoform 7 (BrZ7) gene to regulate BrZ7 transcription under 20E induction. 20E upregulates FoxO expression via EcRB1 and USP1. FoxO regulation of BrZ7 expression regulates CarboxypeptidaseA expression for final proteolysis during insect molting. Hence, 20E activates FoxO via upregulating PTEN expression to counteract insulin activity and promote proteolysis.