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Leyria J. Endocrine factors modulating vitellogenesis and oogenesis in insects: An update. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 587:112211. [PMID: 38494046 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The endocrine system plays a pivotal role in shaping the mechanisms that ensure successful reproduction. With over a million known insect species, understanding the endocrine control of reproduction has become increasingly complex. Some of the key players include the classic insect lipid hormones juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroids, and neuropeptides such as insulin-like peptides (ILPs). Individual endocrine factors not only modulate their own target tissue but also play crucial roles in crosstalk among themselves, ensuring successful vitellogenesis and oogenesis. Recent advances in omics, gene silencing, and genome editing approaches have accelerated research, offering both fundamental insights and practical applications for studying in-depth endocrine signaling pathways. This review provides an updated and integrated view of endocrine factors modulating vitellogenesis and oogenesis in insect females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Leyria
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
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2
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Flores KA, Pérez-Moreno JL, Durica DS, Mykles DL. Phylogenetic and transcriptomic characterization of insulin and growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases in crustaceans. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1379231. [PMID: 38638139 PMCID: PMC11024359 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1379231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) mediate the actions of growth factors in metazoans. In decapod crustaceans, RTKs are implicated in various physiological processes, such molting and growth, limb regeneration, reproduction and sexual differentiation, and innate immunity. RTKs are organized into two main types: insulin receptors (InsRs) and growth factor receptors, which include epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). The identities of crustacean RTK genes are incomplete. A phylogenetic analysis of the CrusTome transcriptome database, which included all major crustacean taxa, showed that RTK sequences segregated into receptor clades representing InsR (72 sequences), EGFR (228 sequences), FGFR (129 sequences), and PDGFR/VEGFR (PVR; 235 sequences). These four receptor families were distinguished by the domain organization of the extracellular N-terminal region and motif sequences in the protein kinase catalytic domain in the C-terminus or the ligand-binding domain in the N-terminus. EGFR1 formed a single monophyletic group, while the other RTK sequences were divided into subclades, designated InsR1-3, FGFR1-3, and PVR1-2. In decapods, isoforms within the RTK subclades were common. InsRs were characterized by leucine-rich repeat, furin-like cysteine-rich, and fibronectin type 3 domains in the N-terminus. EGFRs had leucine-rich repeat, furin-like cysteine-rich, and growth factor IV domains. N-terminal regions of FGFR1 had one to three immunoglobulin-like domains, whereas FGFR2 had a cadherin tandem repeat domain. PVRs had between two and five immunoglobulin-like domains. A classification nomenclature of the four RTK classes, based on phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignments, is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylie A. Flores
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | | | - David S. Durica
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Donald L. Mykles
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA, United States
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3
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Weger AA, Rittschof CC. The diverse roles of insulin signaling in insect behavior. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 4:1360320. [PMID: 38638680 PMCID: PMC11024295 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2024.1360320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
In insects and other animals, nutrition-mediated behaviors are modulated by communication between the brain and peripheral systems, a process that relies heavily on the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway (IIS). Previous studies have focused on the mechanistic and physiological functions of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) in critical developmental and adult milestones like pupation or vitellogenesis. Less work has detailed the mechanisms connecting ILPs to adult nutrient-mediated behaviors related to survival and reproductive success. Here we briefly review the range of behaviors linked to IIS in insects, from conserved regulation of feeding behavior to evolutionarily derived polyphenisms. Where possible, we incorporate information from Drosophila melanogaster and other model species to describe molecular and neural mechanisms that connect nutritional status to behavioral expression via IIS. We identify knowledge gaps which include the diverse functional roles of peripheral ILPs, how ILPs modulate neural function and behavior across the lifespan, and the lack of detailed mechanistic research in a broad range of taxa. Addressing these gaps would enable a better understanding of the evolution of this conserved and widely deployed tool kit pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clare C. Rittschof
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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4
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Hellemans S, Hanus R. Termite primary queen - ancestral, but highly specialized eusocial phenotype. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 61:101157. [PMID: 38142979 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Termite eusociality is accompanied by flagrant caste polyphenism manifested by the presence of several sterile (workers and soldiers) and reproductive (imaginal and neotenic kings and queens) caste phenotypes. Imaginal kings and queens are developmentally equivalent to adults of other hemimetabolous insects but display multiple adaptations inherent to their role of eusocial colony founders, such as long lifespan and high fecundity. Herein, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the biology of imaginal (primary) queens as emblematic examples of termite polyphenism acquired during social evolution. We focus on the control of queen development, on dynamics in physiology and fecundity during the queen's life, on new findings about queen fertility signaling, and on proximate mechanisms underlying queen longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Hellemans
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles, 50 avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Hanus
- Chemistry of Social Insects, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Chen K, Dou X, Eum JH, Harrison RE, Brown MR, Strand MR. Insulin-like peptides and ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone differentially stimulate physiological processes regulating egg formation in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 163:104028. [PMID: 37913852 PMCID: PMC10842226 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes including Aedes aegypti are human disease vectors because females must blood feed to produce and lay eggs. Blood feeding triggers insulin-insulin growth factor signaling (IIS) which regulates several physiological processes required for egg development. A. aegypti encodes 8 insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and one insulin-like receptor (IR) plus ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone (OEH) that also activates IIS through the OEH receptor (OEHR). In this study, we assessed the expression of A. aegypti ILPs and OEH during a gonadotrophic cycle and produced each that were functionally characterized to further understand their roles in regulating egg formation. All A. aegypti ILPs and OEH were expressed during a gonadotrophic cycle. Five ILPs (1, 3, 4, 7, 8) and OEH were specifically expressed in the head, while antibodies to ILP3 and OEH indicated each was released after blood feeding from ventricular axons that terminate on the anterior midgut. A subset of ILP family members and OEH stimulated nutrient storage in previtellogenic females before blood feeding, whereas most IIS-dependent processes after blood feeding were activated by one or more of the brain-specific ILPs and/or OEH. ILPs and OEH with different biological activities also exhibited differences in IIS as measured by phosphorylation of the IR, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt kinase (AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Altogether, our results provide the first results that compare the functional activities of all ILP family members and OEH produced by an insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Chen
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Dou
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jai Hoon Eum
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ruby E Harrison
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Mark R Brown
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Michael R Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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Rohner PT, Casasa S, Moczek AP. Assessing the evolutionary lability of insulin signalling in the regulation of nutritional plasticity across traits and species of horned dung beetles. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1641-1648. [PMID: 37885148 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Nutrition-dependent growth of sexual traits is a major contributor to phenotypic diversity, and a large body of research documents insulin signalling as a major regulator of nutritional plasticity. However, findings across studies raise the possibility that the role of individual components within the insulin signalling pathway diverges in function among traits and taxa. Here, we use RNAi-mediated transcript depletion in the gazelle dung beetle to investigate the functions of forkhead box O (Foxo) and two paralogs of the insulin receptor (InR1 and InR2) in shaping nutritional plasticity in polyphenic male head horns, exaggerated fore legs, and weakly nutrition-responsive genitalia. Our functional genetic manipulations led to three main findings: FoxoRNAi reduced the length of exaggerated head horns in large males, while neither InR1 nor InR2 knock-downs resulted in measurable horn phenotypes. These results are similar to those documented previously for another dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus), but in stark contrast to findings in rhinoceros beetles. Secondly, knockdown of Foxo, InR1, and InR2 led to an increase in the intercept or slope of the scaling relationship of genitalia size. These findings are in contrast even to results documented previously for O. taurus. Lastly, while FoxoRNAi reduces male forelegs in D. gazella and O. taurus, the effects of InR1 and InR2 knockdowns diverged across dung beetle species. Our results add to the growing body of literature indicating that despite insulin signalling's conserved role as a regulator of nutritional plasticity, the functions of its components may diversify among traits and species, potentially fuelling the evolution of scaling relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Rohner
- Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Sofia Casasa
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Armin P Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Viola CM, Frittmann O, Jenkins HT, Shafi T, De Meyts P, Brzozowski AM. Structural conservation of insulin/IGF signalling axis at the insulin receptors level in Drosophila and humans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6271. [PMID: 37805602 PMCID: PMC10560217 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41862-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The insulin-related hormones regulate key life processes in Metazoa, from metabolism to growth, lifespan and aging, through an evolutionarily conserved insulin signalling axis (IIS). In humans the IIS axis is controlled by insulin, two insulin-like growth factors, two isoforms of the insulin receptor (hIR-A and -B), and its homologous IGF-1R. In Drosophila, this signalling engages seven insulin-like hormones (DILP1-7) and a single receptor (dmIR). This report describes the cryoEM structure of the dmIR ectodomain:DILP5 complex, revealing high structural homology between dmIR and hIR. The excess of DILP5 yields dmIR complex in an asymmetric 'T' conformation, similar to that observed in some complexes of human IRs. However, dmIR binds three DILP5 molecules in a distinct arrangement, showing also dmIR-specific features. This work adds structural support to evolutionary conservation of the IIS axis at the IR level, and also underpins a better understanding of an important model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina M Viola
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Orsolya Frittmann
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Haematology, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Huw T Jenkins
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Talha Shafi
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Pierre De Meyts
- Department of Cell Signalling, de Duve Institute, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Cell Therapy Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, DK-2670, Maaloev, Denmark
| | - Andrzej M Brzozowski
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
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Veenstra JA. Different neuroendocrine cell types in the pars intercerebralis of Periplaneta americana produce their own specific IGF-related peptides. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 335:114233. [PMID: 36791825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Of the nine genes of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, coding for peptides related to insulin and insulin-like growth factor, seven show significant expression in the central nervous system as demonstrated by the polymerase chain reaction on reverse transcribed RNA. In situ hybridisation shows that five of those are expressed by cells in the pars intercerebralis. Antisera raised to the predicted peptides show that these cells are neuroendocrine in nature and project to the corpora cardiaca. Interestingly, there are at least three cell types that each express different genes. This contrasts with Drosophila where a single cell type expresses a number of genes expressing several such peptides. Whereas in Drosophila the neuroendocrine cells producing insulin-like peptides also express sulfakinins, the arthropod orthologs of gastrin and cholecystokinin, in Periplaneta the sulfakinins are produced by different cells. Other neuropeptides known to be produced by the pars intercerebralis in Periplaneta and other insect species, such as the CRF-like diuretic hormone, neuroparsin, leucokinin or myosuppressin, neither colocalize with an insulin-related peptide. The separate cellular localization of these peptides and the existence of multiple insulin receptors in this species implies a more complex regulation by insulin and IGF-related peptides in cockroaches than in the fruit fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan A Veenstra
- INCIA UMR 5287 CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, allée Geoffroy St Hillaire, CS 50023, 33 615 Pessac Cedex, France.
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9
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Smykal V, Dolezel D. Evolution of proteins involved in the final steps of juvenile hormone synthesis. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 145:104487. [PMID: 36707023 PMCID: PMC10015273 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile hormone (JH), a sesquiterpenoid produced by the insect corpus allatum gland (CA), is a key regulator of insect metamorphosis, reproduction, caste differentiation, and polyphenism. The first part of JH biosynthesis occurs via the universal eukaryotic mevalonate pathway. The final steps involve epoxidation and methylation. However, the sequence of these steps might not be conserved among all insects and Crustacea. Therefore, we used available genomic and transcriptomic data and identified JH acid methyltransferase (JHAMT), analyzed their genomic duplications in selected model organisms, and reconstructed their phylogeny. We have further reconstructed phylogeny of FAMeT proteins and show that evolution of this protein group is more complicated than originally appreciated. The analysis delineates important milestones in the evolution of several JH biosynthetic enzymes in arthropods, reviews major literature data on the last steps of JH synthesis, and defines questions and some hypotheses worth pursuing experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlastimil Smykal
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Dolezel
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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Viola CM, Frittmann O, Jenkins HT, Shafi T, Meyts PD, Brzozowski AM. Structural Conservation of Insulin/IGF Signalling Axis at the Insulin Receptors Level in Drosophilaand humans.. [DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.17.528932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACTThe insulin-related hormones regulate key life processes in Metazoa, from metabolism to growth, lifespan and aging, through an evolutionarily conserved insulin signalling axis (IIS). In humans the IIS axis is controlled by insulin, two insulin-like growth factors, two isoforms of the insulin receptor (hIR-A and -B), and its homologous IGF-1R. InDrosophila, this signalling engages seven insulin-like hormones (DILP1-7) and a single receptor (dmIR). This report describes the first cryoEM structure of the dmIR ectodomain:DILP5 complex, revealing high structural homology between dmIR and hIR. The excess of DILP5 yields dmIR complex in an asymmetric ‘T’ conformation, similar to that observed in some complexes of human IRs. However, dmIR binds three DILP5 molecules in a hitherto-unseen arrangement, showing also dmIR-specific features. This work adds structural support to evolutionary conservation of the IIS axis at the IRs levels, underpinning also a better understanding of an important model organism.
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Wang Z, Tan D, Wang F, Guo S, Liu J, Cuthbertson AGS, Qiu B, Sang W. Insulin peptides and their receptors regulate ovarian development and oviposition behavior in Diaphorina citri. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:95-108. [PMID: 35510515 PMCID: PMC10084437 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diaphorina citri is an important vector of Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. After feeding on young host plant shoots, the population of D. citri can increase significantly. Females also only lay eggs on young shoots. However, there are few studies on the mechanism of this phenomenon. Exogenous nutrient signals can affect the insulin signaling system of D. citri after feeding on young shoots. In this study, the expression of upstream factors DcILP1, DcILP2, and DcIR in the insulin signaling system of D. citri was upregulated after feeding on young shoots. After being silenced by RNA interference technology, the results showed that the number of oviposited eggs of D. citri was significantly decreased and the ovarian development was inhibited with severe vacuolation. In addition, detection using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that the upstream regulatory gene DcRheb of the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway and the downstream reproduction-related DcVg gene were also significantly downregulated. These results suggest that feeding upon young shoots may upregulate the expression levels of upstream factors DcILP1, DcILP2, and DcIR in the insulin signaling system. The signal will be through upregulating the expression of DcRheb, an upstream gene of the TOR signaling pathway. This in turn influences yolk metabolism, which eventually causes the ovaries of female D. citri to mature and therefore initiate oviposition behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziye Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong ProvinceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
| | - Delong Tan
- Institute of Facility AgricultureGuangdong Academy of Agricultural SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Feifeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong ProvinceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
| | - Shuhao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong ProvinceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jinhua Liu
- Natural Medicine Institute of Zhejiang YangShengTang Co.LTDHangzhouChina
| | | | - Baoli Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong ProvinceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
| | - Wen Sang
- Key Laboratory of Bio‐Pesticide Innovation and Application of Guangdong ProvinceSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern AgricultureGuangzhouChina
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Veenstra JA. Differential expression of some termite neuropeptides and insulin/IGF-related hormones and their plausible functions in growth, reproduction and caste determination. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15259. [PMID: 37128206 PMCID: PMC10148640 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and other insulin-like peptides (ilps) are important hormones regulating growth and development in animals. Whereas most animals have a single female and male adult phenotype, in some insect species the same genome may lead to different final forms. Perhaps the best known example is the honeybee where females can either develop into queens or workers. More extreme forms of such polyphenism occur in termites, where queens, kings, workers and soldiers coexist. Both juvenile hormone and insulin-like peptides are known to regulate growth and reproduction as well as polyphenism. In termites the role of juvenile hormone in reproduction and the induction of the soldier caste is well known, but the role of IGF and other ilps in these processes remains largely unknown. Here the various termite ilps are identified and hypotheses regarding their functions suggested. Methods Genome assemblies and transcriptome short read archives (SRAs) were used to identify insulin-like peptides and neuropeptides in termites and to determine their expression in different species, tissues and castes. Results and Discussion Termites have seven different ilps, i.e. gonadulin, IGF and an ortholog of Drosophila insulin-like peptide 7 (dilp7), which are commonly present in insects, and four smaller peptides, that have collectively been called short IGF-related peptides (sirps) and individually atirpin, birpin, cirpin and brovirpin. Gonadulin is lost from the higher termites which have however amplified the brovirpin gene, of which they often have two or three paralogs. Based on differential expression of these genes it seems likely that IGF is a growth hormone and atirpin an autocrine tissue factor that is released when a tissue faces metabolic stress. Birpin seems to be responsible for growth and in the absence of juvenile hormone this may lead to reproductive adults or, when juvenile hormone is present, to soldiers. Brovirpin is expressed both by the brain and the ovary and likely stimulates vitellogenesis, while the function of cirpin is less clear.
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Thakkar N, Giesecke A, Bazalova O, Martinek J, Smykal V, Stanewsky R, Dolezel D. Evolution of casein kinase 1 and functional analysis of new doubletime mutants in Drosophila. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1062632. [PMID: 36589447 PMCID: PMC9794997 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1062632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Circadian clocks are timing devices that rhythmically adjust organism's behavior, physiology, and metabolism to the 24-h day-night cycle. Eukaryotic circadian clocks rely on several interlocked transcription-translation feedback loops, where protein stability is the key part of the delay between transcription and the appearance of the mature proteins within the feedback loops. In bilaterian animals, including mammals and insects, the circadian clock depends on a homologous set of proteins. Despite mostly conserved clock components among the fruit fly Drosophila and mammals, several lineage-specific differences exist. Here we have systematically explored the evolution and sequence variability of insect DBT proteins and their vertebrate homologs casein kinase 1 delta (CKIδ) and epsilon (CKIε), dated the origin and separation of CKIδ from CKIε, and identified at least three additional independent duplications of the CKIδ/ε gene in Petromyzon, Danio, and Xenopus. We determined conserved regions in DBT specific to Diptera, and functionally tested a subset of those in D. melanogaster. Replacement of Lysine K224 with acidic residues strongly impacts the free-running period even in heterozygous flies, whereas homozygous mutants are not viable. K224D mutants have a temperature compensation defect with longer free-running periods at higher temperatures, which is exactly the opposite trend of what was reported for corresponding mammalian mutants. All DBTs of dipteran insects contain the NKRQK motif at positions 220-224. The occurrence of this motif perfectly correlates with the presence of BRIDE OF DOUBLETIME, BDBT, in Diptera. BDBT is a non-canonical FK506-binding protein that physically interacts with Drosophila DBT. The phylogeny of FK506-binding proteins suggests that BDBT is either absent or highly modified in non-dipteran insects. In addition to in silico analysis of DBT/CKIδ/ε evolution and diversity, we have identified four novel casein kinase 1 genes specific to the Drosophila genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirav Thakkar
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Astrid Giesecke
- Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Westfälische Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany
| | - Olga Bazalova
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Martinek
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Vlastimil Smykal
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Ralf Stanewsky
- Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Westfälische Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany,*Correspondence: Ralf Stanewsky, ; David Dolezel,
| | - David Dolezel
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia,*Correspondence: Ralf Stanewsky, ; David Dolezel,
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14
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Functional genomic tools for emerging model species. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:1104-1115. [PMID: 35914975 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Most studies in the field of ecology and evolution aiming to connect genotype to phenotype rarely validate identified loci using functional tools. Recent developments in RNA interference (RNAi) and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas genome editing have dramatically increased the feasibility of functional validation. However, these methods come with specific challenges when applied to emerging model organisms, including limited spatial control of gene silencing, low knock-in efficiencies, and low throughput of functional validation. Moreover, many functional studies to date do not recapitulate ecologically relevant variation, and this limits their scope for deeper insights into evolutionary processes. We therefore argue that increased use of gene editing by allelic replacement through homology-directed repair (HDR) would greatly benefit the field of ecology and evolution.
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15
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Fang H, Wang X, Liu X, Michaud JP, Wu Y, Zhang H, Li Y, Li Z. Molecular characterization of insulin receptor (IR) in oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and elucidation of its regulatory roles in glucolipid homeostasis and metamorphosis through interaction with miR-982490. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 31:659-670. [PMID: 35690916 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As an intermediate molecule in the Insulin/Insulin-like growth factor signalling pathway (IIS), the insulin receptor (IR) plays vital roles linking nutritional signals to the downstream regulation of metabolic homeostasis, development, metamorphosis, reproduction and stress responses. In the present study, we describe the molecular characteristics of IR in the cosmopolitan fruit boring pest, Grapholita molesta, and its predicted posttranscription regulator miR-982490, and elucidate its regulatory roles in glucolipid homeostasis and metamorphosis. Phylogenetic and domain analyses indicate that lepidopteran IRs normally cluster within families, and that four main domains are conserved in GmIR and those of other Lepidoptera. Bio-informatic prediction, synchronic expression profile evaluation and dual luciferase reporter assays indicated negative regulation of GmIR by miR-982490. Injection of miR-982490 agomir into fifth instar larvae yielded effects similar to dsGmIR injection, resulting in enhanced levels of trehalose and triglyceride in haemolymph, and reduced pupation success and pupal weight, both of which could be rescued by co-injection of dsGmIR and miR-982490 antagomir. We infer that GmIR regulates glucolipid homeostasis and affects G. molesta metamorphosis via interactions with its posttranscriptional regulator miR-982490. This study expands our understanding of the regulatory network of IIS in insect nutritional homeostasis and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Fang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiu Wang
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - J P Michaud
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Agricultural Research Center-Hays, Kansas, USA
| | - Yanan Wu
- Department of Entomology and MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Huaijiang Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Pomology, Liaoning, China
| | - Yisong Li
- The College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zhen Li
- 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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16
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Zhang JL, Chen SJ, Liu XY, Moczek AP, Xu HJ. The transcription factor Zfh1 acts as a wing-morph switch in planthoppers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5670. [PMID: 36167844 PMCID: PMC9515195 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33422-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect wing polyphenism is characterized by its ability to produce two or more distinct wing morphs from a single genotype in response to changing environments. However, the molecular basis of this phenomenon remains poorly understood. Here, we identified a zinc finger homeodomain transcription factor Zfh1 that acts as an upstream regulator for the development of long-winged (LW) or shorted-winged (SW) morphs in planthoppers. Knockdown of Zfh1 directs SW-destined nymphs to develop into LW morphs by down-regulating the transcriptional level of FoxO, a prominent downstream effector of the insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) pathway. The balance between transcriptional regulation via the Zfh1-FoxO cascade and post-translational regulation via the IIS-FoxO cascade provides a flexible regulatory mechanism for the development of alternative wing morphs. These findings help us understand how phenotypic diversity is generated by altering the activity of conserved proteins, and provide an extended framework for the evolution of wing morphological diversity in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu-Hang-Tang Ave, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sun-Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu-Hang-Tang Ave, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu-Hang-Tang Ave, Hangzhou, China
| | - Armin P Moczek
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 915 East 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Hai-Jun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu-Hang-Tang Ave, Hangzhou, China.
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17
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Zhang X, Zhu X, Bi X, Huang J, Zhou L. The Insulin Receptor: An Important Target for the Development of Novel Medicines and Pesticides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147793. [PMID: 35887136 PMCID: PMC9325136 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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18
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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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19
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Gudmunds E, Narayanan S, Lachivier E, Duchemin M, Khila A, Husby A. Photoperiod controls wing polyphenism in a water strider independently of insulin receptor signalling. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212764. [PMID: 35473377 PMCID: PMC9043737 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Insect wing polyphenism has evolved as an adaptation to changing environments and a growing body of research suggests that the nutrient-sensing insulin receptor signalling pathway is a hot spot for the evolution of polyphenisms, as it provides a direct link between growth and available nutrients in the environment. However, little is known about the potential role of insulin receptor signalling in polyphenisms which are controlled by seasonal variation in photoperiod. Here, we demonstrate that wing length polyphenism in the water strider Gerris buenoi is determined by photoperiod and nymphal density, but is not directly affected by nutrient availability. Exposure to a long-day photoperiod is highly inducive of the short-winged morph whereas high nymphal densities moderately promote the development of long wings. Using RNA interference we demonstrate that, unlike in several other species where wing polyphenism is controlled by nutrition, there is no detectable role of insulin receptor signalling in wing morph induction. Our results indicate that the multitude of possible cues that trigger wing polyphenism can be mediated through different genetic pathways and that there are multiple genetic origins to wing polyphenism in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Gudmunds
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shrinath Narayanan
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elise Lachivier
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marion Duchemin
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Abderrahman Khila
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden.,Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Arild Husby
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
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20
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Armisén D, Khila A. Genomics of the semi-aquatic bugs (Heteroptera; Gerromorpha): recent advances toward establishing a model lineage for the study of phenotypic evolution. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 50:100870. [PMID: 34990871 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gerromorpha, also known as semi-aquatic bugs, present the striking capability to walk on water surface, which has long attracted the interest of many scientists. Yet our understanding of the mechanisms associated with their adaptation and diversification within this new habitat remain largely unknown. In this review we discuss how new transcriptomic and genomic resources have contributed to establish the Gerromorpha as an important lineage to study phenotypic evolution. In particular we outline the impact of recent comparative transcriptomic analyses and first published genomes to advance our understanding of genomic basis of adaptations to water surface locomotion and sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Armisén
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
| | - Abderrahman Khila
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5242, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46, allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France
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21
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Hejníková M, Nouzova M, Ramirez CE, Fernandez-Lima F, Noriega FG, Doležel D. Sexual dimorphism of diapause regulation in the hemipteran bug Pyrrhocoris apterus. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 142:103721. [PMID: 35007710 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diapause is one of the major strategies for insects to prepare for and survive harsh seasons. In females, the absence of juvenile hormone (JH) is a hallmark of adult reproductive diapause, a developmental arrest, which is much less characterized in males. Here we show that juvenile hormone III skipped bisepoxide (JHSB3) titers in hemolymph remarkably differ between reproductive males and females of the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus, whereas no JH was detected in diapausing adults of both sexes. Like in females, ectopic application of JH mimic effectively terminated male diapause through the canonical JH receptor components, Methoprene-tolerant and Taiman. In contrast to females, long photoperiod induced reproduction even in males with silenced JH reception or in males with removed corpus allatum (CA), the JH-producing gland. JHSB3 was detected in the accessory glands (MAG) of reproductive males, unexpectedly, even in males without CA. If there is a source of JHSB3 outside CA or a long-term storage of JHSB3 in MAGs remains to be elucidated. These sex-related idiosyncrasies are further manifested in different dynamics of diapause termination in P. apterus by low temperature. We would like to propose that this sexual dimorphism of diapause regulation might be explained by the different reproductive costs for each sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markéta Hejníková
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Marcela Nouzova
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Parasitology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Cesar E Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Francisco Fernandez-Lima
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Fernando Gabriel Noriega
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - David Doležel
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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22
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Domínguez CV, Pagone V, Maestro JL. Regulation of insulin-like peptide expression in adult Blattella germanica females. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 141:103706. [PMID: 34974083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The insulin-IGF-signalling (IIS) pathway regulates key processes in metazoans. The pathway is activated through the binding of the ligands, which in insects are usually referred to as insulin-like peptides (ILPs), to a class of receptor tyrosine kinases, the insect insulin receptor. To study the pathway regulation, it is therefore essential to understand how ILPs are produced and released. In this study we analysed the factors that regulate the expression of the seven ILPs (BgILPs) expressed in adult females of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. The results showed that the starvation-induced expression reduction of brain BgILP3, 5 and 6 and fat body BgILP7 is not due to reduced juvenile hormone (JH) or decreased TOR pathway activity. In addition, depletion of FoxO in starved females did not correct the low levels of these BgILPs, but even reduced further BgILP5 expression, indicating the need to maintain certain basal levels of BgILP5 even during starvation. Furthermore, JH promoted increased BgILP5 and decreased BgILP3 expression in the brain, an effect that required Methoprene-tolerant (Met), the JH receptor, but not Krüppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1), the main JH transducer. On the other hand, JH inhibited the expression of BgILP7 in the fat body, although in this case, the action required both Met and Kr-h1. In addition, JH reduction treatments produced a decrease in the expression of the insulin receptor in the fat body, which suggests an increase in IIS. The results show a peculiar regulation of ILP expression in adult B. germanica females, which is clearly different than that seen in other species. This is understandable given that gene duplications in recent clades have resulted in different sets of ILP genes, involving substantial changes in gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia V Domínguez
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC.Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Viviana Pagone
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC.Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José L Maestro
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC.Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
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23
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Huygens C, Ribeiro Lopes M, Gaget K, Duport G, Peignier S, De Groef S, Parisot N, Calevro F, Callaerts P. Evolutionary diversification of insulin-related peptides (IRPs) in aphids and spatiotemporal distribution in Acyrthosiphon pisum. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 141:103670. [PMID: 34666188 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Members of the insulin superfamily activate the evolutionarily highly conserved insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway, involved in regulation of growth, energy homeostasis, and longevity. In the current study we focus on aphids to gain more insight into the evolution of the IRPs and how they may contribute to regulation of the insulin-signaling pathway. Using the latest annotation of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome, and combining sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses, we identified seven putative IRP encoding-genes, with IRP1-IRP4 resembling the classical insulin and insulin-like protein structures, and IRP5 and IRP6 bearing insulin-like growth factor (IGF) features. We also identified IRP11 as a new and structurally divergent IRP present in at least eight aphid genomes. Globally the ten aphid genomes analyzed in this work contain four to 15 IRPs, while only three IRPs were found in the genome of the grape phylloxera, a hemipteran insect representing an earlier evolutionary branch of the aphid group. Expression analyses revealed spatial and temporal variation in the expression patterns of the different A. pisum IRPs. IRP1 and IRP4 are expressed throughout all developmental stages and morphs in neuroendocrine cells of the brain, while IRP5 and IRP6 are expressed in the fat body. IRP2 is expressed in specific cells of the gut in aphids in non-crowded conditions and in the head of aphids under crowded conditions, IRP3 in salivary glands, and both IRP2 and IRP3 in the male morph. IRP11 expression is enriched in the carcass. This complex spatiotemporal expression pattern suggests functional diversification of the IRPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Huygens
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium; Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - M Ribeiro Lopes
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - K Gaget
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - G Duport
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - S Peignier
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - S De Groef
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - N Parisot
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France
| | - F Calevro
- Univ Lyon, INSA Lyon, INRAE, BF2I, UMR 203, 69621, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - P Callaerts
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KULeuven, University of Leuven, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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24
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Kotwica-Rolinska J, Chodáková L, Smýkal V, Damulewicz M, Provazník J, Wu BCH, Hejníková M, Chvalová D, Doležel D. Loss of Timeless Underlies an Evolutionary Transition within the Circadian Clock. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6454103. [PMID: 34893879 PMCID: PMC8789273 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Most organisms possess time-keeping devices called circadian clocks. At the molecular level, circadian clocks consist of transcription-translation feedback loops. Although some components of the negative transcription-translation feedback loop are conserved across the animals, important differences exist between typical models, such as mouse and the fruit fly. In Drosophila, the key components are PERIOD (PER) and TIMELESS (TIM-d) proteins, whereas the mammalian clock relies on PER and CRYPTOCHROME (CRY-m). Importantly, how the clock has maintained functionality during evolutionary transitions between different states remains elusive. Therefore, we systematically described the circadian clock gene setup in major bilaterian lineages and identified marked lineage-specific differences in their clock constitution. Then we performed a thorough functional analysis of the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus, an insect species comprising features characteristic of both the Drosophila and the mammalian clocks. Unexpectedly, the knockout of timeless-d, a gene essential for the clock ticking in Drosophila, did not compromise rhythmicity in P. apterus, it only accelerated its pace. Furthermore, silencing timeless-m, the ancestral timeless type ubiquitously present across animals, resulted in a mild gradual loss of rhythmicity, supporting its possible participation in the linden bug clock, which is consistent with timeless-m role suggested by research on mammalian models. The dispensability of timeless-d in P. apterus allows drawing a scenario in which the clock has remained functional at each step of transition from an ancestral state to the TIM-d-independent PER+CRY-mammalian system operating in extant vertebrates, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lenka Chodáková
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Vlastimil Smýkal
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Milena Damulewicz
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Provazník
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Bulah Chia-Hsiang Wu
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Hejníková
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Chvalová
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - David Doležel
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
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25
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Xue WH, Xu N, Chen SJ, Liu XY, Zhang JL, Xu HJ. Neofunctionalization of a second insulin receptor gene in the wing-dimorphic planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009653. [PMID: 34181658 PMCID: PMC8270448 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A single insulin receptor (InR) gene has been identified and extensively studied in model species ranging from nematodes to mice. However, most insects possess additional copies of InR, yet the functional significance, if any, of alternate InRs is unknown. Here, we used the wing-dimorphic brown planthopper (BPH) as a model system to query the role of a second InR copy in insects. NlInR2 resembled the BPH InR homologue (NlInR1) in terms of nymph development and reproduction, but revealed distinct regulatory roles in fuel metabolism, lifespan, and starvation tolerance. Unlike a lethal phenotype derived from NlInR1 null, homozygous NlInR2 null mutants were viable and accelerated DNA replication and cell proliferation in wing cells, thus redirecting short-winged–destined BPHs to develop into long-winged morphs. Additionally, the proper expression of NlInR2 was needed to maintain symmetric vein patterning in wings. Our findings provide the first direct evidence for the regulatory complexity of the two InR paralogues in insects, implying the functionally independent evolution of multiple InRs in invertebrates. The highly conserved insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in growth, development, and various physiological processes across a wide phylogeny of organisms. Unlike a single InR in the model species such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, most insect lineages have two or even three InR copies. However, the function of the alternative InRs remains elusive. Here, we created a homozygous mutation for a second insulin receptor (InR2) in the wing-dimorphic brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR/Cas9) system. Our findings revealed that InR2 possesses functions distinct from the BPH InR homologue (NlInR1), indicating that multiple InR paralogues may have evolved independently and may have functionally diversified in ways more complex than previously expected in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hua Xue
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sun-Jie Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Yang Liu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Li Zhang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Jun Xu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- State Key laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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Jockusch EL, Fisher CR. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something red: the origin of ecologically relevant novelties in Hemiptera. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:154-162. [PMID: 34058515 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Comparative transcriptomics, applied in an evolutionary context, has transformed the possibilities for studying phenotypic evolution in non-model taxa. We review recent discoveries about the development of novel, ecologically relevant phenotypes in hemipteran insects. These discoveries highlight the diverse genomic substrates of novelty: 'something old', when novelty results from changes in the regulation of existing genes or gene duplication; 'something new', wherein lineage-restricted genes contribute to the evolution of new phenotypes; and 'something borrowed', showcasing contributions of horizontal gene transfer to the evolution of novelty, including carotenoid synthesis (resulting in 'something red'). These findings show the power and flexibility of comparative transcriptomic approaches for expanding beyond the 'toolkit' model for the evolution of development. We conclude by raising questions about the relationship between new genes and new traits and outlining a research framework for answering them in Hemiptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Jockusch
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd., U-3043, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
| | - Cera R Fisher
- Cornell University, Department of Entomology, 2126 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Fu S, Duan Y, Wang S, Ren Y, Bu W. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) to Characterize Wing Formation across All Developmental Stages. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12030226. [PMID: 33807991 PMCID: PMC7999114 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Riptortus pedestris is a widely distributed pest insect in East Asia that causes considerable economic losses. In this study, we applied the Illumina HiSeq6000 platform to construct and sequence the transcriptome libraries of R. pedestris during all life stages. First, a total of 60,058 unigenes were assembled from raw data, and then annotated and classified with various databases. Furthermore, different numbers of differentially expressed genes were calculated by pairwise comparisons of all life stages, and some of these DEGs were associated with various functions by GO and KEGG analysis. Additionally, a total number of 35,158 SSRs and 715,604 SNPs were identified from all the transcriptome libraries. Finally, we analyzed ten wing formation-related signaling pathways, and detected the molecular and expression characterization of five wing development-related genes by qRT-PCR for all developmental stages of R. pedestris. Collectively, all these data may pave the avenue for exploring the developmental processes of hemimetabolous insects and pest management. Abstract Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a major agricultural pest in East Asia that causes considerable economic losses to the soybean crop each year. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the growth and development of R. pedestris have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the Illumina HiSeq6000 platform was employed to perform de novo transcriptome assembly and determine the gene expression profiles of this species across all developmental stages, including eggs, first-, second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-instar nymphs, and adults. In this study, a total of 60,058 unigenes were assembled from numerous raw reads, exhibiting an N50 length of 2126 bp and an average length of 1199 bp, and the unigenes were annotated and classified with various databases, such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), and Gene Ontology (GO). Furthermore, various numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were calculated through pairwise comparisons of all life stages, and some of these DEGs were associated with immunity, metabolism, and development by GO and KEGG enrichment. In addition, 35,158 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 715,604 potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified from the seven transcriptome libraries of R. pedestris. Finally, we identified and summarized ten wing formation-related signaling pathways, and the molecular properties and expression levels of five wing development-related genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR for all developmental stages of R. pedestris. Taken together, the results of this study may establish a foundation for future research investigating developmental processes and wing formation in hemimetabolous insects and may provide valuable data for pest control efforts attempting to reduce the economic damage caused by this pest.
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Leyria J, Orchard I, Lange AB. The involvement of insulin/ToR signaling pathway in reproductive performance of Rhodnius prolixus. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 130:103526. [PMID: 33453353 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Insulins are peptide hormones widely studied for their important regulatory roles in metabolism, growth and development. In insects, insulin signaling along with the target of rapamycin (ToR) are involved in detecting and interpreting nutrient levels. Recently, by transcriptome analysis we reported an up-regulation of transcripts involved in insulin/ToR signaling in unfed Rhodnius prolixus; however, this signaling pathway is only activated in fed insects. Here, continuing with the blood-gorging triatomine R. prolixus as a model, we report the direct effect of insulin/ToR signaling on reproductive performance. By immunofluorescence we identified cells in the brain with positive signal to the R. prolixus ILP (Rhopr-ILP1) and show that the insulin receptor and protein effectors downstream of insulin/ToR signaling activation, are differentially expressed in ovarian follicles dependent on their developmental stage. Using qPCR we find that the expression of transcripts involved in insulin signaling in the central nervous system (CNS), fat body and ovaries increase as the state of starvation progresses, promoting a more highly sensitized state to respond rapidly to ILP/IGF levels. In addition, using dsRNA injection and in vivo and ex vivo assays to promote signaling activation we demonstrate a direct participation of insulin/ToR signaling in coordinating the synthesis of the main yolk protein precursor, vitellogenin, thereby influencing the numbers of eggs laid per female. We thereby show a mechanism by which nutritional signaling regulates reproductive performance in a vector of Chagas disease. As reproduction is responsible for propagation of insect populations, this work is important for the development of innovative biocontrol methods.
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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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Kozelková T, Doležel D, Grunclová L, Kučera M, Perner J, Kopáček P. Functional characterization of the insulin signaling pathway in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101694. [PMID: 33706210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids transmitting a variety of pathogens to humans and animals. A unique trait in tick physiology is their ability to engorge and digest large amounts of host blood, ensuring their high reproductive potential. Activation of the blood digestive machinery in the tick gut, as well as processes controlling maturation of ovaries, are triggered upon blood meal uptake by still largely unknown mechanisms. Sensing of the nutritional status in metazoan organisms is facilitated by the evolutionarily conserved Insulin Signaling Pathway (ISP) and the interlinked Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway. Recently, we have identified three components of these pathways in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus midgut transcriptome, namely a putative insulin receptor (InR), and the downstream intracellular serine/threonine kinases AKT and TOR. In this study, we primarily focus on the molecular and functional characterization of the I. ricinus insulin receptor (IrInR), the first InR characterized in Chelicerates. A phylogenetic analysis across the major Arthropod lineages demonstrated that ticks possess only one gene encoding an InR-related molecule. Tissue expression profiling by quantitative PCR in semi-engorged I. ricinus females revealed that the IrInR, as well as AKT (IrAKT) and TOR (IrTOR) are expressed in various organs, with the highest expression being detected in ovaries. We have further evaluated the impact of RNAi-mediated knock-down (KD) of IrInR, IrAKT, and IrTOR on tick blood-feeding and reproductive capacity. Weights of engorged IrInR KD females and laid egg clutches were reduced compared to the control group, and these quantitative parameters clearly correlated with the efficiency of RNAi-KD achieved in individual ticks. The most striking phenotype was observed for IrAKT KD that impaired tick feeding and completely aborted egg production. A recombinant extracellular fragment of the IrInR α-subunit was used to produce antibodies in experimental rabbits to assess its potential as a protective antigen against tick feeding and reproduction. Our data clearly indicate the functionality of the ISP in ticks and demonstrate the need for further investigation of specific roles played by the endogenous insulin-like peptides in tick physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Doležel
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Grunclová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Kučera
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Zhang JL, Fu SJ, Chen SJ, Chen HH, Liu YL, Liu XY, Xu HJ. Vestigial mediates the effect of insulin signaling pathway on wing-morph switching in planthoppers. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009312. [PMID: 33561165 PMCID: PMC7899339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Wing polymorphism is an evolutionary feature found in a wide variety of insects, which offers a model system for studying the evolutionary significance of dispersal. In the wing-dimorphic planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway acts as a ‘master signal’ that directs the development of either long-winged (LW) or short-winged (SW) morphs via regulation of the activity of Forkhead transcription factor subgroup O (NlFoxO). However, downstream effectors of the IIS–FoxO signaling cascade that mediate alternative wing morphs are unclear. Here we found that vestigial (Nlvg), a key wing-patterning gene, is selectively and temporally regulated by the IIS–FoxO signaling cascade during the wing-morph decision stage (fifth-instar stage). RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of Nlfoxo increase Nlvg expression in the fifth-instar stage (the last nymphal stage), thereby inducing LW development. Conversely, silencing of Nlvg can antagonize the effects of IIS activity on LW development, redirecting wing commitment from LW to the morph with intermediate wing size. In vitro and in vivo binding assays indicated that NlFoxO protein may suppress Nlvg expression by directly binding to the first intron region of the Nlvg locus. Our findings provide a first glimpse of the link connecting the IIS pathway to the wing-patterning network on the developmental plasticity of wings in insects, and help us understanding how phenotypic diversity is generated by the modification of a common set of pattern elements. Many insects are capable of developing into either long-winged or short-winged adults, but the underlying molecular basis remains largely unknown. Pioneer studies showed that the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway acts as a ‘master signal’ that directs wing buds to develop into long or short wings in the wing-dimorphic planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. However, downstream effectors mediating the IIS pathway effects are unknown. Our findings highlight that vestigial, a key wing-patterning gene, is a main downstream effector that mediates the IIS activity on the development of alternative wing morphs during the wing-morph decision stage. The molecular mechanism of wing formation, including the function of vestigial, has been studied in great depth in the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. Our data provide a first glimpse of the link connecting the IIS pathway to the wing-patterning network in regulating developmental plasticity of wings in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Li Zhang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Jie Fu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sun-Jie Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao-Hao Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Lai Liu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Yang Liu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Jun Xu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- State Key laboratory of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Key laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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Characterization of viral insulins reveals white adipose tissue-specific effects in mice. Mol Metab 2020; 44:101121. [PMID: 33220491 PMCID: PMC7770979 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Members of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) superfamily are well conserved across the evolutionary tree. We recently showed that four viruses in the Iridoviridae family possess genes that encode proteins highly homologous to human insulin/IGF-1. Using chemically synthesized single-chain (sc), i.e., IGF-1-like, forms of the viral insulin/IGF-1-like peptides (VILPs), we previously showed that they can stimulate human receptors. Because these peptides possess potential cleavage sites to form double chain (dc), i.e., more insulin-like, VILPs, in this study, we have characterized dc forms of VILPs for Grouper iridovirus (GIV), Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) and Lymphocystis disease virus-1 (LCDV-1) for the first time. Methods The dcVILPs were chemically synthesized. Using murine fibroblast cell lines overexpressing insulin receptor (IR-A or IR-B) or IGF1R, we first determined the binding affinity of dcVILPs to the receptors and characterized post-receptor signaling. Further, we used C57BL/6J mice to study the effect of dcVILPs on lowering blood glucose. We designed a 3-h dcVILP in vivo infusion experiment to determine the glucose uptake in different tissues. Results GIV and SGIV dcVILPs bind to both isoforms of human insulin receptor (IR-A and IR-B) and to the IGF1R, and for the latter, show higher affinity than human insulin. These dcVILPs stimulate IR and IGF1R phosphorylation and post-receptor signaling in vitro and in vivo. Both GIV and SGIV dcVILPs stimulate glucose uptake in mice. In vivo infusion experiments revealed that while insulin (0.015 nmol/kg/min) and GIV dcVILP (0.75 nmol/kg/min) stimulated a comparable glucose uptake in heart and skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue, GIV dcVILP stimulated 2-fold higher glucose uptake in white adipose tissue (WAT) compared to insulin. This was associated with increased Akt phosphorylation and glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) gene expression compared to insulin in WAT. Conclusions Our results show that GIV and SGIV dcVILPs are active members of the insulin superfamily with unique characteristics. Elucidating the mechanism of tissue specificity for GIV dcVILP will help us to better understand insulin action, design new analogs that specifically target the tissues and provide new insights into their potential role in disease. Viral insulin/IGF1-like peptides (VILPs) are microbial members of the insulin superfamily. VILPs bind to human IR and IGF1R and stimulate post-receptor signaling. Grouper iridovirus (GIV) VILP has white adipose tissue (WAT)-specific characteristics. GIV VILP stimulates increased glucose uptake in WAT via increased GLUT4 expression.
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Guo S, Wang X, Kang L. Special Significance of Non- Drosophila Insects in Aging. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:576571. [PMID: 33072758 PMCID: PMC7536347 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.576571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is the leading risk factor of human chronic diseases. Understanding of aging process and mechanisms facilitates drug development and the prevention of aging-related diseases. Although many aging studies focus on fruit fly as a canonical insect system, minimal attention is paid to the potentially significant roles of other insects in aging research. As the most diverse group of animals, insects provide many aging types and important complementary systems for aging studies. Insect polyphenism represents a striking example of the natural variation in longevity and aging rate. The extreme intraspecific variations in the lifespan of social insects offer an opportunity to study how aging is differentially regulated by social factors. Insect flight, as an extremely high-intensity physical activity, is suitable for the investigation of the complex relationship between metabolic rate, oxidative stress, and aging. Moreover, as a "non-aging" state, insect diapause not only slows aging process during diapause phase but also affects adult longevity during/after diapause. In the past two decades, considerable progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of aging regulation in insects. Herein, the recent research progress in non-Drosophila insect aging was reviewed, and its potential utilization in aging in the future was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xianhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Kotwica-Rolinska J, Krištofová L, Chvalová D, Pauchová L, Provazník J, Hejníková M, Sehadová H, Lichý M, Vaněčková H, Doležel D. Functional analysis and localisation of a thyrotropin-releasing hormone-type neuropeptide (EFLa) in hemipteran insects. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 122:103376. [PMID: 32339620 PMCID: PMC7294237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
EFLamide (EFLa) is a neuropeptide known for a long time from crustaceans, chelicerates and myriapods. Recently, EFLa-encoding genes were identified in the genomes of apterygote hexapods including basal insect species. In pterygote insects, however, evidence of EFLa was limited to partial sequences in the bed bug (Cimex), migratory locust and a few phasmid species. Here we present identification of a full length EFLa-encoding transcript in the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera). We created complete null mutants allowing unambiguous anatomical location of this peptide in the central nervous system. Only 2-3 EFLa-expressing cells are located very close to each other near to the surface of the lateral protocerebrum with dense neuronal arborization. Homozygous null EFLa mutants are fully viable and do not have any visible defect in development, reproduction, lifespan, diapause induction or circadian rhythmicity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that EFLa-encoding transcripts are produced by alternative splicing of a gene that also produces Prohormone-4. However, this Proh-4/EFLa connection is found only in Hemiptera and Locusta, whereas EFLa-encoding transcripts in apterygote hexapods, chelicerates and crustaceans are clearly distinct from Proh-4 genes. The exact mechanism leading to the fused Proh-4/EFLa transcript is not yet determined, and might be a result of canonical cis-splicing, cis-splicing of adjacent genes (cis-SAG), or trans-splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kotwica-Rolinska
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Krištofová
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Chvalová
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Pauchová
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Provazník
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Hejníková
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Sehadová
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lichý
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Vaněčková
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Doležel
- Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Entomology, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
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