1
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Benrabaa SAM, Chang SA, Chang ES, Mykles DL. Effects of molting on the expression of ecdysteroid responsive genes in the crustacean molting gland (Y-organ). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 355:114548. [PMID: 38761872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114548] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Ecdysteroid molting hormones coordinate arthropod growth and development. Binding of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) to ecdysteroid receptor EcR/RXR activates a cascade of nuclear receptor transcription factors that mediate tissue responses to hormone. Insect ecdysteroid responsive and Forkhead box class O (FOXO) transcription factor gene sequences were used to extract orthologs from blackback land crab (Gecarcinus lateralis) Y-organ (YO) transcriptome: Gl-Ecdysone Receptor (EcR), Gl-Broad Complex (Br-C), Gl-E74, Gl-Hormone Receptor 3 (HR3), Gl-Hormone Receptor 4 (HR4), Gl-FOXO, and Gl-Fushi tarazu factor-1 (Ftz-f1). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction quantified mRNA levels in tissues from intermolt animals and in YO of animals induced to molt by multiple limb autotomy (MLA) or eyestalk ablation (ESA). Gl-EcR, Gl-Retinoid X Receptor (RXR), Gl-Br-C, Gl-HR3, Gl-HR4, Gl-E74, Gl-E75, Gl-Ftz-f1, and Gl-FOXO were expressed in all 10 tissues, with Gl-Br-C, Gl-E74, Gl-E75, and Gl-HR4 mRNA levels in the YO lower than those in most of the other tissues. In MLA animals, molting had no effect on Gl-Br-C, Gl-E74, and Gl-Ftz-f1 mRNA levels and little effect on Gl-EcR, Gl-E75, and Gl-HR4 mRNA levels. Gl-HR3 and Gl-FOXO mRNA levels were increased during premolt stages, while Gl-RXR mRNA level was highest during intermolt and premolt stages and lowest at postmolt stage. In ESA animals, YO mRNA levels were not correlated with hemolymph ecdysteroid titers. ESA had no effect on Gl-EcR, Gl-E74, Gl-HR3, Gl-HR4, Gl-Ftz-f1, and Gl-FOXO mRNA levels, while Gl-RXR, Gl-Br-C, and Gl-E75 mRNA levels were decreased at 3 days post-ESA. These data suggest that transcriptional up-regulation of Gl-FOXO and Gl-HR3 contributes to increased YO ecdysteroidogenesis during premolt. By contrast, transcriptional regulation of ecdysteroid responsive genes and ecdysteroidogenesis were uncoupled in the YO of ESA animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sharon A Chang
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Ernest S Chang
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Donald L Mykles
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA.
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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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Turingan MJ, Li T, Wright J, Sharma A, Ding K, Khan S, Lee B, Grewal SS. Hypoxia delays steroid-induced developmental maturation in Drosophila by suppressing EGF signaling. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011232. [PMID: 38669270 PMCID: PMC11098494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals often grow and develop in unpredictable environments where factors like food availability, temperature, and oxygen levels can fluctuate dramatically. To ensure proper sexual maturation into adulthood, juvenile animals need to adapt their growth and developmental rates to these fluctuating environmental conditions. Failure to do so can result in impaired maturation and incorrect body size. Here we describe a mechanism by which Drosophila larvae adapt their development in low oxygen (hypoxia). During normal development, larvae grow and increase in mass until they reach critical weight (CW), after which point a neuroendocrine circuit triggers the production of the steroid hormone ecdysone from the prothoracic gland (PG), which promotes maturation to the pupal stage. However, when raised in hypoxia (5% oxygen), larvae slow their growth and delay their maturation to the pupal stage. We find that, although hypoxia delays the attainment of CW, the maturation delay occurs mainly because of hypoxia acting late in development to suppress ecdysone production. This suppression operates through a distinct mechanism from nutrient deprivation, occurs independently of HIF-1 alpha and does not involve dilp8 or modulation of Ptth, the main neuropeptide that initiates ecdysone production in the PG. Instead, we find that hypoxia lowers the expression of the EGF ligand, spitz, and that the delay in maturation occurs due to reduced EGFR/ERK signaling in the PG. Our study sheds light on how animals can adjust their development rate in response to changing oxygen levels in their environment. Given that hypoxia is a feature of both normal physiology and many diseases, our findings have important implications for understanding how low oxygen levels may impact animal development in both normal and pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Turingan
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tan Li
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jenna Wright
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Abhishek Sharma
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kate Ding
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shahoon Khan
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Byoungchun Lee
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Savraj S. Grewal
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Cavigliasso F, Savitsky M, Koval A, Erkosar B, Savary L, Gallart-Ayala H, Ivanisevic J, Katanaev VL, Kawecki TJ. Cis-regulatory polymorphism at fiz ecdysone oxidase contributes to polygenic evolutionary response to malnutrition in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011204. [PMID: 38452112 PMCID: PMC10962836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
We investigate the contribution of a candidate gene, fiz (fezzik), to complex polygenic adaptation to juvenile malnutrition in Drosophila melanogaster. Experimental populations maintained for >250 generations of experimental evolution to a nutritionally poor larval diet (Selected populations) evolved several-fold lower fiz expression compared to unselected Control populations. Here we show that this divergence in fiz expression is mediated by a cis-regulatory polymorphism. This polymorphism, originally sampled from a natural population in Switzerland, is distinct from a second cis-regulatory SNP previously identified in non-African D. melanogaster populations, implying that two independent cis-regulatory variants promoting high fiz expression segregate in non-African populations. Enzymatic analyses of Fiz protein expressed in E. coli demonstrate that it has ecdysone oxidase activity acting on both ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone. Four of five fiz paralogs annotated to ecdysteroid metabolism also show reduced expression in Selected larvae, implying that malnutrition-driven selection favored general downregulation of ecdysone oxidases. Finally, as an independent test of the role of fiz in poor diet adaptation, we show that fiz knockdown by RNAi results in faster larval growth on the poor diet, but at the cost of greatly reduced survival. These results imply that downregulation of fiz in Selected populations was favored by selection on the nutritionally poor diet because of its role in suppressing growth in response to nutrient shortage. However, they suggest that fiz downregulation is only adaptive in combination with other changes evolved by Selected populations, which ensure that the organism can sustain the faster growth promoted by fiz downregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Cavigliasso
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mikhail Savitsky
- HumanaFly Facility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexey Koval
- Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology, Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Berra Erkosar
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Loriane Savary
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hector Gallart-Ayala
- Metabolomics Unit, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julijana Ivanisevic
- Metabolomics Unit, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir L. Katanaev
- Translational Research Centre in Oncohaematology, Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tadeusz J. Kawecki
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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6
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Umargamwala R, Manning J, Dorstyn L, Denton D, Kumar S. Understanding Developmental Cell Death Using Drosophila as a Model System. Cells 2024; 13:347. [PMID: 38391960 PMCID: PMC10886741 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040347] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell death plays an essential function in organismal development, wellbeing, and ageing. Many types of cell deaths have been described in the past 30 years. Among these, apoptosis remains the most conserved type of cell death in metazoans and the most common mechanism for deleting unwanted cells. Other types of cell deaths that often play roles in specific contexts or upon pathological insults can be classed under variant forms of cell death and programmed necrosis. Studies in Drosophila have contributed significantly to the understanding and regulation of apoptosis pathways. In addition to this, Drosophila has also served as an essential model to study the genetic basis of autophagy-dependent cell death (ADCD) and other relatively rare types of context-dependent cell deaths. Here, we summarise what is known about apoptosis, ADCD, and other context-specific variant cell death pathways in Drosophila, with a focus on developmental cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Umargamwala
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (J.M.); (L.D.)
| | - Jantina Manning
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (J.M.); (L.D.)
| | - Loretta Dorstyn
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (J.M.); (L.D.)
| | - Donna Denton
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (J.M.); (L.D.)
| | - Sharad Kumar
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (J.M.); (L.D.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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7
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Morrow H, Mirth CK. Timing Drosophila development through steroid hormone action. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 84:102148. [PMID: 38271845 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Specifically timed pulses of the moulting hormone ecdysone are necessary for developmental progression in insects, guiding development through important milestones such as larval moults, pupation and metamorphosis. It also coordinates the acquisition of cell identities, known as cell patterning, and growth in a tissue-specific manner. In the absence of ecdysone, the ecdysone receptor heterodimer Ecdysone Receptor and Ultraspiracle represses expression of target primary response genes, which become de-repressed as the ecdysone titre rises. However, ecdysone signalling elicits both repressive and activating responses in a temporal and tissue-specific manner. To understand how ecdysone achieves such specificity, this review explores the layers of gene regulation involved in stage-appropriate ecdysone responses in Drosophila fruit flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Morrow
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3000, Australia.
| | - Christen K Mirth
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3000, Australia
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8
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Tyson JJ, Monshizadeh A, Shvartsman SY, Shingleton AW. A dynamical model of growth and maturation in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2313224120. [PMID: 38015844 PMCID: PMC10710029 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313224120] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The decision to stop growing and mature into an adult is a critical point in development that determines adult body size, impacting multiple aspects of an adult's biology. In many animals, growth cessation is a consequence of hormone release that appears to be tied to the attainment of a particular body size or condition. Nevertheless, the size-sensing mechanism animals use to initiate hormone synthesis is poorly understood. Here, we develop a simple mathematical model of growth cessation in Drosophila melanogaster, which is ostensibly triggered by the attainment of a critical weight (CW) early in the last instar. Attainment of CW is correlated with the synthesis of the steroid hormone ecdysone, which causes a larva to stop growing, pupate, and metamorphose into the adult form. Our model suggests that, contrary to expectation, the size-sensing mechanism that initiates metamorphosis occurs before the larva reaches CW; that is, the critical-weight phenomenon is a downstream consequence of an earlier size-dependent developmental decision, not a decision point itself. Further, this size-sensing mechanism does not require a direct assessment of body size but emerges from the interactions between body size, ecdysone, and nutritional signaling. Because many aspects of our model are evolutionarily conserved among all animals, the model may provide a general framework for understanding how animals commit to maturing from their juvenile to adult form.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J. Tyson
- Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA24061
| | - Amirali Monshizadeh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
| | - Stanislav Y. Shvartsman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ08544
- Center for Computational Biology, Flatiron Institute, Simons Foundation, New York City, NY10010
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9
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Ahmad S, Jamil M, Jaworski CC, Wu Y, Palma-Onetto V, Lyu B, Luo Y. Knockdown of the ecdysone receptor disrupts development and causes mortality in the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 32:738-747. [PMID: 37646607 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Cucurbits are important economic plants that are attacked by numerous pests, among which the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae is extremely problematic. New sustainable pest control strategies are necessary to replace chemical insecticides that are harmful to the environment, human health and nontarget species. The RNA interference (RNAi) technology is one of the most promising tools due to high efficiency and species specificity. We developed an RNAi strategy targeting the ecdysone receptor (ECR) of Z. cucurbitae, which plays an important role in moulting and reproduction. We identified, described and isolated the ECR gene of Z. cucurbitae and measured its expression pattern across developmental stages and tissues. ZcECR knockdown via dsZcECR ingestion caused a significant larval mortality and abnormal phenotypes in pupae and adults. About 68% of larvae fed with a dsZcECR-treated diet failed to enter the pupal stage and died. In addition, ZcECR knockdown dramatically reduced pupal weight (by 3.24 mg on average) and fecundity (by about 23%). RNAi targeting the ECR gene is therefore a promising method to control Z. cucurbitae, paving the way for the development of novel sustainable and highly specific control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakil Ahmad
- School of Plant Protection, Department of Pesticide Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Momana Jamil
- School of Plant Protection, Department of Pesticide Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | | | - Yuejie Wu
- School of Plant Protection, Department of Pesticide Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Valeria Palma-Onetto
- Departamento de Química Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Baoqian Lyu
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Haikou, China
| | - Yanping Luo
- School of Plant Protection, Department of Pesticide Science, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
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10
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Mirzoyan Z, Valenza A, Zola S, Bonfanti C, Arnaboldi L, Ferrari N, Pollard J, Lupi V, Cassinelli M, Frattaroli M, Sahin M, Pasini ME, Bellosta P. A Drosophila model targets Eiger/TNFα to alleviate obesity-related insulin resistance and macrophage infiltration. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050388. [PMID: 37828911 PMCID: PMC10651092 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050388] [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: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is associated with various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation (ATM), characterized by macrophage infiltration into adipose cells. This study presents a new Drosophila model to investigate the mechanisms underlying these obesity-related pathologies. We employed genetic manipulation to reduce ecdysone levels to prolong the larval stage. These animals are hyperphagic and exhibit features resembling obesity in mammals, including increased lipid storage, adipocyte hypertrophy and high circulating glucose levels. Moreover, we observed significant infiltration of immune cells (hemocytes) into the fat bodies, accompanied by insulin resistance. We found that attenuation of Eiger/TNFα signaling reduced ATM and improved insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, using metformin and the antioxidants anthocyanins, we ameliorated both phenotypes. Our data highlight evolutionarily conserved mechanisms allowing the development of Drosophila models for discovering therapeutic pathways in adipose tissue immune cell infiltration and insulin resistance. Our model can also provide a platform to perform genetic screens or test the efficacy of therapeutic interventions for diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhasmine Mirzoyan
- Department of Computational, Cellular and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Alice Valenza
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Sheri Zola
- Department of Computational, Cellular and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Carola Bonfanti
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Nicholas Ferrari
- Department of Computational, Cellular and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - John Pollard
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Lupi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Mehtap Sahin
- Department of Computational, Cellular and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Ankara, 06110 Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Paola Bellosta
- Department of Computational, Cellular and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, 10016 New York, USA
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11
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Perez-Mockus G, Cocconi L, Alexandre C, Aerne B, Salbreux G, Vincent JP. The Drosophila ecdysone receptor promotes or suppresses proliferation according to ligand level. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2128-2139.e4. [PMID: 37769663 PMCID: PMC7615657 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.08.032] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The steroid hormone 20-hydroxy-ecdysone (20E) promotes proliferation in Drosophila wing precursors at low titer but triggers proliferation arrest at high doses. Remarkably, wing precursors proliferate normally in the complete absence of the 20E receptor, suggesting that low-level 20E promotes proliferation by overriding the default anti-proliferative activity of the receptor. By contrast, 20E needs its receptor to arrest proliferation. Dose-response RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of ex vivo cultured wing precursors identifies genes that are quantitatively activated by 20E across the physiological range, likely comprising positive modulators of proliferation and other genes that are only activated at high doses. We suggest that some of these "high-threshold" genes dominantly suppress the activity of the pro-proliferation genes. We then show mathematically and with synthetic reporters that combinations of basic regulatory elements can recapitulate the behavior of both types of target genes. Thus, a relatively simple genetic circuit can account for the bimodal activity of this hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Cocconi
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK.
| | | | | | - Guillaume Salbreux
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
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12
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Benrabaa SAM, Chang SA, Chang ES, Mykles DL. Effects of molting on the expression of ecdysteroid biosynthesis genes in the Y-organ of the blackback land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 340:114304. [PMID: 37127083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A pair of Y-organs (YOs) synthesize ecdysteroids that initiate and coordinate molting processes in decapod crustaceans. The YO converts cholesterol to secreted products through a biosynthetic pathway involving a Rieske oxygenase encoded by Neverland (Nvd) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases encoded by Halloween genes Spook (Spo; Cyp307a1), Phantom (Phm; Cyp306a1), Disembodied (Dib; Cyp302a1), and Shadow (Sad; Cyp315a1). NAD kinase (NADK) and 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) support ecdysteroid synthesis in insects. A 20-hydroxylase, encoded by Shed in decapods and Shade in insects, converts ecdysone to the active hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). 20E is inactivated by cytochrome P450 26-hydroxylase (Cyp18a1). Contigs encoding these eight proteins were extracted from a Gecarcinus lateralis YO transcriptome and their expression was quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. mRNA levels of Gl-Spo and Gl-Phm were four orders of magnitude higher in YO than those in nine other tissues, while mRNA levels of Gl-NADK and Gl-ALAS were similar in all ten tissues. In G. lateralis induced to molt by multiple leg autotomy, YO mRNA levels of Gl-Nvd, Gl-Spo, Gl-Phm, Gl-NADK, and Gl-ALAS were highest in intermolt and premolt stages and lower in postmolt. Gl-Dib mRNA level was not affected by molt stage. mRNA level of Gl-Sad, which converts 2-deoxyecdysone to ecdysone, was higher in mid- and late premolt stages, when YO ecdysteroidogenic capacity is greatest. Gl-Cyp18a1 mRNA level was highest in intermolt, decreased in premolt stages, and was lowest in postmolt. In animals induced to molt by eyestalk ablation, YO mRNA levels of all eight genes were not correlated with increased hemolymph 20E titers. These results suggest that YO ecdysteroidogenic genes are differentially regulated at transcriptional and translational levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sharon A Chang
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Ernest S Chang
- Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA
| | - Donald L Mykles
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, USA.
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13
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Kasturacharya N, Dhall JK, Hasan G. A STIM dependent dopamine-neuropeptide axis maintains the larval drive to feed and grow in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010435. [PMID: 37363909 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Appropriate nutritional intake is essential for organismal survival. In holometabolous insects such as Drosophila melanogaster, the quality and quantity of food ingested as larvae determines adult size and fecundity. Here we have identified a subset of dopaminergic neurons (THD') that maintain the larval motivation to feed. Dopamine release from these neurons requires the ER Ca2+ sensor STIM. Larvae with loss of STIM stop feeding and growing, whereas expression of STIM in THD' neurons rescues feeding, growth and viability of STIM null mutants to a significant extent. Moreover STIM is essential for maintaining excitability and release of dopamine from THD' neurons. Optogenetic stimulation of THD' neurons activated neuropeptidergic cells, including median neuro secretory cells that secrete insulin-like peptides. Loss of STIM in THD' cells alters the developmental profile of specific insulin-like peptides including ilp3. Loss of ilp3 partially rescues STIM null mutants and inappropriate expression of ilp3 in larvae affects development and growth. In summary we have identified a novel STIM-dependent function of dopamine neurons that modulates developmental changes in larval feeding behaviour and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandashree Kasturacharya
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, India
- The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, India
| | - Jasmine Kaur Dhall
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, India
| | - Gaiti Hasan
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, India
- The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, India
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14
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Li Y, Haynes P, Zhang SL, Yue Z, Sehgal A. Ecdysone acts through cortex glia to regulate sleep in Drosophila. eLife 2023; 12:e81723. [PMID: 36719183 PMCID: PMC9928426 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are attractive candidates for transmitting long-range signals to affect behavior. These lipid-soluble molecules derived from dietary cholesterol easily penetrate the brain and act through nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) that function as transcription factors. To determine the extent to which NHRs affect sleep:wake cycles, we knocked down each of the 18 highly conserved NHRs found in Drosophila adults and report that the ecdysone receptor (EcR) and its direct downstream NHR Eip75B (E75) act in glia to regulate the rhythm and amount of sleep. Given that ecdysone synthesis genes have little to no expression in the fly brain, ecdysone appears to act as a long-distance signal and our data suggest that it enters the brain more at night. Anti-EcR staining localizes to the cortex glia in the brain and functional screening of glial subtypes revealed that EcR functions in adult cortex glia to affect sleep. Cortex glia are implicated in lipid metabolism, which appears to be relevant for actions of ecdysone as ecdysone treatment mobilizes lipid droplets (LDs), and knockdown of glial EcR results in more LDs. In addition, sleep-promoting effects of exogenous ecdysone are diminished in lsd-2 mutant flies, which are lean and deficient in lipid accumulation. We propose that ecdysone is a systemic secreted factor that modulates sleep by stimulating lipid metabolism in cortex glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Li
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Paula Haynes
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Shirley L Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Zhifeng Yue
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Amita Sehgal
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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15
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Scanlan JL, Robin C, Mirth CK. Rethinking the ecdysteroid source during Drosophila pupal-adult development. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 152:103891. [PMID: 36481381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ecdysteroids, typified by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), are essential hormones for the development, reproduction and physiology of insects and other arthropods. For over half a century, the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster (Ephydroidea: Diptera) has been used as a model of ecdysteroid biology. Many aspects of the biosynthesis and regulation of ecdysteroids in this species are understood at the molecular level, particularly with respect to their secretion from the prothoracic gland (PG) cells of the ring gland, widely considered the dominant biosynthetic tissue during development. Discrete pulses of 20E orchestrate transitions during the D. melanogaster life cycle, the sources of which are generally well understood, apart from the large 20E pulse at the onset of pharate adult development, which has received little recent attention. As the source of this pharate adult pulse (PAP) is a curious blind spot in Drosophila endocrinology, we evaluate published biochemical and genetic data as they pertain to three hypotheses for the source of PAP 20E: the PG; an alternative biosynthetic tissue; or the recycling of stored 20E. Based on multiple lines of evidence, we contend the PAP cannot be derived from biosynthesis, with other data consistent with D. melanogaster able to recycle ecdysteroids before and during metamorphosis. Published data also suggest the PAP is conserved across Diptera, with evidence for pupal-adult ecdysteroid recycling occurring in other cyclorrhaphan flies. Further experimental work is required to test the ecdysteroid recycling hypothesis, which would establish fundamental knowledge of the function, regulation, and evolution of metamorphic hormones in dipterans and other insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack L Scanlan
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Charles Robin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Christen K Mirth
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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16
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Yoon S, Shin M, Shim J. Inter-organ regulation by the brain in Drosophila development and physiology. J Neurogenet 2022:1-13. [DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2022.2137162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sunggyu Yoon
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mingyu Shin
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwon Shim
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Natural Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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17
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Khalid MZ, Sun Z, Zhang J, Zhang S, Zhong G. Cyromazine affects the ovarian germ cells of Drosophila via the ecdysone signaling pathway. Front Physiol 2022; 13:992306. [PMID: 36246127 PMCID: PMC9557234 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.992306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyromazine, an insect growth regulator, has been extensively used against the insect pests of livestock and households. Previously, it was observed that the continuous selection of cyromazine from the larval to the adult stage decreased the number of germline stem cells (GSCs) and cystoblasts (CBs) in the adult ovary. In addition, in this study, we observed that the number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) was also decreased in the larval ovary after treatment with cyromazine. However, the mechanism by which it affects the germ cells is yet to be explored. Consequently, to deeply investigate the effects of cyromazine on the germ cells, we performed tissue-specific RNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the ecdysone signaling pathway was significantly influenced under cyromazine stress. Based on that, we screened and selected 14 ecdysone signaling responsive genes and silenced their expression in the germ cells only. Results of that showed a considerable reduction in the number of germ cells. Furthermore, we mixed exogenous 20E with the cyromazine-containing diet to rescue the ecdysone signaling. Our results supported that the application of exogenous 20E significantly rescued the germ cells in the transgenic lines. Therefore, this implies that the cyromazine decreased the number of germ cells by affecting the ecdysone signaling pathway.
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18
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Deliu LP, Turingan M, Jadir D, Lee B, Ghosh A, Grewal SS. Serotonergic neuron ribosomal proteins regulate the neuroendocrine control of Drosophila development. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010371. [PMID: 36048889 PMCID: PMC9473637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of ribosome function is a conserved mechanism of growth control. While studies in single cell systems have defined how ribosomes contribute to cell growth, the mechanisms that link ribosome function to organismal growth are less clear. Here we explore this issue using Drosophila Minutes, a class of heterozygous mutants for ribosomal proteins. These animals exhibit a delay in larval development caused by decreased production of the steroid hormone ecdysone, the main regulator of larval maturation. We found that this developmental delay is not caused by decreases in either global ribosome numbers or translation rates. Instead, we show that they are due in part to loss of Rp function specifically in a subset of serotonin (5-HT) neurons that innervate the prothoracic gland to control ecdysone production. We find that these effects do not occur due to altered protein synthesis or proteostasis, but that Minute animals have reduced expression of synaptotagmin, a synaptic vesicle protein, and that the Minute developmental delay can be partially reversed by overexpression of synaptic vesicle proteins in 5-HTergic cells. These results identify a 5-HT cell-specific role for ribosomal function in the neuroendocrine control of animal growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Patricia Deliu
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael Turingan
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Deeshpaul Jadir
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Byoungchun Lee
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Abhishek Ghosh
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Savraj Singh Grewal
- Clark H Smith Brain Tumour Centre, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Calgary, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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19
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Okamoto N, Watanabe A. Interorgan communication through peripherally derived peptide hormones in Drosophila. Fly (Austin) 2022; 16:152-176. [PMID: 35499154 PMCID: PMC9067537 DOI: 10.1080/19336934.2022.2061834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, endocrine factors such as hormones and cytokines regulate development and homoeostasis through communication between different organs. For understanding such interorgan communications through endocrine factors, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster serves as an excellent model system due to conservation of essential endocrine systems between flies and mammals and availability of powerful genetic tools. In Drosophila and other insects, functions of neuropeptides or peptide hormones from the central nervous system have been extensively studied. However, a series of recent studies conducted in Drosophila revealed that peptide hormones derived from peripheral tissues also play critical roles in regulating multiple biological processes, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and behaviour. Here, we summarise recent advances in understanding target organs/tissues and functions of peripherally derived peptide hormones in Drosophila and describe how these hormones contribute to various biological events through interorgan communications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Okamoto
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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20
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Jaszczak JS, DeVault L, Jan LY, Jan YN. Steroid hormone signaling activates thermal nociception during Drosophila peripheral nervous system development. eLife 2022; 11:e76464. [PMID: 35353036 PMCID: PMC8967384 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory neurons enable animals to detect environmental changes and avoid harm. An intriguing open question concerns how the various attributes of sensory neurons arise in development. Drosophila melanogaster larvae undergo a behavioral transition by robustly activating a thermal nociceptive escape behavior during the second half of larval development (third instar). The Class IV dendritic arborization (C4da) neurons are multimodal sensors which tile the body wall of Drosophila larvae and detect nociceptive temperature, light, and mechanical force. In contrast to the increase in nociceptive behavior in the third instar, we find that ultraviolet light-induced Ca2+ activity in C4da neurons decreases during the same period of larval development. Loss of ecdysone receptor has previously been shown to reduce nociception in third instar larvae. We find that ligand-dependent activation of ecdysone signaling is sufficient to promote nociceptive responses in second instar larvae and suppress expression of subdued (encoding a TMEM16 channel). Reduction of subdued expression in second instar C4da neurons not only increases thermal nociception but also decreases the response to ultraviolet light. Thus, steroid hormone signaling suppresses subdued expression to facilitate the sensory switch of C4da neurons. This regulation of a developmental sensory switch through steroid hormone regulation of channel expression raises the possibility that ion channel homeostasis is a key target for tuning the development of sensory modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob S Jaszczak
- Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteChevy ChaseUnited States
| | - Laura DeVault
- Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University Medical SchoolSaint LouisUnited States
| | - Lily Yeh Jan
- Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteChevy ChaseUnited States
| | - Yuh Nung Jan
- Department of Physiology, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteChevy ChaseUnited States
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21
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Kamiyama T, Niwa R. Transcriptional Regulators of Ecdysteroid Biosynthetic Enzymes and Their Roles in Insect Development. Front Physiol 2022; 13:823418. [PMID: 35211033 PMCID: PMC8863297 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.823418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are responsible for coordinating many aspects of biological processes in most multicellular organisms, including insects. Ecdysteroid, the principal insect steroid hormone, is biosynthesized from dietary cholesterol or plant sterols. In the last 20 years, a number of ecdysteroidogenic enzymes, including Noppera-bo, Neverland, Shroud, Spook/Spookier, Cyp6t3, Phantom, Disembodied, Shadow, and Shade, have been identified and characterized in molecular genetic studies using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. These enzymes are encoded by genes collectively called the Halloween genes. The transcriptional regulatory network, governed by multiple regulators of transcription, chromatin remodeling, and endoreplication, has been shown to be essential for the spatiotemporal expression control of Halloween genes in D. melanogaster. In this review, we summarize the latest information on transcriptional regulators that are crucial for controlling the expression of ecdysteroid biosynthetic enzymes and their roles in insect development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Kamiyama
- College of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Niwa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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22
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Hoshino R, Niwa R. Regulation of Mating-Induced Increase in Female Germline Stem Cells in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster. Front Physiol 2021; 12:785435. [PMID: 34950056 PMCID: PMC8689587 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.785435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In many insect species, mating stimuli can lead to changes in various behavioral and physiological responses, including feeding, mating refusal, egg-laying behavior, energy demand, and organ remodeling, which are collectively known as the post-mating response. Recently, an increase in germline stem cells (GSCs) has been identified as a new post-mating response in both males and females of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We have extensively studied mating-induced increase in female GSCs of D. melanogaster at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. After mating, the male seminal fluid peptide [e.g. sex peptide (SP)] is transferred to the female uterus. This is followed by binding to the sex peptide receptor (SPR), which evokes post-mating responses, including increase in number of female GSCs. Downstream of SP-SPR signaling, the following three hormones and neurotransmitters have been found to act on female GSC niche cells to regulate mating-induced increase in female GSCs: (1) neuropeptide F, a peptide hormone produced in enteroendocrine cells; (2) octopamine, a monoaminergic neurotransmitter synthesized in ovary-projecting neurons; and (3) ecdysone, a steroid hormone produced in ovarian follicular cells. These humoral factors are secreted from each organ and are received by ovarian somatic cells and regulate the strength of niche signaling in female GSCs. This review provides an overview of the latest findings on the inter-organ relationship to regulate mating-induced female GSC increase in D. melanogaster as a model. We also discuss the remaining issues that should be addressed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Hoshino
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ryusuke Niwa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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23
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Prothoracicostatic Activity of the Ecdysis-Regulating Neuropeptide Crustacean Cardioactive Peptide (CCAP) in the Desert Locust. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413465. [PMID: 34948262 PMCID: PMC8704491 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Accurate control of innate behaviors associated with developmental transitions requires functional integration of hormonal and neural signals. Insect molting is regulated by a set of neuropeptides, which trigger periodic pulses in ecdysteroid hormone titers and coordinate shedding of the old cuticle during ecdysis. In the current study, we demonstrate that crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP), a structurally conserved neuropeptide described to induce the ecdysis motor program, also exhibits a previously unknown prothoracicostatic activity to regulate ecdysteroid production in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. We identified the locust genes encoding the CCAP precursor and three G protein-coupled receptors that are activated by CCAP with EC50 values in the (sub)nanomolar range. Spatiotemporal expression profiles of the receptors revealed expression in the prothoracic glands, the endocrine organs where ecdysteroidogenesis occurs. RNAi-mediated knockdown of CCAP precursor or receptors resulted in significantly elevated transcript levels of several Halloween genes, which encode ecdysteroid biosynthesis enzymes, and in elevated ecdysteroid levels one day prior to ecdysis. Moreover, prothoracic gland explants exhibited decreased secretion of ecdysteroids in the presence of CCAP. Our results unequivocally identify CCAP as the first prothoracicostatic peptide discovered in a hemimetabolan species and reveal the existence of an intricate interplay between CCAP signaling and ecdysteroidogenesis.
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24
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Mykles DL. Signaling Pathways That Regulate the Crustacean Molting Gland. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:674711. [PMID: 34234741 PMCID: PMC8256442 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.674711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A pair of Y-organs (YOs) are the molting glands of decapod crustaceans. They synthesize and secrete steroid molting hormones (ecdysteroids) and their activity is controlled by external and internal signals. The YO transitions through four physiological states over the molt cycle, which are mediated by molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH; basal state), mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1; activated state), Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ)/Activin (committed state), and ecdysteroid (repressed state) signaling pathways. MIH, produced in the eyestalk X-organ/sinus gland complex, inhibits the synthesis of ecdysteroids. A model for MIH signaling is organized into a cAMP/Ca2+-dependent triggering phase and a nitric oxide/cGMP-dependent summation phase, which maintains the YO in the basal state during intermolt. A reduction in MIH release triggers YO activation, which requires mTORC1-dependent protein synthesis, followed by mTORC1-dependent gene expression. TGFβ/Activin signaling is required for YO commitment in mid-premolt. The YO transcriptome has 878 unique contigs assigned to 23 KEGG signaling pathways, 478 of which are differentially expressed over the molt cycle. Ninety-nine contigs encode G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), 65 of which bind a variety of neuropeptides and biogenic amines. Among these are putative receptors for MIH/crustacean hyperglycemic hormone neuropeptides, corazonin, relaxin, serotonin, octopamine, dopamine, allatostatins, Bursicon, ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH), CCHamide, FMRFamide, and proctolin. Contigs encoding receptor tyrosine kinase insulin-like receptor, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor and ligands EGF and FGF suggest that the YO is positively regulated by insulin-like peptides and growth factors. Future research should focus on the interactions of signaling pathways that integrate physiological status with environmental cues for molt control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald L. Mykles
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
- University of California-Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, Bodega Bay, CA, United States
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25
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Mizuno Y, Imura E, Kurogi Y, Shimada-Niwa Y, Kondo S, Tanimoto H, Hückesfeld S, Pankratz MJ, Niwa R. A population of neurons that produce hugin and express the diuretic hormone 44 receptor gene projects to the corpora allata in Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:249-261. [PMID: 34021588 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12733] [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: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The corpora allata (CA) are essential endocrine organs that biosynthesize and secrete the sesquiterpenoid hormone, namely juvenile hormone (JH), to regulate a wide variety of developmental and physiological events in insects. CA are directly innervated with neurons in many insect species, implying the innervations to be important for regulating JH biosynthesis. Although this is also true for the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, neurotransmitters produced in the CA-projecting neurons are yet to be identified. In this study on D. melanogaster, we aimed to demonstrate that a subset of neurons producing the neuropeptide hugin, the invertebrate counterpart of the vertebrate neuromedin U, directly projects to the adult CA. A synaptic vesicle marker in the hugin neurons was observed at their axon termini located on the CA, which were immunolabeled with a newly-generated antibody to the JH biosynthesis enzyme JH acid O-methyltransferase. We also found the CA-projecting hugin neurons to likely express a gene encoding the specific receptor for diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44). Moreover, our data suggest that the CA-projecting hugin neurons have synaptic connections with the upstream neurons producing Dh44. Unexpectedly, the inhibition of CA-projecting hugin neurons did not significantly alter the expression levels of the JH-inducible gene Krüppel-homolog 1, which implies that the CA-projecting neurons are not involved in JH biosynthesis but rather in other known biological processes. This is the first study to identify a specific neurotransmitter of the CA-projecting neurons in D. melanogaster, and to anatomically characterize a neuronal pathway of the CA-projecting neurons and their upstream neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Mizuno
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Eisuke Imura
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshitomo Kurogi
- Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuko Shimada-Niwa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shu Kondo
- Invertebrate Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Hiromu Tanimoto
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | | | - Ryusuke Niwa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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