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Jennings EC, Korthauer MW, Hendershot JM, Bailey ST, Weirauch MT, Ribeiro JMC, Benoit JB. Molecular mechanisms underlying milk production and viviparity in the cockroach, Diploptera punctata. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 120:103333. [PMID: 32119906 PMCID: PMC7293887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Viviparous reproduction is characterized by maternal retention of developing offspring within the reproductive tract during gestation, culminating in live birth. In some cases, a mother will provide nutrition beyond that present in the yolk; this is known as matrotrophic viviparity. While this phenomenon is best associated with mammals, it is observed in insects such as the viviparous cockroach, Diploptera punctata. Female D. punctata carry developing embryos in the brood sac, a reproductive organ that acts as both a uterus and a placenta by protecting and providing a nutritive secretion to the intrauterine developing progeny. While the basic physiology of D. punctata pregnancy has been characterized, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. This study combined RNA-seq analysis, RNA interference, and other assays to characterize molecular and physiological changes associated with D. punctata reproduction. A comparison of four stages of the female reproductive cycle and males revealed unique gene expression profiles corresponding to each stage and between sexes. Differentially regulated transcripts of interest include the previously identified family of milk proteins and transcripts associated with juvenile hormone metabolism. RNA interference and methoprene application experiments established the potential impacts of bothbreakdown and synthesis reduction of juvenile hormone in maintaining pregnancy in D. punctata. These studies provide the comprehensive molecular mechanisms associated with cockroach viviparity, which will be a critical resource for comparative purposes among viviparity in insect systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Matthew W Korthauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Jacob M Hendershot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Samuel T Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology (CAGE) and Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Jose M C Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA.
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