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Luo X, Zhang J, Zhang C, Zhou N. PTTH-Torso Signaling System Controls Developmental Timing, Body Size, and Reproduction through Regulating Ecdysone Homeostasis in the Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5138. [PMID: 38791179 PMCID: PMC11121662 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105138] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In holometabolous insects, such as Drosophila and Bombyx, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) is well established to be critical in controlling developmental transitions and metamorphosis by stimulating the biosynthesis of ecdysone in the prothoracic glands (PGs). However, the physiological role of PTTH and the receptor Torso in hemimetabolous insects remains largely unexplored. In this study, homozygous PTTH- and Torso-null mutants of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, were successfully generated by employing clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR-Cas9). Further characterization showed that both NlPTTH-/- and NlTorso-/- mutants exhibited prolonged nymphal duration and increased final adult size. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that NlPTTH-/- and NlTorso-/- mutants exhibited a significant reduction in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) in fifth-instar nymphs at 48 h post-ecdysis compared to Wt controls. Furthermore, our results indicated that both NlPTTH-/- and NlTorso-/- mutants had shortened lifespan, reduced female fecundity, and reduced egg hatching rates in adults. These findings suggest a conserved role for the PTTH-Torso signaling system in the regulation of developmental transitions by stimulating ecdysone biosynthesis in hemimetabolous insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xumei Luo
- Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Jinli Zhang
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Chuanxi Zhang
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Naiming Zhou
- Institute of Biochemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
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Qiu J, Dai T, Luo C, Cui W, Liu K, Li J, Sima Y, Xu S. Circadian clock regulates developmental time through ecdysone and juvenile hormones in Bombyx mori. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36815346 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The circadian clock plays an integral role in hormone biosynthesis and secretion. However, how the circadian clock precisely coordinates hormonal homeostasis to maintain normal animal development remains unclear. Here, we show that knocking out the core clock gene Cryptochrome 1 (Cry1) significantly delays the developmental time in Bombyx mori. This study focuses on the ecdysone and juvenile hormone signalling pathways of fifth instar larvae with the longest developmental time delay. We found that the mutant reduced prothoracicotropic hormone synthesis in the brain, and could not produce sufficient ecdysone in the prothoracic gland, resulting in a delayed peak of 20-hydroxyecdysone titre in the hemolymph of fifth instar larvae, prolonging developmental time. Moreover, further investigation revealed that the mutant enhanced juvenile hormone biosynthesis and signalling pathway and that this higher juvenile hormone titre also resulted in prolonged developmental time in fifth instar larvae. Our results provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which the circadian clock regulates animal development by maintaining hormonal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Qiu
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Taiming Dai
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenzhao Cui
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kai Liu
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianglan Li
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanghu Sima
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shiqing Xu
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology & Ecology (IABE), Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Baci GM, Cucu AA, Giurgiu AI, Muscă AS, Bagameri L, Moise AR, Bobiș O, Rațiu AC, Dezmirean DS. Advances in Editing Silkworms ( Bombyx mori) Genome by Using the CRISPR-Cas System. INSECTS 2021; 13:28. [PMID: 35055871 PMCID: PMC8777690 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) represents a powerful genome editing technology that revolutionized in a short period of time numerous natural sciences branches. Therefore, extraordinary progress was made in various fields, such as entomology or biotechnology. Bombyx mori is one of the most important insects, not only for the sericulture industry, but for numerous scientific areas. The silkworms play a key role as a model organism, but also as a bioreactor for the recombinant protein production. Nowadays, the CRISPR-Cas genome editing system is frequently used in order to perform gene analyses, to increase the resistance against certain pathogens or as an imaging tool in B. mori. Here, we provide an overview of various studies that made use of CRISPR-Cas for B. mori genome editing, with a focus on emphasizing the high applicability of this system in entomology and biological sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela-Maria Baci
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Alexandra-Antonia Cucu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Alexandru-Ioan Giurgiu
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Adriana-Sebastiana Muscă
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Lilla Bagameri
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Adela Ramona Moise
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | - Otilia Bobiș
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
| | | | - Daniel Severus Dezmirean
- Faculty of Animal Science and Biotechnology, University of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.-M.B.); (A.-A.C.); (A.-I.G.); (A.-S.M.); (L.B.); (O.B.); (D.S.D.)
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Purification and Characterization of Trehalase From Acyrthosiphon pisum, a Target for Pest Control. Protein J 2021; 41:189-200. [PMID: 34845557 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-021-10032-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Insect trehalases are glycoside hydrolases essential for trehalose metabolism and stress resistance. We here report the extraction and purification of Acyrthosiphon pisum soluble trehalase (ApTreh-1), its biochemical and structural characterization, as well as the determination of its kinetic properties. The protein has been purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, first followed by an anion-exchange and then by an affinity chromatography. The SDS-PAGE shows a main band at 70 kDa containing two isoforms of ApTreh-1 (X1 and X2), identified by mass spectrometry and slightly contrasting in the C-terminal region. A phylogenetic tree, a multiple sequence alignment, as well as a modelled 3D-structure were constructed and they all reveal the ApTreh-1 similarity to other insect trehalases, i.e. the two signature motifs 179PGGRFRELYYWDTY192 and 479QWDFPNAWPP489, a glycine-rich region 549GGGGEY554, and the catalytic residues Asp336 and Glu538. The optimum enzyme activity occurs at 45 °C and pH 5.0, with Km and Vmax values of ~ 71 mM and ~ 126 µmol/min/mg, respectively. The present structural and functional characterization of soluble A. pisum trehalase enters the development of new strategies to control the aphids pest without significant risk for non-target organisms and human health.
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Chafino S, Martín D, Franch-Marro X. Activation of EGFR signaling by Tc-Vein and Tc-Spitz regulates the metamorphic transition in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18807. [PMID: 34552169 PMCID: PMC8458297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98334-9] [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] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal development relies on a sequence of specific stages that allow the formation of adult structures with a determined size. In general, juvenile stages are dedicated mainly to growth, whereas last stages are devoted predominantly to the maturation of adult structures. In holometabolous insects, metamorphosis marks the end of the growth period as the animals stops feeding and initiate the final differentiation of the tissues. This transition is controlled by the steroid hormone ecdysone produced in the prothoracic gland. In Drosophila melanogaster different signals have been shown to regulate the production of ecdysone, such as PTTH/Torso, TGFß and Egfr signaling. However, to which extent the roles of these signals are conserved remains unknown. Here, we study the role of Egfr signaling in post-embryonic development of the basal holometabolous beetle Tribolium castaneum. We show that Tc-Egfr and Tc-pointed are required to induced a proper larval-pupal transition through the control of the expression of ecdysone biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, we identified an additional Tc-Egfr ligand in the Tribolium genome, the neuregulin-like protein Tc-Vein (Tc-Vn), which contributes to induce larval-pupal transition together with Tc-Spitz (Tc-Spi). Interestingly, we found that in addition to the redundant role in the control of pupa formation, each ligand possesses different functions in organ morphogenesis. Whereas Tc-Spi acts as the main ligand in urogomphi and gin traps, Tc-Vn is required in wings and elytra. Altogether, our findings show that in Tribolium, post-embryonic Tc-Egfr signaling activation depends on the presence of two ligands and that its role in metamorphic transition is conserved in holometabolous insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Chafino
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - David Martín
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Xavier Franch-Marro
- grid.507636.10000 0004 0424 5398Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Passeig de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
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Yu H, Ou-Yang YY, Yang CJ, Li N, Nakai M, Huang GH. 3H-31, A Non-structural Protein of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h, Inhibits the Host Larval Cathepsin and Chitinase Activities. Virol Sin 2021; 36:1036-1051. [PMID: 33830433 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-021-00374-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
3h-31 of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) is a highly conserved gene of ascoviruses. As an early gene of HvAV-3h, 3h-31 codes for a non-structural protein (3H-31) of HvAV-3h. In the study, 3h-31 was initially transcribed and expressed at 3 h post-infection (hpi) in the infected Spodoptera exigua fat body cells (SeFB). 3h-31 was further inserted into the bacmid of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) to generate an infectious baculovirus (AcMNPV-31). In vivo experiments showed that budded virus production and viral DNA replication decreased with the expression of 3H-31, and lucent tubular structures were found around the virogenic stroma in the AcMNPV-31-infected SeFB cells. In vivo, both LD50 and LD90 values of AcMNPV-31 were significantly higher than those of the wild-type AcMNPV (AcMNPV-wt) in third instar S. exigua larvae. An interesting finding was that the liquefaction of the larvae killed by the infection of AcMNPV-31 was delayed. Chitinase and cathepsin activities of AcMNPV-31-infected larvae were significantly lower than those of AcMNPV-wt-infected larvae. The possible regulatory function of the chitinase and cathepsin for 3H-31 was further confirmed by RNAi, which showed that larval cathepsin activity was significantly upregulated, but chitinase activity was not significantly changed due to the RNAi of 3h-31. Based on the obtained results, we assumed that the function of 3H-31 was associated with the inhibition of host larval chitinase and cathepsin activities, so as to restrain the hosts in their larval stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Yu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.,College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Yi-Yi Ou-Yang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.,College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Chang-Jin Yang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.,College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Ni Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.,College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Madoka Nakai
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan
| | - Guo-Hua Huang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Biology and Control of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China. .,College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.
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