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Liu Z, Li C, Yang W, Wu Q, Xiao W, Zhu Y, Wei Q, Dong Z, Zhang G, Lu C, Pan M, Chen P. The Bombyx mori singed Gene Is Involved in the High-Temperature Resistance of Silkworms. INSECTS 2024; 15:264. [PMID: 38667394 PMCID: PMC11049829 DOI: 10.3390/insects15040264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Temperature is an important factor in the growth, development, survival, and reproduction of organisms. The high-temperature resistance mechanism of insects may be significant for use in the prevention and control of insect pests. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an important Lepidoptera model species for studies on pest control in agriculture and forestry. We identified a gene in B. mori, the B. mori singed (Bmsn) gene, which is involved in the high-temperature resistance of silkworms. Sn proteins are highly conserved among species in many taxonomic groups. The overexpression of the Bmsn gene promoted the proliferation of silkworm cells, reduced oxidation, and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species under stress. Interfering with the Bmsn gene had the opposite result. We constructed a transgenic B. mori strain that overexpressed the Bmsn gene. The physiological traits of the transgenic strain were significantly improved, and it had stronger high-temperature resistance. The Bmsn gene is involved in the process by which fat bodies respond to high-temperature stress. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of high-temperature resistance of insects and offer a new perspective on agricultural and forestry pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenye Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Cong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Wenyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Qiao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Wenfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
- Sericultural Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanchong 637000, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Qiongqiong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Zhanqi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Guizheng Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sericultural Genetic Improvement and Efficient Breeding, Sericulture Technology Promotion Station of Guangxi, Nanning 530007, China;
| | - Cheng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Minhui Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
| | - Peng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (Z.L.); (C.L.); (W.Y.); (Q.W.); (W.X.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (Z.D.); (C.L.)
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Štětina T, Koštál V. Extracellular freezing induces a permeability transition in the inner membrane of muscle mitochondria of freeze-sensitive but not freeze-tolerant Chymomyza costata larvae. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1358190. [PMID: 38384799 PMCID: PMC10880108 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1358190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Many insect species have evolved the ability to survive extracellular freezing. The search for the underlying principles of their natural freeze tolerance remains hampered by our poor understanding of the mechanistic nature of freezing damage itself. Objectives: Here, in search of potential primary cellular targets of freezing damage, we compared mitochondrial responses (changes in morphology and physical integrity, respiratory chain protein functionality, and mitochondrial inner membrane (IMM) permeability) in freeze-sensitive vs. freeze-tolerant phenotypes of the larvae of the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata. Methods: Larvae were exposed to freezing stress at -30°C for 1 h, which is invariably lethal for the freeze-sensitive phenotype but readily survived by the freeze-tolerant phenotype. Immediately after melting, the metabolic activity of muscle cells was assessed by the Alamar Blue assay, the morphology of muscle mitochondria was examined by transmission electron microscopy, and the functionality of the oxidative phosphorylation system was measured by Oxygraph-2K microrespirometry. Results: The muscle mitochondria of freeze-tolerant phenotype larvae remained morphologically and functionally intact after freezing stress. In contrast, most mitochondria of the freeze-sensitive phenotype were swollen, their matrix was diluted and enlarged in volume, and the structure of the IMM cristae was lost. Despite this morphological damage, the electron transfer chain proteins remained partially functional in lethally frozen larvae, still exhibiting strong responses to specific respiratory substrates and transferring electrons to oxygen. However, the coupling of electron transfer to ATP synthesis was severely impaired. Based on these results, we formulated a hypothesis linking the observed mitochondrial swelling to a sudden loss of barrier function of the IMM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimír Koštál
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Agwunobi DO, Wang T, Zhang M, Wang T, Jia Q, Zhang M, Shi X, Yu Z, Liu J. Functional implication of heat shock protein 70/90 and tubulin in cold stress of Dermacentor silvarum. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:542. [PMID: 34666804 PMCID: PMC8527796 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05056-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The tick Dermacentor silvarum Olenev (Acari: Ixodidae) is a vital vector tick species mainly distributed in the north of China and overwinters in the unfed adult stage. The knowledge of the mechanism that underlies its molecular adaptation against cold is limited. In the present study, genes of hsp70 and hsp90 cDNA, named Dshsp70 and Dshsp90, and tubulin were cloned and characterized from D. silvarum, and their functions in cold stress were further evaluated. Methods The genome of the heat shock proteins and tubulin of D. silvarum were sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Each group of 20 ticks were injected in triplicate with Dshsp90-, Dshsp70-, and tubulin-derived dsRNA, whereas the control group was injected with GFP dsRNA. Then, the total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized and subjected to RT-qPCR. After the confirmation of knockdown, the ticks were incubated for 24 h and were exposed to − 20 °C lethal temperature (LT50), and then the mortality was calculated. Results Results indicated that Dshsp70 and Dshsp90 contained an open reading frame of 345 and 2190 nucleotides that encoded 114 and 729 amino acid residues, respectively. The transcript Dshsp70 showed 90% similarity with that identified from Dermacentor variabilis, whereas Dshsp90 showed 85% similarity with that identified from Ixodes scapularis. Multiple sequence alignment indicates that the deduced amino acid sequences of D. silvarum Hsp90, Hsp70, and tubulin show very high sequence identity to their corresponding sequences in other species. Hsp90 and Hsp70 display highly conserved and signature amino acid sequences with well-conserved MEEVD motif at the C-terminal in Hsp90 and a variable C-terminal region with a V/IEEVD-motif in Hsp70 that bind to numerous co-chaperones. RNA interference revealed that the mortality of D. silvarum was significantly increased after injection of dsRNA of Dshsp70 (P = 0.0298) and tubulin (P = 0.0448), whereas no significant increases were observed after the interference of Dshsp90 (P = 0.0709). Conclusions The above results suggested that Dshsp70 and tubulin play an essential role in the low-temperature adaptation of ticks. The results of this study can contribute to the understanding of the survival and acclimatization of overwintering ticks. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05056-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desmond O Agwunobi
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Tongxuan Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Tianhong Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Qingying Jia
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Xinyue Shi
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
| | - Zhijun Yu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Jingze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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4
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Smith A, Turnbull KF, Moulton JH, Sinclair BJ. Metabolic cost of freeze-thaw and source of CO 2 production in the freeze-tolerant cricket Gryllus veletis. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb234419. [PMID: 33144372 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.234419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Freeze-tolerant insects can survive the conversion of a substantial portion of their body water to ice. While the process of freezing induces active responses from some organisms, these responses appear absent from freeze-tolerant insects. Recovery from freezing likely requires energy expenditure to repair tissues and re-establish homeostasis, which should be evident as elevations in metabolic rate after thaw. We measured carbon dioxide (CO2) production in the spring field cricket (Gryllus veletis) as a proxy for metabolic rate during cooling, freezing and thawing and compared the metabolic costs associated with recovery from freezing and chilling. We hypothesized that freezing does not induce active responses, but that recovery from freeze-thaw is metabolically costly. We observed a burst of CO2 release at the onset of freezing in all crickets that froze, including those killed by either cyanide or an insecticide (thiacloprid), implying that the source of this CO2 was neither aerobic metabolism nor a coordinated nervous system response. These results suggest that freezing does not induce active responses from G. veletis, but may liberate buffered CO2 from hemolymph. There was a transient 'overshoot' in CO2 release during the first hour of recovery, and elevated metabolic rate at 24, 48 and 72 h, in crickets that had been frozen compared with crickets that had been chilled (but not frozen). Thus, recovery from freeze-thaw and the repair of freeze-induced damage appears metabolically costly in G. veletis, and this cost persists for several days after thawing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B7
| | - Kurtis F Turnbull
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B7
| | - Julian H Moulton
- Department of Organismal Biology and Ecology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
| | - Brent J Sinclair
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B7
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Yang H, Xu D, Zhuo Z, Hu J, Lu B. Transcriptome and gene expression analysis of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) during developmental stages. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10223. [PMID: 33194414 PMCID: PMC7643551 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10223] [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: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is one of the most destructive pests harming palm trees. However, genomic resources for R. ferrugineus are still lacking, limiting the ability to discover molecular and genetic means of pest control. Methods In this study, PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-seq were used to generate transcriptome from three developmental stages of R. ferrugineus (pupa, 7th-instar larva, adult) to increase the understanding of the life cycle and molecular characteristics of the pest. Results Sequencing generated 625,983,256 clean reads, from which 63,801 full-length transcripts were assembled with N50 of 3,547 bp. Expression analyses revealed 8,583 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Moreover, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were mainly related to the peroxisome pathway which associated with metabolic pathways, material transportation and organ tissue formation. In summary, this work provides a valuable basis for further research on the growth and development, gene expression and gene prediction, and pest control of R. ferrugineus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjun Yang
- College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Biology of Tropical Special Ornamental Plants of Hainan Province, College of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan,China
| | - Danping Xu
- College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhihang Zhuo
- College of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Biology of Tropical Special Ornamental Plants of Hainan Province, College of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan,China.,Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiameng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Biology of Tropical Special Ornamental Plants of Hainan Province, College of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan,China
| | - Baoqian Lu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture China, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan, China
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6
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Štětina T, Des Marteaux LE, Koštál V. Insect mitochondria as targets of freezing-induced injury. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201273. [PMID: 32693722 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many insects survive internal freezing, but the great complexity of freezing stress hinders progress in understanding the ultimate nature of freezing-induced injury. Here, we use larvae of the drosophilid fly, Chymomyza costata to assess the role of mitochondrial responses to freezing stress. Respiration analysis revealed that fat body mitochondria of the freeze-sensitive (non-diapause) phenotype significantly decrease oxygen consumption upon lethal freezing stress, while mitochondria of the freeze-tolerant (diapausing, cold-acclimated) phenotype do not lose respiratory capacity upon the same stress. Using transmission electron microscopy, we show that fat body and hindgut mitochondria swell, and occasionally burst, upon exposure of the freeze-sensitive phenotype to lethal freezing stress. By contrast, mitochondrial swelling is not observed in the freeze-tolerant phenotype exposed to the same stress. We hypothesize that mitochondrial swelling results from permeability transition of the inner mitochondrial membrane and loss of its barrier function, which causes osmotic influx of cytosolic water into the matrix. We therefore suggest that the phenotypic transition to diapause and cold acclimation could be associated with adaptive changes that include the protection of the inner mitochondrial membrane against permeability transition and subsequent mitochondrial swelling. Accumulation of high concentrations of proline and other cryoprotective substances might be a part of such adaptive changes as we have shown that freezing-induced mitochondrial swelling was abolished by feeding the freeze-sensitive phenotype larvae on a proline-augmented diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Štětina
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - L E Des Marteaux
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 37005, Czech Republic
| | - V Koštál
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 37005, Czech Republic
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Lubawy J, Słocińska M. Characterization of Gromphadorhina coquereliana hemolymph under cold stress. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12076. [PMID: 32694601 PMCID: PMC7374602 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68941-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Low temperatures in nature occur together with desiccation conditions, causing changes in metabolic pathways and cellular dehydration, affecting hemolymph volume, water content and ion homeostasis. Although some research has been conducted on the effect of low temperature on Gromphadorhina coquereliana, showing that it can survive exposures to cold or even freezing, no one has studied the effect of cold on the hemolymph volume and the immune response of this cockroach. Here, we investigated the effect of low temperature (4 °C) on the abovementioned parameters, hemocyte morphology and total number. Cold stress affected hemocytes and the immune response, but not hemolymph volume. After stress, the number of circulating hemocytes decreased by 44.7%, but the ratio of apoptotic cells did not differ significantly between stressed and control individuals: 8.06% and 7.18%, respectively. The number of phagocyting hemocytes decreased by 16.66%, the hemocyte morphology drastically changed, and the F-actin cytoskeleton differed substantially in cold-stressed insects compared to control insects. Moreover, the surface area of the cells increased from 393.69 µm2 in the control to 458.38 µm2 in cold-treated animals. Together, our results show the links between cold stress and the cellular immune response, which probably results in the survival capability of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lubawy
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Słocińska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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8
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Toxopeus J, Koštál V, Sinclair BJ. Evidence for non-colligative function of small cryoprotectants in a freeze-tolerant insect. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190050. [PMID: 30890098 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Freeze tolerance, the ability to survive internal ice formation, facilitates survival of some insects in cold habitats. Low-molecular-weight cryoprotectants such as sugars, polyols and amino acids are hypothesized to facilitate freeze tolerance, but their in vivo function is poorly understood. Here, we use a combination of metabolomics and manipulative experiments in vivo and ex vivo to examine the function of multiple cryoprotectants in the spring field cricket Gryllus veletis. Cold-acclimated G. veletis are freeze-tolerant and accumulate myo-inositol, proline and trehalose in their haemolymph and fat body. Injecting freeze-tolerant crickets with proline and trehalose increases survival of freezing to lower temperatures or for longer times. Similarly, exogenous myo-inositol and trehalose increase ex vivo freezing survival of fat body cells from freeze-tolerant crickets. No cryoprotectant (alone or in combination) is sufficient to confer freeze tolerance on non-acclimated, freeze-intolerant G. veletis. Given that each cryoprotectant differentially impacts survival in the frozen state, we conclude that small cryoprotectants are not interchangeable and likely function non-colligatively in insect freeze tolerance. Our study is the first to experimentally demonstrate the importance of non-colligative cryoprotectant function for insect freeze tolerance both in vivo and ex vivo, with implications for choosing new molecules for cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jantina Toxopeus
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario , 1151 Richmond Street North, London, Ontario , Canada N6A 5B7
| | - Vladimír Koštál
- 2 Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences , Branišovská 1160/31, České Budějovice 37005 , Czech Republic
| | - Brent J Sinclair
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario , 1151 Richmond Street North, London, Ontario , Canada N6A 5B7
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Des Marteaux LE, Hůla P, Koštál V. Transcriptional analysis of insect extreme freeze tolerance. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20192019. [PMID: 31640516 PMCID: PMC6834040 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Few invertebrates can survive cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, and the mechanisms by which some species do survive are underexplored, despite high application potential. Here, we turn to the drosophilid Chymomyza costata to strengthen our fundamental understanding of extreme freeze tolerance and gain insights about potential avenues for cryopreservation of biological materials. We first use RNAseq to generate transcriptomes of three C. costata larval phenotypic variants: those warm-acclimated in early or late diapause (weak capacity to survive cryopreservation), and those undergoing cold acclimation after diapause entry (extremely freeze tolerant, surviving cryopreservation). We identify mRNA transcripts representing genes and processes that accompany the physiological transition to extreme freeze tolerance and relate cryopreservation survival to the transcriptional profiles of select candidate genes using extended sampling of phenotypic variants. Enhanced capacity for protein folding, refolding and processing appears to be a central theme of extreme freeze tolerance and may allow cold-acclimated larvae to repair or eliminate proteins damaged by freezing (thus mitigating the toxicity of denatured proteins, endoplasmic reticulum stress and subsequent apoptosis). We also find a number of candidate genes (including both known and potentially novel, unannotated sequences) whose expression profiles tightly mirror the change in extreme freeze tolerance status among phenotypic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Des Marteaux
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hůla
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Koštál
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
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10
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Rozsypal J, Toxopeus J, Berková P, Moos M, Šimek P, Koštál V. Fat body disintegration after freezing stress is a consequence rather than a cause of freezing injury in larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 115:12-19. [PMID: 30928312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular freezing of insect body water may cause lethal injury either by direct mechanical stress exerted by growing ice crystals on cells and tissues or, indirectly, by deleterious physico-chemical effects linked to freeze-induced cell dehydration. Here we present results showing that the macroscopic damage (cell ruptures, tissue disintegration) to fat body of Drosophila melanogaster is not directly caused by mechanical forces linked to growth of ice crystals but rather represents a secondary consequence of other primary freeze injuries occurring at subcellular or microscopic levels. Larvae of D. melanogaster were acclimated to produce variants ranging from freeze susceptible to freeze tolerant. Then, larvae were exposed to supercooling and freezing stresses at different subzero temperatures. The larval survival and macroscopic damage to fat body tissue was scored in 1632 larvae exposed to cold stress. In most cases, fat body damage was not evident immediately following cold stress but developed later. This suggests that the fat body disintegration is a consequence rather than a cause of cold injury. Analysis of fat body membrane phospholipids revealed that increased freeze tolerance was associated with increased relative proportion of phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) at the expense of phosphatidylcholines (PCs). The PE/PC ratio increased from 1.08 in freeze-susceptible larvae to 2.10 in freeze-tolerant larvae. The potential effects of changing PE/PC ratio on phospholipid bilayer stability upon supercooling and freezing stress are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rozsypal
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jantina Toxopeus
- University of Colorado, Denver, Department of Integrative Biology, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Petra Berková
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Moos
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Šimek
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Koštál
- Biology Centre CAS, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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11
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Štětina T, Poupardin R, Moos M, Šimek P, Šmilauer P, Koštál V. Larvae of Drosophila melanogaster exhibit transcriptional activation of immune response pathways and antimicrobial peptides during recovery from supercooling stress. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 105:60-68. [PMID: 30660665 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying insect cold acclimation prior to cold stress are relatively well explored, but the mechanisms linked to recovery and repair after cold stress have received much less attention. Here we focus on recovery from cold stress in the larvae of the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster) that were exposed to two physiologically distinct cold stress situations: supercooling (S, survival > 95%) and freezing (F, survival < 10%), both at -5 °C. We analysed the metabolic and transcriptomic responses to cold stress via GC-MS/LC-MS and whole-genome microarrays, respectively. Both stresses (S and F) caused metabolic perturbations which were transient in supercooled larvae but deeper and irreversible in frozen larvae. Differential gene expression analysis revealed a clear disparity in responses to supercooling and freezing (less than 10% of DE genes overlapped between S and F larvae). Using GO term enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway mapping, we identified the stimulation of immune response pathways as a strong candidate mechanism for coping with supercooling. Supercooling caused complex transcriptional activation of innate immunity potential: from Lysozyme-mediated degradation of bacterial cell walls, recognition of pathogen signals, through phagocytosis and lysosomal degradation, Toll and Imd signaling, to upregulation of genes coding for different antimicrobial peptides. The transcriptomic response to freezing was instead dominated by degradation of macromolecules and death-related processes such as autophagy and apoptosis. Of the 45 upregulated DE genes overlapping in responses to supercooling and freezing, 26 were broadly ascribable to defense and repair functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Štětina
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Rodolphe Poupardin
- Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Moos
- Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Šimek
- Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Šmilauer
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Vladimír Koštál
- Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Knight K. Super freezing larvae survive despite incurred damage. J Exp Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.192542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Toxopeus J, Des Marteaux LE, Sinclair BJ. How crickets become freeze tolerant: The transcriptomic underpinnings of acclimation in Gryllus veletis. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2018; 29:55-66. [PMID: 30423515 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Some ectotherms can survive internal ice formation. In temperate regions, freeze tolerance is often induced by decreasing temperature and/or photoperiod during autumn. However, we have limited understanding of how seasonal changes in physiology contribute to freeze tolerance, and how these changes are regulated. During a six week autumn-like acclimation, late-instar juveniles of the spring field cricket Gryllus veletis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) become freeze tolerant, which is correlated with accumulation of low molecular weight cryoprotectants, elevation of the temperature at which freezing begins, and metabolic rate suppression. We used RNA-Seq to assemble a de novo transcriptome of this emerging laboratory model for freeze tolerance research. We then focused on gene expression during acclimation in fat body tissue due to its role in cryoprotectant production and regulation of energetics. Acclimated G. veletis differentially expressed >3000 transcripts in fat body. This differential expression may contribute to metabolic suppression in acclimated G. veletis, but we did not detect changes in expression that would support cryoprotectant accumulation or enhanced control of ice formation, suggesting that these latter processes are regulated post-transcriptionally. Acclimated G. veletis differentially regulated transcripts that likely coordinate additional freeze tolerance mechanisms, including upregulation of enzymes that may promote membrane and cytoskeletal remodelling, cryoprotectant transporters, cytoprotective proteins, and antioxidants. Thus, while accumulation of cryoprotectants and controlling ice formation are commonly associated with insect freeze tolerance, our results support the hypothesis that many other systems contribute to surviving internal ice formation. Together, this information suggests new avenues for understanding the mechanisms underlying insect freeze tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jantina Toxopeus
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street N, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Lauren E Des Marteaux
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street N, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Brent J Sinclair
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street N, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
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