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Qiu X, Huang W, Yue W, Li D, Zhi J. Response of the serine/threonine kinase AKT and phosphoinositide-dependent kinase PDK in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to three kinds of foods and their regulation of reproductive function. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:372-386. [PMID: 38450915 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is a typical omnivorous insect that feeds on host plants, pollens and mite eggs, and poses a threat to crops worldwide. The insulin signalling pathway (ISP) is a typical nutrient-sensitive pathway that participates in the regulation of various functions in insects. Serine/threonine kinases (AKTs) and phosphoinositide-dependent kinases (PDKs) are key components of the ISP. In this study, the FoAKT and FoPDK genes in F. occidentalis were cloned, and the effects of three foods on their expression were determined. The expression of FoAKT and FoPDK in the thrips fed on kidney bean leaves supplemented with pine pollen or mite eggs was higher than in those primarily fed on leaves alone. Meanwhile, the fecundity of thrips fed on leaves supplemented with pine pollen was highest. In addition, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of FoAKT and FoPDK decreased vitellogenin (Vg) content and Vg expression in females, shortened ovariole length, delayed egg development and reduced fecundity and offspring hatching rates. Furthermore, the synthesis of juvenile hormone (JH) was reduced, and the contents of glucose, trehalose, glycogen and trehalase were affected. These results suggest that FoAKT and FoPDK regulate the reproduction of F. occidentalis by regulating Vg and JH production as well as carbohydrate metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Qiu
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wanqing Huang
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Tobacco Company, Tongren Branch, Tongren, China
| | - Wenbo Yue
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Dingyin Li
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Junrui Zhi
- The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of the Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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Zhi-Xiang D, Wan-Li L, Xi-Jie LI, Jia-Li L, Jun Z, Chong-Hui Z, Qi H, Zhe C, Yuan C, Hong-Mu Z, Jun G, Wen-Li T. Glyphosate exposure affected longevity-related pathways and reduced survival in asian honey bees (Apis cerana). CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141199. [PMID: 38237785 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141199] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, GLY) ranks among the most extensively used and effective herbicides globally. However, excessive GLY utilization poses a substantial threat to the survival of honey bees (Apis cerana). Here we monitored the survival status of A. cerana treated with GLY, and conducted transcriptome sequencing of the bee gut and head to further explore potential GLY influences at the molecular level. We observed that the mortality rate of bees increased as GLY concentration escalated. Pivotal pathways emerged in response to the GLY treatment, with a substantial number of differentially expressed genes enriched in the longevity regulating pathway - multiple species. This strongly suggested that GLY may influence the physiological behavior of bees by impacting this particular pathway. Moreover, our analysis revealed a notable reduction in the enzymatic activities of CYP450 and AChE in both the bee head and intestines of when exposed to GLY. Conversely, the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the head remained unaffected, whereas in the intestines, it exhibited a significant increase. Additionally, prophenol oxidase (PPO) and glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) displayed contrasting trends in enzymatic activity in both organs. This study offers valuable insights into how GLY impacted the survival of A. cerana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhi-Xiang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China; Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Li Wan-Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - L I Xi-Jie
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Li Jia-Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Zhang Jun
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Zhao Chong-Hui
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Huang Qi
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Cao Zhe
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Chen Yuan
- Pujia Life Technology (Fuzhou) Co., LTD, Fuzhou, 350018, China
| | - Zhao Hong-Mu
- Sericulture and Apiculture Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agriculutral Sciences, Mengzi, 661101, China.
| | - Guo Jun
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
| | - Tian Wen-Li
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
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Li X, Li W, Zhang S, Sang W, Peng Y, Zhao Y. RNA interference against the putative insulin receptor substrate gene IRS1 affects growth and development in the pest natural enemy Pardosa pseudoannulata. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:648-660. [PMID: 37756442 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insulin signalling pathways play crucial roles in regulating growth and development in insects, but their effects on the growth and development of Arachnids, such as spiders, have rarely been studied. As a valuable pest natural enemy in agricultural fields, the molecular mechanisms of insulin signalling pathway-mediated growth and development of the wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata, are of particular interest. RESULTS In this study, we identified and characterized six insulin signalling pathway genes - InR, InR2, IRS1, PI3K1, PI3K2, and PDK - in Pardosa pseudoannulata. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction results were used to analyse the relative expression levels of the six genes in different developmental instars and tissues, and in response to starvation treatment. In addition, the function of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS1) gene was investigated using RNA interference technology, which found that IRS1 significantly influenced nutrient content, developmental duration, body weight, and gonad development. CONCLUSION This study revealed the roles of six key insulin signalling pathway genes in Pardosa pseudoannulata, and in particular the importance of the IRS1 gene in regulating growth and development in the spider. The results lay the foundation for further research on the internal regulation mechanisms of growth and development in Araneae species, and also provide a reference for the artificial breeding of spiders. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shichang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen Sang
- College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Peng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
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Chen K, Dou X, Eum JH, Harrison RE, Brown MR, Strand MR. Insulin-like peptides and ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone differentially stimulate physiological processes regulating egg formation in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 163:104028. [PMID: 37913852 PMCID: PMC10842226 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes including Aedes aegypti are human disease vectors because females must blood feed to produce and lay eggs. Blood feeding triggers insulin-insulin growth factor signaling (IIS) which regulates several physiological processes required for egg development. A. aegypti encodes 8 insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and one insulin-like receptor (IR) plus ovary ecdysteroidogenic hormone (OEH) that also activates IIS through the OEH receptor (OEHR). In this study, we assessed the expression of A. aegypti ILPs and OEH during a gonadotrophic cycle and produced each that were functionally characterized to further understand their roles in regulating egg formation. All A. aegypti ILPs and OEH were expressed during a gonadotrophic cycle. Five ILPs (1, 3, 4, 7, 8) and OEH were specifically expressed in the head, while antibodies to ILP3 and OEH indicated each was released after blood feeding from ventricular axons that terminate on the anterior midgut. A subset of ILP family members and OEH stimulated nutrient storage in previtellogenic females before blood feeding, whereas most IIS-dependent processes after blood feeding were activated by one or more of the brain-specific ILPs and/or OEH. ILPs and OEH with different biological activities also exhibited differences in IIS as measured by phosphorylation of the IR, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt kinase (AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Altogether, our results provide the first results that compare the functional activities of all ILP family members and OEH produced by an insect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Chen
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Dou
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jai Hoon Eum
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ruby E Harrison
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Mark R Brown
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Michael R Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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Martins da Silva R, de Oliveira Daumas Filho CR, Calixto C, Nascimento da Silva J, Lopes C, da Silva Vaz I, Logullo C. PEPCK and glucose metabolism homeostasis in arthropods. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 160:103986. [PMID: 37454751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.103986] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The fat body is responsible for a variety of functions related to energy metabolism in arthropods, by controlling the processes of de novo glucose production (gluconeogenesis) and glycogen metabolism. The rate-limiting factor of gluconeogenesis is the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), generally considered to be the first committed step in this pathway. Although the study of PEPCK and gluconeogenesis has been for decades restricted to mammalian models, especially focusing on muscle and liver tissue, current research has demonstrated particularities about the regulation of this enzyme in arthropods, and described new functions. This review will focus on arthropod PEPCK, discuss different aspects to PEPCK regulation and function, its general role in the regulation of gluconeogenesis and other pathways. The text also presents our views on potentially important new directions for research involving this enzyme in a variety of metabolic adaptations (e.g. diapause), discussing enzyme isoforms, roles during arthropod embryogenesis, as well as involvement in vector-pathogen interactions, contributing to a better understanding of insect vectors of diseases and their control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Martins da Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Renato de Oliveira Daumas Filho
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Christiano Calixto
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jhenifer Nascimento da Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cintia Lopes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia and Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carlos Logullo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular - INCT, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Li Y, Tan Y, Ren L, Li Q, Sui J, Liu S. Structural and expression analysis of the dopamine receptors reveals their crucial roles in regulating the insulin signaling pathway in oysters. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 247:125703. [PMID: 37414315 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine performs its critical role upon binding to receptors. Since dopamine receptors are numerous and versatile, understanding their protein structures and evolution status, and identifying the key receptors involved in the modulation of insulin signaling will provide essential clues to investigate the molecular mechanism of neuroendocrine regulating the growth in invertebrates. In this study, seven dopamine receptors were identified in the Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and were classified into four subtypes according to their protein secondary and tertiary structures, and ligand-binding activities. Of which, DR2 (dopamine receptor 2) and D(2)RA-like (D(2) dopamine receptor A-like) were considered the invertebrate-specific type 1 and type 2 dopamine receptors, respectively. Expression analysis indicated that the DR2 and D(2)RA-like were highly expressed in the fast-growing oyster "Haida No.1". After in vitro incubation of ganglia and adductor muscle with exogenous dopamine and dopamine receptor antagonists, the expression of these two dopamine receptors and ILPs (insulin-like peptides) was also significantly affected. Dual-fluorescence in situ hybridization results showed that D(2)RA-like and DR2 were co-localized with MIRP3 (molluscan insulin-related peptide 3) and MIRP3-like (molluscan insulin-related peptide 3-like) in the visceral ganglia, and were co-localized with ILP (insulin-like peptide) in the adductor muscle. Furthermore, the downstream components of dopamine signaling, including PKA, ERK, CREB, CaMKK1, AKT, and GSK3β were also significantly affected by the exogenous dopamine and dopamine receptor antagonists. These findings confirmed that dopamine might affect the secretion of ILPs through the invertebrate-specific dopamine receptors D(2)RA-like and DR2, and thus played crucial roles in the growth regulation of the Pacific oysters. Our study establishes the potential regulatory relationship between the dopaminergic system and insulin-like signaling pathway in marine invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Ying Tan
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Liting Ren
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Jianxin Sui
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, China
| | - Shikai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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Osorio J, Villa-Arias S, Camargo C, Ramírez-Sánchez LF, Barrientos LM, Bedoya C, Rúa-Uribe G, Dorus S, Alfonso-Parra C, Avila FW. wMel Wolbachia alters female post-mating behaviors and physiology in the dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti. Commun Biol 2023; 6:865. [PMID: 37604924 PMCID: PMC10442437 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05180-8] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally invasive Aedes aegypti disseminate numerous arboviruses that impact human health. One promising method to control Ae. aegypti populations is transinfection with Wolbachia pipientis, which naturally infects ~40-52% of insects but not Ae. aegypti. Transinfection of Ae. aegypti with the wMel Wolbachia strain induces cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), allows infected individuals to invade native populations, and inhibits transmission of medically relevant arboviruses by females. Female insects undergo post-mating physiological and behavioral changes-referred to as the female post-mating response (PMR)-required for optimal fertility. PMRs are typically elicited by male seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) transferred with sperm during mating but can be modified by other factors, including microbiome composition. Wolbachia has modest effects on Ae. aegypti fertility, but its influence on other PMRs is unknown. Here, we show that Wolbachia influences female fecundity, fertility, and re-mating incidence and significantly extends the longevity of virgin females. Using proteomic methods to examine the seminal proteome of infected males, we found that Wolbachia moderately affects SFP composition. However, we identified 125 paternally transferred Wolbachia proteins, but the CI factor proteins (Cifs) were not among them. Our findings indicate that Wolbachia infection of Ae. aegypti alters female PMRs, potentially influencing control programs that utilize Wolbachia-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Osorio
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sara Villa-Arias
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia
| | - Carolina Camargo
- Centro de Investigación de la caña de azúcar CENICAÑA, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | | | - Luisa María Barrientos
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carolina Bedoya
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syracuse University, Syracuse, USA
| | - Catalina Alfonso-Parra
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia.
| | - Frank W Avila
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Mosquito Reproductive Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
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Jiang W, Nasir M, Zhao C. Variation of insulin-related peptides accompanying the differentiation of Aphis gossypii biotypes and their expression profiles. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10306. [PMID: 37456079 PMCID: PMC10349280 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10306] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin signaling plays a critical role in regulating various aspects of insect biology, including development, reproduction, and the formation of wing polyphenism. This leads to differentiation among insect populations at different levels. The insulin family exhibits functional variation, resulting in diverse functional pathways. Aphis gossypii Glover, commonly known as the cotton-melon aphid, is a highly adaptable aphid species that has evolved into multiple biotypes. To understand the genetic structure of the insulin family and its evolutionary diversification and expression patterns in A. gossypii, we conducted studies using genome annotation files and RNA-sequencing data. Consequently, we identified 11 insulin receptor protein (IRP) genes in the genomes of the examined biotypes. Among these, eight AgosIRPs were dispersed across the X chromosome, while two were found in tandem on the A1 chromosome. Notably, AgosIRP2 exhibited alternative splicing, resulting in the formation of two isoforms. The AgosIRP genes displayed a high degree of conservation between Hap1 and Hap3, although some variations were observed between their genomes. For instance, a transposon was present in the coding regions of AgosIRP3 and AgosIRP9 in the Hap3 genome but not in the Hap1 genome. RNA-sequencing data revealed that four AgosIRPs were expressed ubiquitously across different morphs of A. gossypii, while others showed specific expression patterns in adult gynopara and adult males. Furthermore, the expression levels of most AgosIRPs decreased upon treatment with the pesticide acetamiprid. These findings demonstrate the evolutionary diversification of AgosIRPs between the genomes of the two biotypes and provide insights into their expression profiles across different morphs, developmental stages, and biotypes. Overall, this study contributes valuable information for investigating aphid genome evolution and the functions of insulin receptor proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Jiang
- Basic Experimental Teaching Center of Life SciencesYangzhou UniversityYangzhouChina
| | - Muhammad Nasir
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI)FaisalabadPakistan
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- Henan International Laboratory for Green Pest Control/College of Plant ProtectionHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
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Dai Y, Li X, Ding J, Liang Z, Guo R, Yi T, Zhu Y, Chen S, Liang S, Liu W. Molecular and expression characterization of insulin-like signaling in development and metabolism of Aedes albopictus. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:134. [PMID: 37072796 PMCID: PMC10111782 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05747-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insulin-like signaling (IS) in insects is a conserved pathway that regulates development, reproduction and longevity. Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) activate the IS pathway by binding to the insulin receptor (InR) and trigger the ERK and AKT cascades. A varying number of ILPs were identified in Aedes aegypti mosquito and other insects. Aedes albopictus is an invasive mosquito which transmits dengue and Zika viruses worldwide. Until now, the molecular and expression characteristics of IS pathway in Ae. albopictus have not been investigated. METHODS The orthologues of ILP in Ae. albopictus genome assembly was analyzed by using sequence blast. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular characterization were performed to identify the functional domains of ILPs. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine the expression characteristics of ILPs, InR as well as ERK and AKT in mosquito development and different tissues of female adults after blood-feeding. In addition, the knockdown of InR was achieved by feeding larvae with Escherichia coli-producing dsRNA to investigate the impact of IS pathway on mosquito development. RESULTS We identified seven putative ILP genes in Ae. albopictus genome assembly, based on nucleotide similarity to the ILPs of Ae. aegypti and other insects. Bioinformatics and molecular analyses suggested that the ILPs contain the structural motif which is conserved in the insulin superfamily. Expression levels of ILPs, InR as well as ERK and AKT varied in Ae. albopictus development stages and between male and female adults. Quantitative analyses revealed that expression of ILP6, the putative orthologue of the insulin growth factor peptides, was highest in the midgut of female adults after blood-feeding. Knockdown of Ae. albopictus InR induces a significant decrease in the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT proteins and results in developmental delays and smaller body sizes. CONCLUSIONS The IS pathway of Ae. albopictus mosquito contains ILP1-7, InR and ERK/AKT cascades, which exhibited different developmental and tissue expression characteristics. Feeding Ae. albopictus larvae with E. coli-producing InR dsRNA blocks the ERK and AKT cascades and interferes with the development of mosquito. Our data suggest that IS pathway plays an important role in the metabolism and developmental process and could represent a potential target for controlling mosquito-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Dai
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinying Ding
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zihan Liang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Renxian Guo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tangwei Yi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yihan Zhu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Siqi Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shaohui Liang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wenquan Liu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
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Short CA, Hahn DA. Fat enough for the winter? Does nutritional status affect diapause? JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 145:104488. [PMID: 36717056 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Many insects enter a dormant state termed diapause in anticipation of seasonal inhospitable conditions. Insects drastically reduce their feeding during diapause. Their reduced nutrient intake is paired with substantial nutrient costs: maintaining basal metabolism during diapause, repairing tissues damaged by adverse conditions, and resuming development after diapause. Many investigators have asked "Does nutrition affect diapause?" In this review, we survey the studies that have attempted to address this question. We propose the term nutritional status, a holistic view of nutrition that explicitly includes the perception, intake, and storage of the great breadth of nutrients. We examine the studies that have sought to test if nutrition affects diapause, trying to identify specific facets of nutritional status that affect diapause phenotypes. Curiously, low quality host plants during the diapause induction phase generally induce diapause, but food deprivation during the same phase generally averts diapause. Using the geometric framework of nutrition to identify specific dietary components that affect diapause may reconcile these contrasting findings. This framework can establish nutritionally permissive space, distinguishing nutrient changes that affect diapause from changes that induce other dormancies. Refeeding is another important experimental technique that distinguishes between diapause and quiescence, a non-diapause dormancy. We also find insufficient evidence for the hypothesis that nutrient stores regulate diapause length and suggest manipulations to investigate the role of nutrient stores in diapause termination. Finally, we propose mechanisms that could interface nutritional status with the diapause program, focusing on combined action of the nutritional axis between the gut, fat body, and brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clancy A Short
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
| | - Daniel A Hahn
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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11
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Ferguson LV, Adamo SA. From perplexing to predictive: are we ready to forecast insect disease susceptibility in a warming world? J Exp Biol 2023; 226:288412. [PMID: 36825944 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Insects are critical to our ecosystems, but we do not fully understand their future in our warming world. Rising temperatures are affecting insect physiology in myriad ways, including changes to their immune systems and the ability to fight infection. Whether predicted changes in temperature will contribute to insect mortality or success, and the role of disease in their future survival, remains unclear. Although heat can enhance immunity by activating the integrated defense system (e.g. via the production of protective molecules such as heat-shock proteins) and accelerating enzyme activity, heat can also compromise the immune system through energetic-resource trade-offs and damage. The responses to heat are highly variable among species. The reasons for this variability are poorly known, and we are lagging in our understanding of how and why the immune system responds to changes in temperature. In this Commentary, we highlight the variation in insect immune responses to heat and the likely underlying mechanisms. We suggest that we are currently limited in our ability to predict the effects of rising temperatures on insect immunity and disease susceptibility, largely owing to incomplete information, coupled with a lack of tools for data integration. Moreover, existing data are concentrated on a relatively small number of insect Orders. We provide suggestions for a path towards making more accurate predictions, which will require studies with realistic temperature exposures and housing design, and a greater understanding of both the thermal biology of the immune system and connections between immunity and the physiological responses to heat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Ferguson
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Shelley A Adamo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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12
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Adipokinetic hormone signaling in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae facilitates Plasmodium falciparum sporogony. Commun Biol 2023; 6:171. [PMID: 36782045 PMCID: PMC9924834 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04518-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
An obligatory step in the complex life cycle of the malaria parasite is sporogony, which occurs during the oocyst stage in adult female Anopheles mosquitoes. Sporogony is metabolically demanding, and successful oocyst maturation is dependent on host lipids. In insects, lipid energy reserves are mobilized by adipokinetic hormones (AKHs). We hypothesized that Plasmodium falciparum infection activates Anopheles gambiae AKH signaling and lipid mobilization. We profiled the expression patterns of AKH pathway genes and AgAkh1 peptide levels in An. gambiae during starvation, after blood feeding, and following infection and observed a significant time-dependent up-regulation of AKH pathway genes and peptide levels during infection. Depletion of AgAkh1 and AgAkhR by RNAi reduced salivary gland sporozoite production, while synthetic AgAkh1 peptide supplementation rescued sporozoite numbers. Inoculation of uninfected female mosquitoes with supernatant from P. falciparum-infected midguts activated AKH signaling. Clearly, identifying the parasite molecules mediating AKH signaling in P. falciparum sporogony is paramount.
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13
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Kohlmeier P, Billeter JC. Genetic mechanisms modulating behaviour through plastic chemosensory responses in insects. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:45-60. [PMID: 36239485 PMCID: PMC10092625 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ability to transition between different behavioural stages is a widespread phenomenon across the animal kingdom. Such behavioural adaptations are often linked to changes in the sensitivity of those neurons that sense chemical cues associated with the respective behaviours. To identify the genetic mechanisms that regulate neuronal sensitivity, and by that behaviour, typically *omics approaches, such as RNA- and protein-sequencing, are applied to sensory organs of individuals displaying differences in behaviour. In this review, we discuss these genetic mechanisms and how they impact neuronal sensitivity, summarize the correlative and functional evidence for their role in regulating behaviour and discuss future directions. As such, this review can help interpret *omics data by providing a comprehensive list of already identified genes and mechanisms that impact behaviour through changes in neuronal sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Kohlmeier
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Billeter
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Crosstalk between Nutrition, Insulin, Juvenile Hormone, and Ecdysteroid Signaling in the Classical Insect Model, Rhodnius prolixus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010007. [PMID: 36613451 PMCID: PMC9819625 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The rigorous balance of endocrine signals that control insect reproductive physiology is crucial for the success of egg production. Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-feeding insect and main vector of Chagas disease, has been used over the last century as a model to unravel aspects of insect metabolism and physiology. Our recent work has shown that nutrition, insulin signaling, and two main types of insect lipophilic hormones, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroids, are essential for successful reproduction in R. prolixus; however, the interplay behind these endocrine signals has not been established. We used a combination of hormone treatments, gene expression analyses, hormone measurements, and ex vivo experiments using the corpus allatum or the ovary, to investigate how the interaction of these endocrine signals might define the hormone environment for egg production. The results show that after a blood meal, circulating JH levels increase, a process mainly driven through insulin and allatoregulatory neuropeptides. In turn, JH feeds back to provide some control over its own biosynthesis by regulating the expression of critical biosynthetic enzymes in the corpus allatum. Interestingly, insulin also stimulates the synthesis and release of ecdysteroids from the ovary. This study highlights the complex network of endocrine signals that, together, coordinate a successful reproductive cycle.
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15
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Bidirectional Microbiome-Gut-Brain-Axis Communication Influences Metabolic Switch-Associated Responses in the Mosquito Anopheles culicifacies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111798. [PMID: 35681493 PMCID: PMC9180301 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The periodic ingestion of a protein-rich blood meal by adult female mosquitoes causes a drastic metabolic change in their innate physiological status, which is referred to as a ‘metabolic switch’. While understanding the neural circuits for host-seeking is modestly attended, how the gut ‘metabolic switch’ modulates brain functions, and resilience to physiological homeostasis, remains unexplored. Here, through a comparative brain RNA-Seq study, we demonstrate that the protein-rich diet induces the expression of brain transcripts related to mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, possibly causing a shift in the brain’s engagement to manage organismal homeostasis. A dynamic mRNA expression pattern of neuro-signaling and neuro-modulatory genes in both the gut and brain likely establishes an active gut–brain communication. The disruption of this communication through decapitation does not affect the modulation of the neuro-modulator receptor genes in the gut. In parallel, an unusual and paramount shift in the level of neurotransmitters (NTs), from the brain to the gut after blood feeding, further supports the idea of the gut’s ability to serve as a ‘second brain’. After blood-feeding, a moderate enrichment of the gut microbial population, and altered immunity in the gut of histamine receptor-silenced mosquitoes, provide initial evidence that the gut-microbiome plays a crucial role in gut–brain–axis communication. Finally, a comparative metagenomics evaluation of the gut microbiome highlighted that blood-feeding enriches the family members of the Morganellaceae and Pseudomonadaceae bacterial communities. The notable observation of a rapid proliferation of Pseudomonas bacterial sp. and tryptophan enrichment in the gut correlates with the suppression of appetite after blood-feeding. Additionally, altered NTs dynamics of naïve and aseptic mosquitoes provide further evidence that gut-endosymbionts are key modulators for the synthesis of major neuroactive molecules. Our data establish a new conceptual understanding of microbiome–gut–brain–axis communication in mosquitoes.
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16
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Hendrickx S, Caljon G. The effect of the sugar metabolism on Leishmania infantum promastigotes inside the gut of Lutzomyia longipalpis: A sweet relationship? PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010293. [PMID: 35385472 PMCID: PMC8985994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well-known that Leishmania parasites can alter the behavior of the sand fly vector in order to increase their transmission potential. However, little is known about the contribution of the infecting host’s blood composition on subsequent sand fly infection and survival. This study focused on the host’s glucose metabolism and the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) pathway as both metabolic processes are known to impact vector-parasite interactions of other protozoa and insect species. The focus of this study was inspired by the observation that the glycemic levels in the blood of infected Syrian golden hamsters inversely correlated to splenic and hepatic parasite burdens. To evaluate the biological impact of these findings on further transmission, Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies were infected with blood that was artificially supplemented with different physiological concentrations of several monosaccharides, insulin or IGF-1. Normoglycemic levels resulted in transiently higher parasite loads and faster appearance of metacyclics, whereas higher carbohydrate and insulin/IGF-1 levels favored sand fly survival. Although the recorded effects were modest or transient of nature, these observations support the concept that the host blood biochemistry may affect Leishmania transmission and sand fly longevity. Past research on the interaction between the Leishmania parasite and the sand fly vector has revealed that Leishmania is capable of changing vector behavior to favor transmission of parasites in the environment. Little is known about the impact of host blood composition on parasite development inside the vector and on vector survival. Here, we showed that parasite burdens in the spleen and the liver inversely correlated to the serum blood glucose levels of infected animals, which triggered us to further investigate the effect of blood monosaccharides, insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on sand fly infection and survival. We demonstrated that normal serum glucose levels in the initial parasitized blood meal resulted in transiently higher parasite loads and a faster appearance of infectious parasites, whereas higher sugar and insulin/IGF-1 levels favored sand fly survival, which supports the concept that the host blood biochemistry may affect Leishmania transmission and sand fly longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail: (SH); (GC)
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail: (SH); (GC)
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17
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Hun LV, Cheung KW, Brooks E, Zudekoff R, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Increased insulin signaling in the Anopheles stephensi fat body regulates metabolism and enhances the host response to both bacterial challenge and Plasmodium falciparum infection. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 139:103669. [PMID: 34666189 PMCID: PMC8647039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates and invertebrates, the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling (IIS) cascade is highly conserved and plays a vital role in many different physiological processes. Among the many tissues that respond to IIS in mosquitoes, the fat body has a central role in metabolism, lifespan, reproduction, and innate immunity. We previously demonstrated that fat body specific expression of active Akt, a key IIS signaling molecule, in adult Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti activated the IIS cascade and extended lifespan. Additionally, we found that transgenic females produced more vitellogenin (Vg) protein than non-transgenic mosquitoes, although this did not translate into increased fecundity. These results prompted us to further examine how IIS impacts immunity, metabolism, growth and development of these transgenic mosquitoes. We observed significant changes in glycogen, trehalose, triglycerides, glucose, and protein in young (3-5 d) transgenic mosquitoes relative to non-transgenic sibling controls, while only triglycerides were significantly changed in older (18 d) transgenic mosquitoes. More importantly, we demonstrated that enhanced fat body IIS decreased both the prevalence and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum infection in transgenic An. stephensi. Additionally, challenging transgenic An. stephensi with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria altered the expression of several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and two anti-Plasmodium genes, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and thioester complement-like protein (TEP1), relative to non-transgenic controls. Increased IIS in the fat body of adult female An. stephensi had little to no impact on body size, growth or development of progeny from transgenic mosquitoes relative to non-transgenic controls. This study both confirms and expands our understanding of the critical roles insulin signaling plays in regulating the diverse functions of the mosquito fat body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis V Hun
- Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA; Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Kong Wai Cheung
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Brooks
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Rissa Zudekoff
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Departrment of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Michael A Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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18
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Insects as a New Complex Model in Hormonal Basis of Obesity. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011066. [PMID: 34681728 PMCID: PMC8540125 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011066] [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: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, one of the biggest problems in healthcare is an obesity epidemic. Consumption of cheap and low-quality energy-rich diets, low physical activity, and sedentary work favor an increase in the number of obesity cases within many populations/nations. This is a burden on society, public health, and the economy with many deleterious consequences. Thus, studies concerning this disorder are extremely needed, including searching for new, effective, and fitting models. Obesity may be related, among other factors, to disrupting adipocytes activity, disturbance of metabolic homeostasis, dysregulation of hormonal balance, cardiovascular problems, or disorders in nutrition which may lead to death. Because of the high complexity of obesity, it is not easy to find an ideal model for its studies which will be suitable for genetic and physiological analysis including specification of different compounds’ (hormones, neuropeptides) functions, as well as for signaling pathways analysis. In recent times, in search of new models for human diseases there has been more and more attention paid to insects, especially in neuro-endocrine regulation. It seems that this group of animals might also be a new model for human obesity. There are many arguments that insects are a good, multidirectional, and complex model for this disease. For example, insect models can have similar conservative signaling pathways (e.g., JAK-STAT signaling pathway), the presence of similar hormonal axis (e.g., brain–gut axis), or occurrence of structural and functional homologues between neuropeptides (e.g., neuropeptide F and human neuropeptide Y, insulin-like peptides, and human insulin) compared to humans. Here we give a hint to use insects as a model for obesity that can be used in multiple ways: as a source of genetic and peptidomic data about etiology and development correlated with obesity occurrence as well as a model for novel hormonal-based drug activity and their impact on mechanism of disease occurrence.
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19
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Chowański S, Walkowiak-Nowicka K, Winkiel M, Marciniak P, Urbański A, Pacholska-Bogalska J. Insulin-Like Peptides and Cross-Talk With Other Factors in the Regulation of Insect Metabolism. Front Physiol 2021; 12:701203. [PMID: 34267679 PMCID: PMC8276055 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.701203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The insulin-like peptide (ILP) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signalling pathways play a crucial role in the regulation of metabolism, growth and development, fecundity, stress resistance, and lifespan. ILPs are encoded by multigene families that are expressed in nervous and non-nervous organs, including the midgut, salivary glands, and fat body, in a tissue- and stage-specific manner. Thus, more multidirectional and more complex control of insect metabolism can occur. ILPs are not the only factors that regulate metabolism. ILPs interact in many cross-talk interactions of different factors, for example, hormones (peptide and nonpeptide), neurotransmitters and growth factors. These interactions are observed at different levels, and three interactions appear to be the most prominent/significant: (1) coinfluence of ILPs and other factors on the same target cells, (2) influence of ILPs on synthesis/secretion of other factors regulating metabolism, and (3) regulation of activity of cells producing/secreting ILPs by various factors. For example, brain insulin-producing cells co-express sulfakinins (SKs), which are cholecystokinin-like peptides, another key regulator of metabolism, and express receptors for tachykinin-related peptides, the next peptide hormones involved in the control of metabolism. It was also shown that ILPs in Drosophila melanogaster can directly and indirectly regulate AKH. This review presents an overview of the regulatory role of insulin-like peptides in insect metabolism and how these factors interact with other players involved in its regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szymon Chowański
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Karolina Walkowiak-Nowicka
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Magdalena Winkiel
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Pawel Marciniak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Urbański
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.,HiProMine S.A., Robakowo, Poland
| | - Joanna Pacholska-Bogalska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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20
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Cross-talk of insulin-like peptides, juvenile hormone, and 20-hydroxyecdysone in regulation of metabolism in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2023470118. [PMID: 33526700 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023470118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Female mosquitoes feed sequentially on carbohydrates (nectar) and proteins (blood) during each gonadotrophic cycle to become reproductively competent and effective disease vectors. Accordingly, metabolism is synchronized to support this reproductive cyclicity. However, regulatory pathways linking metabolism to reproductive cycles are not fully understood. Two key hormones, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroids (20-hydroxyecdysone, 20E, is the most active form) govern female mosquito reproduction. Aedes aegypti genome codes for eight insulin-like peptides (ILPs) that are critical for controlling metabolism. We examined the effects of the JH and 20E pathways on mosquito ILP expression to decipher regulation of metabolism in a reproducing female mosquito. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed genomic interactions between ilp genes and the JH receptor, methoprene-tolerant, a transcription factor, Krüppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1), and two isoforms of the ecdysone response early gene, E74. The luciferase reporter assays showed that Kr-h1 activates ilps 2, 6, and 7, but represses ilps 4 and 5 The 20E pathway displayed the opposite effect in the regulation of ilps E74B repressed ilps 2 and 6, while E74A activated ilps 4 and 5 Combining RNA interference, CRISPR gene tagging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we have shown that the JH and 20E regulate protein levels of all eight Ae. aegypti ILPs. Thus, we have established a regulatory axis between ILPs, JH, and 20E in coordination of metabolism during gonadotrophic cycles of Ae. aegypti.
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21
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Ferdous Z, Fuchs S, Behrends V, Trasanidis N, Waterhouse RM, Vlachou D, Christophides GK. Anopheles coluzzii stearoyl-CoA desaturase is essential for adult female survival and reproduction upon blood feeding. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009486. [PMID: 34015060 PMCID: PMC8171932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation require anautogenous female Anopheles mosquitoes to obtain a bloodmeal from a vertebrate host. The bloodmeal is rich in proteins that are readily broken down into amino acids in the midgut lumen and absorbed by the midgut epithelial cells where they are converted into lipids and then transported to other tissues including ovaries. The stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) plays a pivotal role in this process by converting saturated (SFAs) to unsaturated (UFAs) fatty acids; the latter being essential for maintaining cell membrane fluidity amongst other housekeeping functions. Here, we report the functional and phenotypic characterization of SCD1 in the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles coluzzii. We show that RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of SCD1 and administration of sterculic acid (SA), a small molecule inhibitor of SCD1, significantly impact on the survival and reproduction of female mosquitoes following blood feeding. Microscopic observations reveal that the mosquito thorax is quickly filled with blood, a phenomenon likely caused by the collapse of midgut epithelial cell membranes, and that epithelial cells are depleted of lipid droplets and oocytes fail to mature. Transcriptional profiling shows that genes involved in protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and immunity-related genes are the most affected by SCD1 knock down (KD) in blood-fed mosquitoes. Metabolic profiling reveals that these mosquitoes exhibit increased amounts of saturated fatty acids and TCA cycle intermediates, highlighting the biochemical framework by which the SCD1 KD phenotype manifests as a result of a detrimental metabolic syndrome. Accumulation of SFAs is also the likely cause of the potent immune response observed in the absence of infection, which resembles an auto-inflammatory condition. These data provide insights into mosquito bloodmeal metabolism and lipid homeostasis and could inform efforts to develop novel interventions against mosquito-borne diseases. Female mosquitoes can become infected with malaria parasites upon ingestion of blood from an infected person and can transmit the disease when they bite another person some days later. The bloodmeal is rich in proteins which female mosquitoes use to develop their eggs after converting them first to saturated and then to unsaturated fatty acids inside their gut cells. Here, we present the characterization of the enzyme that mosquitoes use to convert saturated to unsaturated fatty acids and show that when this enzyme is eliminated or inhibited mosquitoes cannot produce eggs and die soon after they feed on blood. The mosquito death appears to be primarily associated with the collapse of their gut epithelial barrier due to the loss of cell membrane integrity, leading to their inner body cavity being filled with the ingested blood. These mosquitoes also suffer from an acute and detrimental auto-inflammatory condition due to mounting of a potent immune response in the absence of any infection. We conclude that this enzyme and the mechanism of converting blood-derived proteins to unsaturated fatty acids as a whole can be a good target of interventions aiming at limiting the mosquito abundance and blocking malaria transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zannatul Ferdous
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Silke Fuchs
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Volker Behrends
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Health Science Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nikolaos Trasanidis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert M. Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dina Vlachou
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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22
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Cambron LD, Yocum GD, Yeater KM, Greenlee KJ. Overwintering conditions impact insulin pathway gene expression in diapausing Megachile rotundata. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 256:110937. [PMID: 33737040 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.110937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Diapause is a non-feeding state that many insects undergo to survive the winter months. With fixed resources, overall metabolism and insulin signaling (IIS) are maintained at low levels, but whether those change in response to seasonal temperature fluctuations remains unknown. The focus of this study was to determine 1) how genes in the insulin signaling pathway vary throughout diapause and 2) if that variation changes in response to temperature. To test the hypothesis that expression of IIS pathway genes vary in response to temperature fluctuations during overwintering, alfalfa leafcutting bees, Megachile rotundata, were overwintered at either a constant 4 °C in the lab or in naturally fluctuating temperatures in the field. Expression levels of genes in the IIS pathway, cell cycle regulators, and transcription factors were measured. Overall our findings showed that a few key targets of the insulin signaling pathway, along with growth regulators, change during overwintering, suggesting that only cell cycle regulators, and not the IIS pathway as a whole, change across the phases of diapause. To answer our second question, we compared gene expression levels between temperature treatments at each month for a given gene. We observed significantly more differences in expression of IIS pathway targets, indicating that overwintering conditions impact insulin pathway gene expression and leads to altered expression profiles. With differences seen between temperature treatment groups, these findings indicate that constant temperatures like those used in agricultural storage protocols, lead to different expression profiles and possibly different diapause phenotypes for alfalfa leafcutting bees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kathleen M Yeater
- USDA-ARS, Plains Area Office of the Director, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
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Talyuli OAC, Bottino-Rojas V, Polycarpo CR, Oliveira PL, Paiva-Silva GO. Non-immune Traits Triggered by Blood Intake Impact Vectorial Competence. Front Physiol 2021; 12:638033. [PMID: 33737885 PMCID: PMC7960658 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.638033] [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: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropods are considered an enormous public health threat. They are vectors of a plethora of infectious agents that cause potentially fatal diseases like Malaria, Dengue fever, Leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease. These vectors shine due to their own physiological idiosyncrasies, but one biological aspect brings them all together: the requirement of blood intake for development and reproduction. It is through blood-feeding that they acquire pathogens and during blood digestion that they summon a collection of multisystemic events critical for vector competence. The literature is focused on how classical immune pathways (Toll, IMD, and JAK/Stat) are elicited throughout the course of vector infection. Still, they are not the sole determinants of host permissiveness. The dramatic changes that are the hallmark of the insect physiology after a blood meal intake are the landscape where a successful infection takes place. Dominant processes that occur in response to a blood meal are not canonical immunological traits yet are critical in establishing vector competence. These include hormonal circuitries and reproductive physiology, midgut permeability barriers, midgut homeostasis, energy metabolism, and proteolytic activity. On the other hand, the parasites themselves have a role in the outcome of these blood triggered physiological events, consistently using them in their favor. Here, to enlighten the knowledge on vector-pathogen interaction beyond the immune pathways, we will explore different aspects of the vector physiology, discussing how they give support to these long-dated host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio A C Talyuli
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carla R Polycarpo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela O Paiva-Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Kozelková T, Doležel D, Grunclová L, Kučera M, Perner J, Kopáček P. Functional characterization of the insulin signaling pathway in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101694. [PMID: 33706210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding arachnids transmitting a variety of pathogens to humans and animals. A unique trait in tick physiology is their ability to engorge and digest large amounts of host blood, ensuring their high reproductive potential. Activation of the blood digestive machinery in the tick gut, as well as processes controlling maturation of ovaries, are triggered upon blood meal uptake by still largely unknown mechanisms. Sensing of the nutritional status in metazoan organisms is facilitated by the evolutionarily conserved Insulin Signaling Pathway (ISP) and the interlinked Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway. Recently, we have identified three components of these pathways in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus midgut transcriptome, namely a putative insulin receptor (InR), and the downstream intracellular serine/threonine kinases AKT and TOR. In this study, we primarily focus on the molecular and functional characterization of the I. ricinus insulin receptor (IrInR), the first InR characterized in Chelicerates. A phylogenetic analysis across the major Arthropod lineages demonstrated that ticks possess only one gene encoding an InR-related molecule. Tissue expression profiling by quantitative PCR in semi-engorged I. ricinus females revealed that the IrInR, as well as AKT (IrAKT) and TOR (IrTOR) are expressed in various organs, with the highest expression being detected in ovaries. We have further evaluated the impact of RNAi-mediated knock-down (KD) of IrInR, IrAKT, and IrTOR on tick blood-feeding and reproductive capacity. Weights of engorged IrInR KD females and laid egg clutches were reduced compared to the control group, and these quantitative parameters clearly correlated with the efficiency of RNAi-KD achieved in individual ticks. The most striking phenotype was observed for IrAKT KD that impaired tick feeding and completely aborted egg production. A recombinant extracellular fragment of the IrInR α-subunit was used to produce antibodies in experimental rabbits to assess its potential as a protective antigen against tick feeding and reproduction. Our data clearly indicate the functionality of the ISP in ticks and demonstrate the need for further investigation of specific roles played by the endogenous insulin-like peptides in tick physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kozelková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Doležel
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Grunclová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Kučera
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Alvarado-Delgado A, Martínez-Barnetche J, Téllez-Sosa J, Rodríguez MH, Gutiérrez-Millán E, Zumaya-Estrada FA, Saldaña-Navor V, Rodríguez MC, Tello-López Á, Lanz-Mendoza H. Prediction of neuropeptide precursors and differential expression of adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide, hugin and corazonin in the brain of malaria vector Nyssorhynchus albimanus during a Plasmodium berghei infection. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 1:100014. [PMID: 36003598 PMCID: PMC9387463 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2021.100014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
We describe precursors that predicted at least sixty neuropeptides in Ny. albimanus. At least 16 precursors are encoded in the Ny. albimanus brain. Myosuppressin neuropeptide precursor was identified in Ny albimanus. acp and hugin transcripts increased in Ny. albimanus brains infected with P. berghei.
Insect neuropeptides, play a central role in the control of many physiological processes. Based on an analysis of Nyssorhynchus albimanus brain transcriptome a neuropeptide precursor database of the mosquito was described. Also, we observed that adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide (ACP), hugin and corazonin encoding genes were differentially expressed during Plasmodium infection. Transcriptomic data from Ny. albimanus brain identified 29 pre-propeptides deduced from the sequences that allowed the prediction of at least 60 neuropeptides. The predicted peptides include isoforms of allatostatin C, orcokinin, corazonin, adipokinetic hormone (AKH), SIFamide, capa, hugin, pigment-dispersing factor, adipokinetic hormone/corazonin-related peptide (ACP), tachykinin-related peptide, trissin, neuropeptide F, diuretic hormone 31, bursicon, crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP), allatotropin, allatostatin A, ecdysis triggering hormone (ETH), diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44), insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and eclosion hormone (EH). The analysis of the genome of An. albimanus and the generated transcriptome, provided evidence for the identification of myosuppressin neuropeptide precursor. A quantitative analysis documented increased expression of precursors encoding ACP peptide, hugin and corazonin in the mosquito brain after Plasmodium berghei infection. This work represents an initial effort to characterize the neuropeptide precursors repertoire of Ny. albimanus and provides information for understanding neuroregulation of the mosquito response during Plasmodium infection.
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Sharma A, Pooraiiouby R, Guzman B, Vu P, Gulia-Nuss M, Nuss AB. Dynamics of Insulin Signaling in the Black-Legged Tick, Ixodes scapularis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:292. [PMID: 31164865 PMCID: PMC6536706 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptides (ILPs) have been identified in several invertebrates, particularly insects, and work on these ILPs has revealed many roles including regulation of energy homeostasis, growth, development, and lifespan to name a few. However, information on arthropod ILPs outside of insects is sparse. Studies of Ixodid tick ILPs are particularly scarce, despite their importance as vectors of infectious agents, most notably Lyme disease. The recent publication of the genome of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, has advanced opportunities to study this organism from a molecular standpoint, a resource sorely needed for an organism with challenging life history requirements for study in the laboratory, such as a long life cycle and obligate, prolonged, blood-feeding at each life stage. Through bioinformatics searches of the tick genome and other available I. scapularis databases, we identified four putative ILP sequences. Full-length sequences of these ILP transcripts were confirmed, and quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine expression levels of these ILPs in different life stages, feeding states, and adult tissues. This work serves as an initial characterization of ILP expression in ticks and provides the foundation for further exploration of the roles of ILPs in these important arthropod vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Rana Pooraiiouby
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Blanca Guzman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Preston Vu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Monika Gulia-Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
| | - Andrew B. Nuss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
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