本期重点推介

正保幼激素(JH)是由昆虫咽侧体中合成的一种倍半萜类化合物,是昆虫发育变态的重要调节因子。大猿叶虫Colaphellus bowringi是一种可被长光照诱导进入生殖滞育的十字花科蔬菜害虫。为了探究促咽侧体素(AT)和抑咽侧体素(AST)基因在大猿叶虫生殖滞育准备中的作用,华中农业大学植物科学技术学院田忠和王小平等在克隆鉴定大猿叶虫CbAT,CbAST-B和CbAST-C基因的基础上,利用qRT-PCR检测这3个基因在大猿叶虫注定滞育和注定非滞育雌蛹和雌成虫头部的表达模式,并在通过RNAi分别干扰大猿叶虫注定滞育2日龄雌蛹体内CbAST-B,CbAST-C以及CbAST-B+CbAST-C基因后检测4日龄雌成虫JH信号基因以及卵黄原蛋白基因的表达量变化,结果进一步揭示了昆虫生殖滞育准备期JH信号的上游调控机制(pp. 30-40)。     

麦红吸浆虫3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶基因SmHMGR的克隆及在滞育与发育变态过程中的表达动态

【目的】3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶(HMGR)是保幼激素(JH)合成途径的限速酶。麦红吸浆虫Sitodiplosis mosellana是一种典型的专性幼虫滞育昆虫。本研究旨在探讨HMGR基因在麦红吸浆虫滞育和发育变态过程中的作用。【方法】通过RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆麦红吸浆虫滞育前幼虫HMGR基因全长cDNA序列;利用生物信息学软件分析HMGR基因核苷酸和其编码的蛋白氨基酸序列特性;采用qPCR技术测定其在麦红吸浆虫滞育不同时期3龄幼虫及不同发育阶段(1-2龄幼虫、预蛹、初蛹、中蛹和后蛹以及雌雄成虫)中的mRNA表达水平。【结果】克隆获得一条麦红吸浆虫HMGR基因全长cDNA序列,命名为SmHMGR(GenBank登录号: MG876766)。该基因全长2 548 bp,其中开放阅读框长2 328 bp,编码775个氨基酸,预测的蛋白分子量为84.16 kD,理论等电点为8.29。序列分析发现该基因编码的蛋白具有HMGR蛋白家族典型的HMG-CoA-reductase-classⅠ催化功能域及其他保守功能基序;序列比对和系统发育分析表明,SmHMGR与达氏按蚊Anopheles darling等长角亚目(Nematocera)昆虫HMGR的相似性最高、亲缘关系最近。SmHMGR在麦红吸浆虫滞育前的3龄早期幼虫中表达量显著升高,进入滞育后一直维持较高水平,并在滞育后静息阶段的当年12月至翌年1月达到最高。SmHMGR在蛹期表达量低于幼虫期,预蛹期表达量最低;在雌成虫中表达量显著高于在蛹和雄成虫中的表达量。【结论】SmHMGR的表达与麦红吸浆虫发育密切相关,可能在滞育诱导、维持及滞育后静息状态的维持及生殖中发挥作用,其表达量的降低可能参与了幼虫到蛹的变态。     

亚洲玉米螟卵黄原蛋白基因的克隆、表达谱及对UV-A胁迫的响应

【目的】本研究克隆亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因,分析其表达模式,旨在探究UV-A胁迫对亚洲玉米螟Vg基因表达及生殖力的影响。【方法】采用RT-PCR和RACE技术克隆亚洲玉米螟Vg基因的全长,并用生物信息学方法分析其特征;利用RT-qPCR检测亚洲玉米螟不同发育阶段(卵、1-5龄幼虫、蛹和成虫)、雌成虫不同组织(头、足、表皮、卵巢、中肠和脂肪体)中和雌成虫在UV-A胁迫不同时间(0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5和4 h)下该基因的相对表达量。测定UV-A照射不同时长(0, 1, 2, 3和4 h/d)后亚洲玉米螟成虫的生殖及F_1代发育情况。【结果】克隆获得亚洲玉米螟Vg基因的序列,命名为OfVg(GenBank登录号:MK782978)。该基因全长5 760 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)长5 331 bp,编码1 776个氨基酸,蛋白相对分子量为202.10 kD,等电点为9.06。OfVg包含Vg-N, DUF 1943D和VWD 3个功能结构域,无跨膜区结构。系统发育分析表明,OfVg与鳞翅目其他昆虫的Vg的亲缘关系最近。发育表达谱表明,OfVg基因在雌成虫中表达量显著高于其他龄期的表达量,且在雌虫羽化24 h时OfVg表达量最高;组织表达谱表明,OfVg基因在雌成虫脂肪体中特异表达。UV-A照射能诱导雌成虫OfVg的表达,随着照射时间的延长,其表达量先下降再快速上升,在照射3.5 h时其表达量最高,然后骤降;UV-A处理1, 2和3 h/d雌成虫的产卵量显著增加,且F_1代幼虫发育历期显著延长。【结论】OfVg基因在亚洲玉米螟不同发育阶段、雌成虫不同组织中和UV-A照射不同时间的雌成虫中差异表达。本研究为深入研究UV-A胁迫对亚洲玉米螟发育和繁殖的影响奠定了基础。     

小麦吸浆虫保幼激素酯酶和保幼激素环氧水解酶基因的克隆及在滞育和变态发育过程中的表达动态

【目的】保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)在小麦吸浆虫Sitodiplosis mosellana滞育诱导及滞育后静息状态的维持中发挥着重要作用。保幼激素酯酶(hormone esterase, JHE)和保幼激素环氧水解酶(juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase, JHEH)是调控JH滴度的重要降解酶。本研究旨在探讨JHE和JHEH在小麦吸浆虫滞育和变态发育中潜在功能。【方法】通过RT-PCR和RACE技术从小麦吸浆虫滞育前幼虫克隆JHE和JHEH全长cDNA序列;利用生物信息学软件分析其核苷酸及编码蛋白特性;采用qPCR技术分析其在小麦吸浆虫滞育不同时期(滞育前、滞育期、滞育后静息期和滞育后发育)3龄幼虫及1龄幼虫到成虫不同发育阶段(1-2龄幼虫、预蛹、初蛹、中蛹、后蛹、雌成虫和雄成虫)中的表达水平。【结果】克隆获得了cDNA全长分别为3 102和1 980 bp的小麦吸浆虫SmJHE和SmJHEH基因(GenBank登录号分别为MG876768和MG876769),其开放阅读框分别长1 740和1 371 bp,分别编码579和456个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量分别为65.67和51.65 kD。SmJHE蛋白含有5个JHE家族特有的保守模块,SmJHEH含有催化三联体Asp228, Asp404和His431及组成阴氧离子洞的两个Tyr(Tyr299和Tyr374)和HGWP花样结构。序列比对和进化分析表明,SmJHE和SmJHEH均与双翅目(Diptera)长角亚目(Nematocera)昆虫同源蛋白氨基酸序列一致性较高,亲缘关系最近。不同滞育时期的表达模式表明,SmJHE和SmJHEH在滞育前期(1龄到滞育前的3龄幼虫早期)表达量变化不明显,进入滞育后表达量基本维持恒定,但均在滞育后静息阶段的当年12月至翌年1月最低。发育表达模式表明,幼虫恢复发育后SmJHE表达量逐渐升高,预蛹期达到最高,在雌成虫中的表达量显著低于雄成虫中的;SmJHEH表达量则在预蛹期最低,在雌成虫中最高。【结论】SmJHE和SmJHEH参与小麦吸浆虫滞育调控,其表达量的降低与滞育后静息阶段JH的累积有关;SmJHE在发育过程中表达量的升高可能参与幼虫到蛹的变态,表达量的降低可能与生殖发育有关。     

成虫滞育的主要特点及神经内分泌调控

成虫滞育的主要特点是生殖受到了抑制,其调控涉及到咽侧体、脑和前胸腺的作用,但主要以咽侧体的作用为主.滞育期间,咽侧体的活性很低,分泌的保幼激素量极微,而咽侧体的活性高低直接受脑所分泌的神经激素所调控.     

光周期和温度对大草蛉滞育解除及滞育后发育和繁殖的影响

【目的】大草蛉Chrysopa pallens(Rambur)是自然界重要的天敌昆虫,以预蛹兼性滞育越冬。本研究旨在明确光周期和温度对大草蛉滞育解除及滞育后发育和繁殖的影响。【方法】在室内观测了不同温度(22℃和25℃)和光周期(15L∶9D及9L∶15D)条件下大草蛉预蛹的滞育解除及滞育解除后的蛹期、蛹存活率、成虫鲜重、成虫寿命、产卵前期和单雌产卵量等生物学特性,以及5℃低温处理对预蛹滞育解除的作用,并分析了滞育持续时间对大草蛉滞育解除后发育和繁殖的影响。【结果】在光周期15L∶9D和9L∶15D下,25℃下大草蛉预蛹期(分别为50.09和49.47 d)显著短于22℃下(分别为80.80和82.20 d)。5℃低温处理极显著延长了大草蛉预蛹期(P0.01),且缩小了预蛹期的个体差异。22℃下,与非滞育预蛹相比,滞育后预蛹的存活率显著降低,蛹期和产卵前期显著延长,雌成虫寿命显著缩短,成虫鲜重和单雌产卵量显著下降。22℃,光周期15L∶9D下大草蛉的滞育持续时间为50~170 d,且能影响滞育后发育:随着滞育持续时间的延长,蛹期逐渐延长,雌、雄成虫的鲜重逐渐降低,雄成虫寿命呈先延长后缩短的趋势,蛹存活率、雌成虫寿命、产卵前期和单雌产卵量没有显著性差异。【结论】试验条件下,两种光周期对大草蛉滞育解除、滞育后发育和繁殖没有明显的影响,而温度是调节大草蛉滞育发育和繁殖的重要因子。较高温度能促进滞育的解除,低温处理能够同步种群的滞育发育。大草蛉的滞育存在生殖代价,滞育持续时间影响滞育解除后的部分生物学特性。     

枯叶蛱蝶越冬雌成虫的生殖休眠特征研究

【目的】为了开展枯叶蛱蝶Kallimainachus(Doyére,1840)野生种群保育、人工繁育与利用,研究了近自然实验种群越冬雌成虫生殖休眠的性质、自然休眠期及其进展过程。【方法】根据卵母细胞的成熟度,划分繁殖季直接发育雌成虫的生殖发育进度等级;主要根据越冬早期雌成虫是否即时响应适宜条件恢复发育,判定其休眠性质为滞育或静息;通过定期检查放养在近自然条件下的越冬雌成虫的生殖发育进度,阐明其自然休眠期;通过定期将越冬成虫转至25℃、光照L︰D=15︰9和RH70%条件下保育不同天数后解剖检查其生殖细胞的发育情况,判断其滞育期和后滞育静息期。【结果】(1)繁殖季雌成虫在2日龄即开始卵黄沉积,至14日龄均已发育出成熟卵母细胞,其生殖发育被划分为4个等级,日龄与发育等级呈显著线性相关。(2)将羽化于10月上旬、放养在近自然条件下的越冬雌成虫从其11日龄开始,保育在25℃条件下12 d,其生殖发育仍无启动迹象。(3)羽化于9月8日、放养于近自然条件下的雌成虫,在其10日龄时,绝大多数处于休眠状态,少量个体继续发育;羽化于10月1日的雌成虫,从10月中旬至12月下旬,几乎所有个体均处于休眠状态;次年1月上旬,部分个体的卵母细胞发育开始启动。(4)12月上旬,所有检查的近自然实验种群雌成虫均不能在25℃条件下迅速恢复生殖发育;12月下旬,大部分个体在25℃条件下恢复发育。但仍有少量个体未显示发育恢复迹象,体现了个体间存在滞育强度的差异。【结论】枯叶蛱蝶的越冬生殖休眠为典型的滞育;近自然条件下,绝大多数雌成虫从9月中旬到1月下旬处于休眠状态,部分个体在次年1月初开始生殖发育;越冬雌成虫在12月上旬前处于滞育维持阶段,自12月下旬开始逐渐进入后滞育静息期。     

沙葱萤叶甲海藻糖酶基因GdTre1的克隆、分子特性和表达分析

【目的】海藻糖酶(trehalase,Tre)作为昆虫体内海藻糖代谢的关键性酶,在昆虫能量调节和生长发育中具有重要作用。本研究旨在克隆获得沙葱萤叶甲Galeruca daurica海藻糖酶基因,并对其表达模式进行定量分析,以期探究海藻糖酶在沙葱萤叶甲生长发育和成虫夏滞育中的作用。【方法】根据沙葱萤叶甲转录组数据,采用RACE技术,克隆得到Tre基因的c DNA全长,并进行生物信息学分析;应用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-q PCR)技术检测其在沙葱萤叶甲不同发育阶段[卵、1-3龄幼虫、预蛹、蛹、成虫(羽化后3,7,10,15,25,40,60,80和100 d)]、成虫不同组织(头、胸和腹)以及3日龄成虫在不同温度(15,20,25,30,35和40℃)胁迫下的表达水平;采用3,5-二硝基水杨酸法测定不同日龄成虫体内海藻糖酶活性。【结果】克隆获得了沙葱萤叶甲可溶性海藻糖酶基因,并命名为Gd Tre1(Gen Bank登录号:KY697913),该基因全长1 933 bp,开放阅读框1 704bp,编码567个氨基酸;蛋白预测分子量为66.56 k D,等电点为6.62;编码蛋白具有海藻糖酶超基因家族典型的功能结构域,包含1条信号肽,不具有跨膜结构。同源序列比对和系统发育分析表明,Gd Tre1与马铃薯甲虫Leptinotarsa decemlineata Tre1b的同源性最高,氨基酸序列一致性达70.25%。RT-q PCR检测结果表明,Gd Tre1在沙葱萤叶甲各发育阶段均有表达,其中在卵期和成虫滞育期间高表达,而在幼虫、预蛹、蛹及成虫滞育前低表达;在成虫不同组织中,通常在腹部中表达量最高,其次为胸部,最低为头部;Gd Tre1表达量随着温度升高而上升,30℃达最高值,而后随温度升高略有下降。沙葱萤叶甲不同日龄成虫体内Gd Tre1表达量及Tre活性存在显著差异,且Gd Tre1表达量与Tre活性变化趋势一致。【结论】海藻糖酶与沙葱萤叶甲生长发育和成虫夏滞育有密切的关系。该结果为进一步揭示该虫的夏滞育分子机理提供了必要的基础。     

梨小食心虫普通气味受体基因GmolOR20的克隆及表达分析

【目的】通过克隆梨小食心虫Grapholita molesta触角中的普通气味受体(odorant receptor, OR)OR20基因,明确其在不同发育期及成虫不同组织中的表达特征,为进一步研究其功能提供理论依据。【方法】根据梨小食心虫雌虫触角转录组数据,利用RT-PCR克隆梨小食心虫OR20基因的完整开放阅读框;采用qRT-PCR检测该基因在不同发育期(卵、1-5龄幼虫、蛹和雌雄成虫)、成虫不同组织(触角、去除触角的头、胸、腹、足、翅)以及不同日龄(1, 3, 5和7日龄)成虫触角中的表达量。【结果】克隆获得梨小食心虫GmolOR20基因cDNA序列(GenBank登录号:MH898864)。该基因完整开放阅读框为1 284 bp,编码427个氨基酸,预测蛋白分子量为49.83 kD,理论等电点为8.57,具有7个跨膜结构域。序列比对和系统进化树结果表明,梨小食心虫GmolOR20与苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella CpomOR15和豆荚小卷蛾Cydia nigricana CnigOR15亲缘关系较近,氨基酸序列一致性分别为87%和84%。发育表达模式结果显示,GmolOR20在不同发育时期均有表达,雌雄成虫中的表达量显著高于其他发育期的表达量(P<0.05),但雌、雄虫间的表达量差异不显著。组织表达模式结果表明,GmolOR20主要在成虫触角中高丰度表达,且雌虫触角中的表达量极显著高于雄虫触角中的表达量(P<0.01);GmolOR20在不同日龄成虫的触角中均有表达,且在1和3日龄成虫触角中的表达水平显著高于其他日龄(P<0.05)。【结论】根据GmolOR20基因的表达谱分析结果,推测GmolOR20可能参与梨小食心虫对植物挥发物和性信息素的识别。     

柑橘大实蝇内参基因的评估

【目的】柑橘大实蝇Bactrocera minax (Enderlein)是一种危害严重的柑橘害虫。本研究旨在筛选柑橘大实蝇在特定条件下体内稳定表达的内参基因, 以确保使用实时荧光定量PCR分析目标基因表达的可靠性。【方法】选择10种候选内参基因用于进行实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）, 利用5种软件对柑橘大实蝇在不同虫态下（低龄幼虫、3龄幼虫、1日龄蛹、80日龄蛹、160日龄蛹、雄成虫、雌成虫）以及成虫不同部位（成虫头、胸、腹、整体）中候选内参基因的Ct值进行分析, 明确其表达的稳定性。【结果】在柑橘大实蝇不同虫态和成虫不同部位, 10种候选内参基因的Ct值都处于15~30之间, 各基因Ct值的不同表明各基因的表达量存在差异。 综合分析各种软件对内参基因稳定性的排名, 结合geNorm软件对最佳内参基因数量的分析结果, 推荐在不同虫态下采用UBQ, GAPDH和GST作为内参基因, 在不同成虫部位中采用TUB, GAPDH和GST作为内参基因。【结论】为了获取可信的目标基因表达分析结果, 建议根据不同条件选择使用不同的内参基因组合。本研究结果有利于进一步研究柑橘大实蝇在特定条件下的目标基因表达。     

外源保幼激素对异色瓢虫卵巢发育及生殖相关基因转录水平的影响

【目的】本研究旨在明确外源保幼激素(juvenile hormone, JH)对异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis成虫卵巢发育以及生殖信号通路中关键基因转录水平的影响。【方法】以萝卜蚜Lipaphis erysimi饲喂的异色瓢虫雌成虫为空白对照组,以点滴同体积丙酮的雌成虫为溶剂对照组,对人工饲料饲喂的羽化后第2天的雌成虫点滴不同剂量(80, 120和160 ng/头)JHⅢ 1, 3, 5, 7和9 d后,解剖成虫卵巢,拍照并测量卵巢长度及其第一卵室的长度和宽度。利用qPCR分析在最适JHⅢ剂量(120 ng/头)处理后1, 5和9 d的异色瓢虫雌成虫生殖信号通路中关键基因JH受体methoprene-tolerant (Met)基因、krüppel homolog 1(Kr-h1)基因、卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, Vg)基因(Vg1和Vg2)和卵黄原蛋白受体(vitellogeninreceptor, VgR)基因表达水平。【结果】与溶剂对照组相比,点滴80和120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ可促进异色瓢虫成虫卵巢发育,其中120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理羽化后第2天雌成虫后7 d卵巢中出现大量卵黄沉积,与萝卜蚜饲喂的空白对照组卵巢发育状态一致,卵巢长度以及第一卵室的长度和宽度均显著高于溶剂对照组的;160 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理则抑制卵巢发育。qPCR结果表明,120 ng/头剂量JHⅢ处理后5和9 d雌成虫中HaMet, HaKr-h1, HaVg1, HaVg2和HaVgR基因表达量较对照组(丙酮处理组)均增加,其中处理后5 dHaMet, HaVg1和HaVgR基因表达量分别为对照组的2.78, 13.14和8.28倍,处理后9 d分别为对照组的2.36,1.85和2.01倍,差异极显著。【结论】120 ng/头JHⅢ可促进异色瓢虫成虫卵巢发育,上调处理后5和9 d时雌成虫HaMet, HaKr-h1, HaVg和HaVgR基因表达量;推测这些关键基因在保幼激素调控异色瓢虫卵巢发育及卵黄形成过程发挥重要作用。     

Dopamine is a key factor for the induction of egg diapause of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, enters diapause in the early embryonic stage. Embryonic diapause is induced by incubating eggs of the maternal generation at high temperature (diapause type), whereas incubation at low temperature results in non-diapausing progeny (non-diapause type). Measurement of catecholamine concentrations in haemolymph and brain-subesophageal ganglia (Br-SGs) showed that only dopamine concentrations in both tissues are consistently higher in diapause-type than non-diapause-type larvae and pupae. In particular, the difference in dopamine concentrations in both tissues increases around pupal ecdysis. During the early pupal stage, Dopa decarboxylase activities and mRNA concentrations in Br-SGs were also much higher in diapause-type than non-diapause-type insects. Elevation of dopamine levels induced by feeding Dopa to penultimate-instar and last-instar larvae, and by injecting Dopa or dopamine into pupae 2 days after pupation made the non-diapause-destined insects lay diapause-destined eggs at 59% and approximately 70% frequencies, respectively. Furthermore, injection of Dopa or dopamine elevated mRNA levels of the diapause hormone in the Br-SGs of non-diapause-type pupae 1 day after injection. Incubation of Br-SGs isolated from non-diapause-type day-2 pupae with Dopa or dopamine also stimulated the expression of diapause hormone mRNA. These data indicate that environmental stimuli during embryonic development increase dopamine levels in both hemolymph and Br-SGs from the larval stage to early pupal stage, which results in laying of diapause-destined eggs by female adults through enhanced expression of the diapause hormone gene.     

Juvenile hormone changes associated with diapause induction, maintenance, and termination in the beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

At 22°C and under a long-day photoperiod of L:D 16:8, all the last fifth instar Loxostege sticticalis larvae undergo prepupal stage and pupate without diapause. Under a short-day photoperiod of L:D 12:12, in contrast, they all enter diapause with approximately 36 days diapause maintenance and then terminate diapause spontaneously, although only 44% of the larvae terminated diapause successfully. Changes in hemolymph juvenile hormone (JH I) titers of diapause-destined larvae across diapause induction, maintenance and termination were examined using HPLC, and were compared with those of non-diapause-destined larvae from the fifth instar through pupation. JH I titer of the earliest fifth instar diapause-destined larvae remained at a high level with a peak of 220.4 ng/ml, though it decreased continuously to a minimum of 69.0 ng/ml on day 5 in the fifth instar when the larvae stopped feeding to enter diapause. During the diapause maintenance, JH I titer of the mature larvae increased significantly and maintained a high level until day 31 in prepupae. JH I titer declined and fluctuated at low level from 5 days before pupation. In contrast, JH I titer of both the fifth instar non-diapause-destined larvae and prepupae remained and fluctuated at low level consistently, as well as decreased before pupation. These results indicate that diapause induction and maintenance in this species might be a consequence of high JH, whereas diapause termination can be attributed to low JH titer, which was in agreement with the hormonal regulation observed in many other larval-diapausing insects.     

滞育和非滞育棉铃虫血淋巴类固醇蜕皮素含量变化的比较

采用放射免疫分析法对不同时期的注定滞育和非滞育棉铃虫的血淋巴中的类固醇蜕皮素的含量进行了测定,发现在预蛹期间,注定滞育的棉铃虫的类固醇蜕皮素含量高于非滞育的棉铃虫,化蛹后,注定滞育的棉铃虫的类固醇蜕皮素含量则迅速降到极低的水平,明显低于非滞育棉铃虫。用20-羟基蜕皮素处理不同时期的滞育蛹,均能打破滞育。由此可见,类固醇蜕皮素含量的降低或缺乏乃是导致棉铃虫滞育的关键因子之一。     

Stimulation of vitellogenin production by methoprene in prepupae and pupae of manduca sexta

Denaturing electrophoresis of hemolymph from prepupae of M. sexta showed trace amounts of polypeptides with mobilities corresponding to those of vitellogenin (Vg) apoproteins from adult females. Absence of the polypeptides in allatectomized insects suggested regulation by juvenile hormone (JH). Daily administration of 10 μg of the JH analog methoprene from day 4 of the fifth stage to day 0 of the pupal stage caused accumulation of these polypeptides. They were identified as apovitellogenins (apoVgs) immunochemically with Vg antiserum. Stimulation of Vg in response to methoprene varied with age. In all cases, day 0 female pupae were highly responsive. Vg synthesis was not stimulated when pupae were injected with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) in addition to methoprene. Methoprene-stimulated Vg synthesis was also abolished by inhibitors of mRNA or protein synthesis (α-amanitin, actinomycin, cycloheximide). This result indicated that methoprene-stimulated Vg accumulation requires gene expression. A Vg cDNA (2.1 kb) obtained by immunoscreening of the λgt 11 library, when used as a radiolabelled probe, hybridized with a 5.1 kb mRNA from total RNA of female fat body. It also hybridized with fat body RNA of normal prepupae and methoprene treated day 0 pupae but not with that of early fifth instars or solvent control pupae. The results indicate that the trace amounts of Vg found in prepupal stages are due to a weak expression of the Vg gene, which is stimulated by JH and repressed by 20-HE. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Juvenile hormone regulates vitellogenin gene expression through insulin-like peptide signaling pathway in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Our recent studies identified juvenile hormone (JH) and nutrition as the two key signals that regulate vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Juvenile hormone regulation of Vg synthesis has been known for a long time in several insects, but the mechanism of JH action is not known. Experiments were conducted to determine the mechanism of action of these two signals in regulation of Vg gene expression. Injection of bovine insulin or FOXO double-stranded RNA into the previtellogenic, starved, or JH-deficient female adults increased Vg mRNA and protein levels, thereby implicating the pivotal role for insulin-like peptide signaling in the regulation of Vg gene expression and possible cross-talk between JH and insulin-like peptide signaling pathways. Reduction in JH synthesis or its action by RNAi-mediated silencing of genes coding for acid methyltransferase or methoprene-tolerant decreased expression of genes coding for insulin-like peptides (ILPs) and influenced FOXO subcellular localization, resulting in the down-regulation of Vg gene expression. Furthermore, JH application to previtellogenic female beetles induced the expression of genes coding for ILP2 and ILP3, and induced Vg gene expression. FOXO protein expressed in baculovirus system binds to FOXO response element present in the Vg gene promoter. These data suggest that JH functions through insulin-like peptide signaling pathway to regulate Vg gene expression.     

Suppression of allatotropin simulates reproductive diapause in the mosquito Culex pipiens

The cessation of juvenile hormone (JH) production is a key endocrine event that halts ovarian development and hence initiates diapause in females of the mosquito, Culex pipiens. The shutdown in endocrine activity of the corpora allata (CA), the source of JH, was manifested in the smaller size of CA in females reared under short daylengths (diapause) compared to those reared under long daylengths (nondiapause), as well as in low expression of the mRNA encoding allatotropin, the neuropeptide that promotes JH biosynthesis in the CA. Genes encoding both allatotropin and allatostatin were identified in C. pipiens, but only expression levels of allatotropin differed in the two types of females. Knockdown of allatotropin mRNA using RNA interference in females programmed for nondiapause resulted in a cessation of ovarian development akin to diapause. This arrest in development could be reversed with an application of JH. Our results thus suggest that suppression of allatotropin is a critical link in regulating the shutdown of the CA during diapause.