siRNA-Mediated Silencing of doublesex during Female Development of the Dengue Vector Mosquito Aedes aegypti

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 9(11), P. e0004213 - e0004213

Published: Nov. 6, 2015

The development of sex-specific traits, including the female-specific ability to bite humans and vector disease, is critical for mosquito reproduction pathogen transmission. Doublesex (Dsx), a terminal transcription factor in sex determination pathway, known regulate gene expression during dengue fever Aedes aegypti. Here, effects developmental siRNA-mediated dsx silencing were assessed adult females. Targeting A. aegypti resulted decreased female wing size, correlate body which typically larger targeting also length proboscis. Although did not impact membrane blood feeding or mating behavior laboratory, fecundity fertility correlated with ovary length, ovariole number knockdown Dsx disruption olfactory system development, as evidenced by reduced antenna maxillary palp sensilla present on these structures, well disrupted odorant receptor expression. Female lifespan, component transmit pathogens, was significantly females following dsx. results this investigation demonstrate that disrupts multiple morphological, physiological, behavioral traits females, are directly indirectly linked Moreover, phenotypes observed connect system, suggesting will be an excellent further assess genetics chemosensation.

Language: Английский

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Insect Transcription Factors: A Landscape of Their Structures and Biological Functions in Drosophila and beyond

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 19(11), P. 3691 - 3691

Published: Nov. 21, 2018

Transcription factors (TFs) play essential roles in the transcriptional regulation of functional genes, and are involved diverse physiological processes living organisms. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a simple easily manipulated organismal model, has been extensively applied to study biological functions TFs their related mechanisms. It is noteworthy that with development genetic tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 next-generation genome sequencing techniques recent years, identification dissection complex regulatory networks have also made great progress other insects beyond Drosophila. However, unfortunately, there no comprehensive review systematically summarizes structures both model non-model insects. Here, we spend extensive effort collecting vast studies, attempt provide an impartial overview structure current documented insects, well classical emerging research methods for studying functions. Consequently, considering importance versatile orchestrating insect processes, this will assist growing number entomologists interrogate understudied field, propel contributions pest control even human health.

Language: Английский

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Insulin/IGF signaling and TORC1 promote vitellogenesis via inducing juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the American cockroach

Development, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 147(20)

Published: Oct. 15, 2020

ABSTRACT Vitellogenesis, including vitellogenin (Vg) production in the fat body and Vg uptake by maturing oocytes, is of great importance for successful reproduction adult females. The endocrinal nutritional regulation vitellogenesis differs distinctly insects. Here, complex crosstalk between juvenile hormone (JH) two nutrient sensors insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) target rapamycin complex1 (TORC1), was investigated to elucidate molecular mechanisms American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. Our data showed that a block JH biosynthesis or action arrested vitellogenesis, part inhibiting expression doublesex (Dsx), key transcription factor gene involved sex determination cascade. Depletion IIS TORC1 blocked both vitellogenesis. Importantly, analog methoprene, but not bovine insulin (to restore IIS) amino acids activity), restored neck-ligated (IIS-, TORC1- JH-deficient) rapamycin-treated (TORC1- cockroaches. Combining classic physiology with modern techniques, we have demonstrated promote mainly via inducing cockroach.

Language: Английский

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femaleless Controls Sex Determination and Dosage Compensation Pathways in Females of Anopheles Mosquitoes

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(5), P. 1084 - 1091.e4

Published: Jan. 9, 2021

The insect sex determination and the intimately linked dosage compensation pathways represent a challenging evolutionary puzzle that has been solved only in Drosophila melanogaster. Analyses of orthologs genes identified non-drosophilid taxa1,2 revealed evolution is consistent with bottom-up mode,3 where terminal within pathway are well conserved. doublesex (dsx), occupying bottom-most position encoding sex-specific proteins orchestrating downstream sexual differentiation processes, an ancient sex-determining gene present all studied species.2,4,5 With exception lepidopterans, its female-specific splicing known to be regulated by transformer (tra) co-factor transformer-2 (tra2).6-20 Here we show African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, gene, which likely arose lineage call femaleless (fle), controls females regulating dsx fruitless (fru; another branch pathway). Moreover, fle represents novel molecular link between pathways. It necessary suppress activation females, as demonstrated significant upregulation female X chromosome correlated lethality, but no negative effect on males, response knockdown. This unexpected property, combined high level conservation sequence function anopheline mosquitoes, makes excellent target for genetic control major vectors human malaria.

Language: Английский

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Precise staging of beetle horn formation in Trypoxylus dichotomus reveals the pleiotropic roles of doublesex depending on the spatiotemporal developmental contexts

PLoS Genetics, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. e1008063 - e1008063

Published: April 10, 2019

Many scarab beetles have sexually dimorphic exaggerated horns that are an evolutionary novelty. Since the shape, number, size, and location of highly diverged within Scarabaeidae, beetle attractive model for studying evolution novel traits. In including Japanese rhinoceros Trypoxylus dichotomus, sex differentiation gene doublesex (dsx) plays a crucial role in horn formation during larval-pupal development. However, knowledge when how dsx drives regulatory network (GRN) to form development remains elusive. To address this issue, we identified Trypoxylus-ortholog determination gene, transformer (tra), regulates sex-specific splicing pre-mRNA, whose loss function results transformation. By knocking down tra at multiple developmental timepoints development, estimated onset GRN is driven. addition, also revealed different aspects morphogenetic activities prepupal pupal stages appropriate morphologies head thoracic primordia as well those adult horns. Based on these findings, discuss background trait growth horned beetles.

Language: Английский

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Genetic architecture and sex-specific selection govern modular, male-biased evolution of doublesex

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 5(5)

Published: May 3, 2019

Structural modularity and positive selection govern functional evolution of doublesex , a master regulator insect polymorphisms.

Language: Английский

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Nix is a male-determining factor in the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 118, P. 103311 - 103311

Published: Dec. 31, 2019

The initial signal that governs sex determination is highly variable among insects. A homolog of Nix, the male-determining factor in Aedes aegypti, was previously found Asian tiger mosquito Ae. albopictus. Here we show albopictus Nix (AalNix) more complex gene structure and splice isoforms than its aegypti (AaeNix). AalNix shows a similar transcription profile compared to AaeNix. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockouts vivo C6/36 cells lead shift dsx fru splicing towards female isoforms. G0 knockout males showed feminization deformities including feminized antennae, absence or partial gonocoxites, gonostyli, testes accessory glands, formation ovaries. Despite ~70 MY divergence, functions as conserved two most important arboviral vectors, namely

Language: Английский

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Modulation of fatty acid elongation in cockroaches sustains sexually dimorphic hydrocarbons and female attractiveness

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 19(7), P. e3001330 - e3001330

Published: July 27, 2021

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) serve as important intersexual signaling chemicals and generally show variation between the sexes, but little is known about generation of sexually dimorphic (SDHCs) in insects. In this study, we report molecular mechanism biological significance that underlie SDHC German cockroach Blattella germanica. Sexually mature females possess more C29 CHCs, especially contact sex pheromone precursor 3,11-DimeC29. RNA interference (RNAi) screen against fatty acid elongase family members combined with heterologous expression genes yeast revealed both BgElo12 BgElo24 were involved hydrocarbon (HC) production, wide catalytic activities able to provide substrates for BgElo12, only female-enriched responsible sustaining female-specific HC profile. Repressing masculinized female CHC profile, decreased level, consequently reduced sexual attractiveness cockroaches. Moreover, asymmetric sexes modulated by differentiation cascade. Specifically, male-specific BgDsx represses transcription males, while BgTra remove effect females. Our study reveals a novel formation SDHCs also evidences on shaping selection, use them generate high levels pheromone.

Language: Английский

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Manipulating Insect Sex Determination Pathways for Genetic Pest Management: Opportunities and Challenges

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: June 28, 2022

Sex determination pathways in insects are generally characterised by an upstream primary signal, which is highly variable across species, and that regulates the splicing of a suite downstream but highly-conserved genes ( transformer , doublesex fruitless ). In turn, these then regulate expression sex-specific characteristics males females. Identification sex has continues to be, critical component insect population suppression technologies. For example, “first-generation” transgenic technologies such as fsRIDL (Female-Specific Release Insects carrying Dominant Lethals) enabled efficient selective removal females from target significant improvement on sterile technique (SIT). Second-generation CRISPR/Cas9 homing gene drives precision-guided SIT (pgSIT) have used editing manipulate vivo . The development future, third-generation control technologies, Y-linked drives, (female male) sex-reversal, or X-shredding, will require additional knowledge aspects sexual development, including deeper understanding nature signals dosage compensation. This review shows how pest species fundamental all phases

Language: Английский

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Sex Differences in 20-Hydroxyecdysone Hormone Levels Control Sexual Dimorphism in Bicyclus anynana Wing Patterns

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 35(2), P. 465 - 472

Published: Nov. 19, 2017

In contrast to the important role of hormones in development sexual traits vertebrates (Cox RM, Stenquist DS, Calsbeek R. 2009. Testosterone, growth and evolution size dimorphism. J Evol Biol. 22(8):1586-1598.), differentiation these insects is attributed almost exclusively cell-autonomous mechanisms controlled by members sex determination pathway (Verhulst EC, van de Zande L. 2015. Double nexus - doublesex connecting element determination. Brief Funct Genomics 14(6):396-406.), such as doublesex. Although can shape insects, variation hormone levels are not conclusively known cause dimorphism (Prakash A, Monteiro A. 2016. Molecular secondary trait insects. Curr Opin Insect Sci. 17:40-48.). Here, we show that butterflies use sex-specific differences 20-hydroxyecdysone titers create sexually dimorphic wing ornaments. Females dry season (DS) form Bicyclus anynana display a larger ornament on their wings than males, whereas wet both sexes have similarly sized ornaments (Prudic KL, Jeon C, Cao H, 2011. Developmental plasticity roles butterfly species drives mutual ornamentation. Science 331(6013):73-75.). High circulating during larval DS females forms proliferation cells fated give rise this ornament, results forms. This study advances our understanding how environment regulates patterns shows play just like they do vertebrates.

Language: Английский

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