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Regulation of Schistocerca gregaria neuroparsin transcript levels by juvenile hormone and 20‐hydroxyecdysone
Author(s) -
Claeys Ilse,
Breugelmans Bert,
Simonet Gert,
Franssens Vanessa,
Van Soest Sofie,
Broeck Jozef Vanden
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.20127
Subject(s) - desert locust , schistocerca , biology , juvenile hormone , 20 hydroxyecdysone , medicine , endocrinology , hormone , messenger rna , migratory locust , insect , locust , gene , botany , biochemistry
Neuroparsins (NPs) are small proteins that were originally discovered in the pars intercerebralis–corpus cardiacum neurosecretory complex of the migratory locust brain. From the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria , we recently cloned four different transcripts, each coding for a distinct NP‐related peptide. In addition to the brain, some NP‐like precursor ( Scg ‐NPP) transcripts also occur in a number of peripheral tissues, and their expression levels are controlled in a gender‐ and stage‐dependent manner. Previous studies revealed a close correlation between Scg ‐NPP transcript levels and the gonotrophic cycle. In the present report, we demonstrate that certain Scg ‐NPP transcript levels are significantly altered upon injection of juvenile hormone (JH) or 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) in adult gregarious desert locusts (five days after final ecdysis). While Scg ‐NPP1 transcript levels did not significantly change as a result of hormone treatment (animals were analyzed 24 h after injection), Scg ‐NPP2, Scg ‐NPP3, and Scg ‐NPP4 displayed hormone‐dependent regulation in various tissues. Scg ‐NPP2 and Scg ‐NPP3 transcript levels significantly increased in the brain of JH‐treated locusts. In addition, JH induction of Scg ‐NPP3 and Scg ‐NPP4 transcripts was observed in male fat body and in male and female gonads. Furthermore, 20E injection also induced Scg ‐NPP2, Scg ‐NPP3, and Scg ‐NPP4 transcripts in desert locust gonads. This is the first report showing NP‐like precursor gene expression in insect ovaries. Our study indicates that the expression levels of some Scg ‐NPP transcripts are regulated by developmental hormones, suggesting a close correlation between NP expression and the endocrine control of the reproductive cycle. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 62:107–115, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.