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Molecular mechanisms regulating molting in a crustacean
Author(s) -
Devaraj Halagowder,
Natarajan Ayithan
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2006.05117.x
Subject(s) - eyestalk , ecdysis , moulting , biology , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , western blot , medicine , phosphorylation , endocrinology , hormone , gene , biochemistry , botany , larva
Crustacean growth and development is characterized by periodic shedding (ecdysis) and replacement of the rigid exoskeleton. Secretions of the X‐organ sinus gland complex control the cellular events that lead to growth and molting. Western blot and ELISA results showed a progressive increase in growth arrest‐specific protein (Gas7) from early postmolt stage to a maximum at late postmolt stage. Phosphorylation of ERK2, a downstream signaling protein, was also identified in the subsequent stages. ERK2 phosphorylation resulted in the expression of molt‐inhibiting hormone (MIH). Specific ERK inhibitors (PD98059 and UO126) exhibited the ability to reduce the molting duration of Fenneropenaeus indicus from 12–14 days to 7–8 days, suggesting that the ERK1/2 signaling pathway is responsible for the expression of MIH, which controls the molt cycle. We have identified the stage‐specific expression of Gas7 (≈ 48 kDa) in the X‐organ sinus gland complex of eyestalk which is involved in the downstream signaling of the ERK1/2 pathway regulating the expression of MIH during the molt cycle of the white shrimp, F. indicus . These are the first data showing an association between the Gas7 signal‐transduction process and regulation of the molt cycle and provides an alternative molecular intervention mechanism to the traditional eyestalk ablation in crustaceans.