Expression of calcineurin in relation to the embryonic diapause process in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Expressions of sugar transporter genes during Bombyx mori embryonic development

Sugar transporters (Sts) play important roles in controlling carbohydrate transport and are responsible for mediating the movement of sugars into cells. Few studies have been conducted on expressions of Sts during insect embryonic development. In the present study, we investigated temporal expressions of St genes during the embryonic diapause process in Bombyx mori. We found that in HCl-treated developing eggs, high gene expressions of trehalose transporter 1 (Tret1) were detected during middle and later embryonic development. St4 and St3 gene expressions gradually increased during the early stages, reached a small peak on Day 3, and large peaks were again detected on Day 7. However, in diapause eggs, expression levels of the Tret1, St4, and St3 genes all remained at low levels. Differential temporal changes in expressions of the Tret1, St4, and St3 genes found between diapause and HCl-treated eggs were further confirmed using nondiapause eggs. Our results showed that nondiapause eggs exhibited similar changing patterns as those of HCl-treated eggs, thus clearly indicating potential correlations between expressions of these genes and embryonic development. In addition, high gene expressions of Tret1 were also detected when dechorionated eggs were incubated in the medium. The addition of LY294002 (a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI3K] inhibitor) and U0126 (a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK] kinase [MEK] inhibitor) partially inhibited Tret1 gene expression in dechorionated eggs, but did not affect either ecdysteroid-phosphate phosphatase gene expression or ecdysteroid biosynthesis, clearly indicating that both PI3K and ERK are involved in increased gene expression of Tret1 that was independent of ecdysteroid levels. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report to demonstrate the transcriptional regulation of St genes during embryonic development, thus providing useful information for a clearer understanding of insect egg diapause mechanisms.

Molecular Characterization and Tissue Distribution of Calcineurin Regulatory B Subunit during the Prevention of Diapause in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

To clarify the molecular mechanism of prevention of entry into diapause in Bombyx mori by HCl treatment, we biochemically analyzed calcineurin regulatory B subunit (CNB) in diapause eggs treated with HCl solution. Our previous studies revealed that HCl treatment causes Ca²⁺ to efflux from diapause eggs. Therefore, we attempted to analyze CNB, which is known to associate with Ca²⁺. The gene expression level of CNB was increased by HCl treatment and the changes of the gene expression were almost the same as that in the non-diapause eggs. As for diapause eggs, almost no gene expression of CNB was confirmed except just after oviposition. In the assay for phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2, recombinant CNB (rCNB) was phosphorylated in vitro. Additionally, a Ca²⁺ binding assay indicated that rCNB shows affinity for Ca²⁺. The distribution of CNB was investigated with an immunohistochemical technique using antiserum against rCNB in diapause eggs and HCl-treated diapause eggs. CNB was localized in serosa cells and yolk cells in both eggs. These data may suggest that CNB is activated by intracellular Ca²⁺ or efflux Ca²⁺ resulting from HCl treatment, and that it plays a role in the molecular mechanisms of artificial diapause prevention or the breaking of diapause in the silkworm.

Characterization of calcium signaling proteins from the fat body of the Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): Implications for diapause and lipid metabolism

Calcium (Ca²⁺) regulates many cellular and physiological processes from development to reproduction. Ca²⁺ is also an important factor in the metabolism of lipids, the primary energy source used during insect starvation and diapause. Ca²⁺ signaling proteins bind to Ca²⁺ and maintain intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. However, knowledge about Ca²⁺ signaling proteins is mostly restricted to the model Drosophila melanogaster and the response of Ca²⁺ signaling genes to starvation or diapause is not known. In this study, we identified three Ca²⁺ signaling proteins; the primary Ca²⁺ binding protein Calmodulin (LdCaM), phosphatase Calcineurin B (LdCaNB), and the senescence marker protein Regucalcin (LdRgN), from the fat body of the Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This insect is a major pest of potato worldwide and overwinters under hibernation diapause as adults while utilizing lipids as the primary energy source. Putative EF-hand domains involved in Ca²⁺ binding were present in LdCaM, LdCaNB, but absent in LdRgN. LdCaM and LdCaNB were expressed in multiple tissues, while LdRgN was primarily expressed in the fat body. LdCaM was constitutively-expressed throughout larval development and at the adult stage. LdCaNB was primarily expressed in feeding larvae, and LdRgN in both feeding larvae and adults at comparable levels; however, both genes were down-regulated by molting. A response to starvation was observed only for LdRgN. Transcript abundance analysis in the entire body in relation to diapause revealed differential regulation with a general suppression during diapause, and higher mRNA levels in favor of females at post-diapause for LdCaM, and in favor of males at non-diapause for LdCaNB. Fat body-specific transcript abundance was not different between non-diapause and post-diapause for LdCaNB, but both LdCaM and LdRgN were down-regulated in males and both sexes, respectively by post-diapause. Silencing LdCaNB or LdRgN in larvae led to decreased fat content, indicating their involvement in lipid accumulation, while RNAi of LdCaM led to lethality.

Changes in expressions of ecdysteroidogenic enzyme and ecdysteroid signaling genes in relation to Bombyx embryonic development

Although the role of ecdysteroids in regulating egg diapause process in Bombyx mori is well documented, temporal changes in expression levels of genes involved in ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its downstream signaling are less well understood. In the present study, we studied changes in expression levels of genes involved in ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its downstream signaling during embryonic development of B. mori. Results showed that in diapause eggs, the expression of ecdysteroid-phosphate phosphatase (EPPase) gene and Halloween genes (Spook [Spo] and Shade [Shd]) remained at very low levels. However, in eggs whose diapause initiation was prevented by HCl, significant increases in the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of EPPase, Spo, and Shd were detected during embryonic development. Other Halloween genes (Neverland [Nvd] and Phantom [Phm]) also showed different changes between diapause and HCl-treated eggs. However, genes of Disembodied (Dib) and Shadow (Sad) showed similar changes in both diapause and HCl-treated eggs. We further investigated changes in expression levels of ecdysone receptor genes (EcRA, EcRB1, and USP) and downstream signaling genes (E75A, E75B, E74A, E74B, Br-C, HR3, HR4, KR-H1, and FTZ-F1). Results showed that genes of EcRA and the other nuclear receptors (E75A, E75B, E74A, HR3, HR4, KR-H1, and FTZ-F1) exhibited significant differential patterns between diapause and HCl-treated eggs, with increased levels being detected during later stages of embryonic development in HCl-treated eggs. Differential temporal changes in expressions of genes involved ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its downstream signaling found between diapause and HCl-treated eggs were further confirmed using nondiapause eggs. Our results showed that nondiapause eggs exhibited the same changing patterns as those in HCl-treated eggs, thus clearly indicating potential correlations between expressions of these genes and embryonic development in B. mori. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report to study the transcriptional regulation of ecdysteroidogenic and ecdysteroid signaling genes, thus providing useful information for a clearer understanding of insect egg diapause mechanisms.

Expression of protein tyrosine phosphatases and Bombyx embryonic development

Protein phosphorylation is an integral component of signal transduction pathways within eukaryotic cells, and it is regulated by coordinated interactions between protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Our previous study demonstrated differential expressions of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP2A and calcineurin) between diapause and developing eggs in Bombyx mori. In the present study, we further investigated expression of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in relation to the Bombyx embryonic development. An immunoblot analysis showed that eggs contained the proteins of the 51-kDa PTP 1B (PTP1B), the 55-kDa phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), and the 70-kDa Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2), which undergo differential changes between diapause and developing eggs. Protein level of PTP1B and PTEN in eggs whose diapause initiation was prevented by HCl gradually increased toward embryonic development. The protein level of SHP2 also showed a dramatic increase on days 7 and 8 after HCl treatment. However, protein levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 in diapause eggs remained at low levels during the first 9 days after oviposition. These differential changing patterns in protein levels were further confirmed using both non-diapause eggs and eggs in which diapause had been terminated by chilling of diapausing eggs at 5 °C for 70 days and then were transferred to 25 °C. Direct determination of PTP enzymatic activities showed higher activities in developing eggs (HCl-treated eggs, non-diapause eggs, and chilled eggs) compared to those in diapause eggs. Examination of temporal changes in mRNA expression levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 did not show significant differences between diapause eggs and HCl-treated eggs except high expression in SHP2 variant B during the later embryonic development in HCl-treated eggs. These results demonstrate that higher protein levels of PTP1B, PTEN, and SHP2 and increased tyrosine phosphatase enzymatic activities in developing eggs are likely related to embryonic development of B. mori.

Identification and functional analysis of microRNAs in the regulation of summer diapause in Galeruca daurica

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Although the regulatory roles of miRNAs in various physiological processes throughout insect development have been investigated, it is almost unknown about the roles of miRNAs involved in regulation of diapause in insects. We constructed nine small RNA libraries from Galeruca daurica adults at different diapause stages: pre-diapause (PD), diapause (D), and post-diapause (TD). Using Illumina sequencing, a total of 95.06 million valid reads was obtained, and 222 miRNAs, including 135 conserved and 87 novel miRNAs, were identified from G. daurica. The expression profiles of these miRNAs were analyzed across different diapause stages. The 30 and 13 miRNAs were differentially expressed in the D/PD and TD/D comparisons, respectively. The KEGG and GO analysis of the predicted target genes suggested the essential roles of miRNAs in the regulation of summer diapause in G. daurica, especially via the juvenile hormone, ribosome, MAPK signaling, and Ca²⁺ signaling pathways. Our research results indicate that miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of summer diapause in G. daurica, and these results also provide an important new small RNA genomics resource for further studies on insect diapause.

Expression of protein kinase C in relation to the embryonic diapause process in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In the present study, we investigated the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) signaling during the embryonic diapause process of Bombyx mori. PKC activity, determined using an antibody to phosphorylated substrates of PKC, was found to be significantly higher in developing eggs as compared to that of diapause eggs. In eggs whose diapause initiation was prevented by HCl, non-diapause eggs, and eggs in which diapause had been terminated by chilling of diapausing eggs at 5 °C for 70 days and then were transferred to 25 °C, PKC-dependent phosphorylation levels of multiple proteins showed dramatic stage-dependent increases compared to those of diapause eggs. Higher protein levels of PKC were also detected in developing eggs as compared to those of diapause eggs. Determination of PKC enzymatic activity during the middle embryonic stage showed higher PKC activity in developing eggs compared to diapause eggs, thus further confirming differential regulation of PKC signaling during the embryonic diapause process. Examination of temporal changes in mRNA expression levels of classical PKC (cPKC) and atypical PKC (aPKC) showed no difference between diapause and HCl-treated eggs. These results demonstrated that differential expressions of PKC signaling between diapause and developing eggs are related to the embryonic diapause process of B. mori.

Bombyxin/Akt signaling in relation to the embryonic diapause process of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Our previous study showed that phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β is related to the embryonic diapause process in Bombyx. However, the upstream signaling pathway was not clearly understood. In the present study, we examined bombyxin/Akt signaling in relation to the embryonic diapause process of B. mori. Results showed that GSK-3β phosphorylation stimulated by dechorionation was blocked by LY294002, a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, indicating involvement of PI3K in GSK-3β phosphorylation in dechorionated eggs. Direct determination of Akt phosphorylation showed that dechorionation stimulated Akt phosphorylation. The Akt phosphorylation was blocked by LY294002. Temporal changes in Akt phosphorylation showed that different changing patterns exist between diapause and developing eggs. Relatively higher phosphorylation levels of Akt were detected between days 3 and 5 after oviposition in non-diapause eggs compared to those at the same stages in diapause eggs. Upon treatment with HCl, which prevents diapause initiation, Akt phosphorylation levels exhibited a later and much broader peak compared to diapause eggs. Examination of expression levels of the bombyxin-Z1 gene showed that in diapause eggs, a major peak occurred 1 day after oviposition, and its level then sharply decreased on day 2. However, in both non-diapause and HCl-treated eggs, a major broad peak was detected between days 1 and 4 after oviposition. These temporal changes in bombyxin-Z1 gene expression levels during embryonic stages coincided with changes in Akt phosphorylation, indicating that bombyxin-Z1 is likely an upstream signaling component for Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, our results indicated that PI3K/Akt is an upstream signaling pathway for GSK-3β phosphorylation and is associated with the diapause process of B. mori eggs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the potential correlation between bombyxin/Akt signaling and the embryonic diapause process.