Beetles' choice--proline for energy output: control by AKHs

Lipid Metabolism in Relation to Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrates and lipids integrate into a complex metabolic network that is essential to maintain homeostasis. In insects, as in most metazoans, dietary carbohydrates are taken up as monosaccharides whose excess is toxic, even at relatively low concentrations. To cope with this toxicity, monosaccharides are stored either as glycogen or neutral lipids, the latter constituting a quasi-unlimited energy store. Breakdown of these stores in response to energy demand depends on insect species and on several physiological parameters. In this chapter, we review the multiple metabolic pathways and strategies linking carbohydrates and lipids that insects utilize to respond to nutrient availability, food scarcity or physiological activities.

Metabolic Rate Suppression and Maintenance of Flight Muscle Metabolic Capacity during Diapause in Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) Queens

AbstractThe common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) queens endure cold winter months by entering a diapause state. During this overwintering period, these animals use stored energy reserves while maintaining a low metabolic rate. This study investigates changes in the metabolic rate of bumble bee queens during diapause-like laboratory conditions and the potential reorganization of the flight muscle metabolic properties during this period. We first confirmed the hypometabolic state of queens during diapause in the laboratory, which lowered their resting metabolic rate to less than 5% of normal resting values. Body mass decreased during diapause, body composition changed where carbohydrates decreased initially, and later protein declined, with a similar trend for lipid content. Using cellular respirometry, we determined the capacity of the flight muscle cells of bumble bee queens to use various metabolic fuels and whether this capacity changes during the progression of diapause to favor stored lipid-derived substrates. Queens showed a low capacity to oxidize the amino acid proline, compared with workers, and their capacity to oxidize all metabolic substrates did not change during a 4-mo diapause period in the laboratory. We also show no detectable ability to oxidize fatty acid by flight muscle mitochondria in this species. The metabolic properties of flight muscle tissue were further characterized using metabolic enzyme activity profiles showing little change during diapause, indicating that profound metabolic suppression is induced without major changes in muscle metabolic phenotypes. Overall, B. impatiens queens undergo diapause while maintaining flight muscle capacity under the conditions used.

Energy Utilization and Flight Muscle Development in Chrysoperla sinica (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Female Adults: Relationship With Age and Flight Behavior

We investigated the accumulation of energy substances, dynamics of flight muscle development, changes in energy substances accumulation, and flight muscle structure after flight activities in female adults of the green lacewing Chrysoperla sinica (Tjeder), a common natural enemy of various insect pests in China. Virgin individuals were chosen at 24, 72, and 120 h after eclosion for energy substance determination and flight muscle observation in this study. Individuals with strong flight ability at 72 h after eclosion were selected for tethered flight assays, followed by detection of energy substances, and flight muscle observation. The results showed that virgin female adults had the highest fat content 72 h after eclosion. Sarcomere length and myofibril diameter changed significantly with age, with the lowest at 24 h after eclosion. With an increase in flight distance, the fat and glycogen contents, sarcomere length, and volume fraction of the transverse tubular system (T-system) decreased and myofibril diameters increased. The volume fraction of the mitochondria did not significantly change, but the structure of the mitochondrial membrane was destroyed, inclusions were reduced, and cavities appeared. The reserves of energy substances, especially lipids, are closely related to the flight ability of C. sinica. The observational results of both flight muscle structure and morphology of mitochondria build a strong relationship with flight behavior. This research should help reveal the regulatory mechanism of flight activity of C. sinica.

The evolution of sanguivory in vampire bats: origins and convergences

Blood-feeding (sanguivory) has evolved more than two dozen times among birds, fishes, insects, arachnids, molluscs, crustaceans, and annelids; however, among mammals, it is restricted to the vampire bats. Here, the authors revisit the question of how it evolved in that group. Evidence to date suggests that the ancestors of phyllostomids were insectivorous, and that carnivory, omnivory, and nectarivory evolved among phyllostomids after vampire bats diverged. Frugivory likely also evolved after vampire bats diverged, but the phylogeny is ambiguous on that point. However, vampire bats lack any genetic evidence of a frugivorous past, and the behavioural progression from frugivory to sanguivory is difficult to envision. Thus, the most parsimonious scenario is that sanguivory evolved in an insectivorous ancestor to vampire bats via ectoparasite-eating, wound-feeding, or some combination of the two—all feeding habits found among blood-feeding birds today. Comparing vampire bats with other sanguivores, the authors find several remarkable examples of convergence. Further, it was found that blood-feeding has been ca. 50 times more likely to evolve in a vertebrate lineage than in an invertebrate one. The authors hypothesize that this difference exists because vertebrates are more likely than invertebrates to have the biochemical necessities required to assimilate the components of vertebrate blood.

Adipokinetic hormone signaling in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae facilitates Plasmodium falciparum sporogony

An obligatory step in the complex life cycle of the malaria parasite is sporogony, which occurs during the oocyst stage in adult female Anopheles mosquitoes. Sporogony is metabolically demanding, and successful oocyst maturation is dependent on host lipids. In insects, lipid energy reserves are mobilized by adipokinetic hormones (AKHs). We hypothesized that Plasmodium falciparum infection activates Anopheles gambiae AKH signaling and lipid mobilization. We profiled the expression patterns of AKH pathway genes and AgAkh1 peptide levels in An. gambiae during starvation, after blood feeding, and following infection and observed a significant time-dependent up-regulation of AKH pathway genes and peptide levels during infection. Depletion of AgAkh1 and AgAkhR by RNAi reduced salivary gland sporozoite production, while synthetic AgAkh1 peptide supplementation rescued sporozoite numbers. Inoculation of uninfected female mosquitoes with supernatant from P. falciparum-infected midguts activated AKH signaling. Clearly, identifying the parasite molecules mediating AKH signaling in P. falciparum sporogony is paramount.

The Transcription of Flight Energy Metabolism Enzymes Declined with Aging While Enzyme Activity Increased in the Long-Distance Migratory Moth, Spodoptera frugiperda

Of all the things that can fly, the flight mechanisms of insects are possibly the least understood. By using RNAseq, we studied the aging-associated gene expression changes in the thorax of Spodoptera frugiperda females. Three possible flight energy metabolism pathways were constructed based on 32 key metabolic enzymes found in S. frugiperda. Differential expression analysis revealed up to 2000 DEGs within old females versus young ones. Expression and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that most genes and pathways related to energy metabolism and other biological processes, such as transport, redox, longevity and signaling pathway, were downregulated with aging. However, activity assay showed that the activities of all the five tested key enzymes increased with age. The age-associated transcriptional decrease and activity increase in these enzymes suggest that these enzymes are stable. S. frugiperda is a long-distance migrator, and a high activity of enzymes may be important to guarantee a high flight capacity. The activity ratio of GAPDH/HOAD ranged from 0.594 to 0.412, suggesting that lipid is the main fuel of this species, particularly in old individuals. Moreover, the expression of enzymes in the proline oxidation pathway increased with age, suggesting that this energy metabolic pathway also is important for this species or linked to some aging-specific processes. In addition, the expression of immunity- and repair-related genes also increased with age. This study established the overall transcriptome framework of the flight muscle and aging-associated expression change trajectories in an insect for the first time.

Role of Lipids in Phosphine Resistant Stored-Grain Insect Pests Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica

Insects rely on lipids as an energy source to perform various activities, such as growth, flight, diapause, and metamorphosis. This study evaluated the role of lipids in phosphine resistance by stored-grain insects. Phosphine resistant and susceptible strains of the two main stored-grain insects, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) to determine their lipid contents. Phosphine resistant strains of both species had a higher amount of lipids than susceptible stains. Significant variance ratios between the resistant and susceptible strains of T. castaneum were observed for glycerolipids (1.13- to 53.10-fold) and phospholipids (1.05- to 20.00-fold). Significant variance ratios between the resistant and susceptible strains of R. dominica for glycerolipids were 1.04- to 31.50-fold and for phospholipids were 1.04- to 10.10-fold. Glycerolipids are reservoirs to face the long-term energy shortage. Phospholipids act as a barrier to isolate the cells from the surrounding environment and allow each cell to perform its specific function. Thus, lipids offer a consistent energy source for the resistant insect to survive under the stress of phosphine fumigation and provide a suitable environment to protect the mitochondria from phosphine. Hence, it was proposed through this study that the lipid content of phosphine-resistant and phosphine-susceptible strains of T. castaneum and R. dominica could play an important role in the resistance of phosphine.

Neuroendocrinal and molecular basis of flight performance in locusts

Insect flight is a complex physiological process that involves sensory and neuroendocrinal control, efficient energy metabolism, rhythmic muscle contraction, and coordinated wing movement. As a classical study model for insect flight, locusts have attracted much attention from physiologists, behaviorists, and neuroendocrinologists over the past decades. In earlier research, scientists made extensive efforts to explore the hormone regulation of metabolism related to locust flight; however, this work was hindered by the absence of molecular and genetic tools. Recently, the rapid development of molecular and genetic tools as well as multi-omics has greatly advanced our understanding of the metabolic, molecular, and neuroendocrinal basis of long-term flight in locusts. Novel neural and molecular factors modulating locust flight and their regulatory mechanisms have been explored. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase-dependent differences in locust flight have also been revealed. Here, we provide a systematic review of locust flight physiology, with emphasis on recent advances in the neuroendocrinal, genetic, and molecular basis. Future research directions and potential challenges are also addressed.

Proline Oxidation Supports Mitochondrial ATP Production When Complex I Is Inhibited

The oxidation of proline to pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) leads to the transfer of electrons to ubiquinone in mitochondria that express proline dehydrogenase (ProDH). This electron transfer supports Complexes CIII and CIV, thus generating the protonmotive force. Further catabolism of P5C forms glutamate, which fuels the citric acid cycle that yields the reducing equivalents that sustain oxidative phosphorylation. However, P5C and glutamate catabolism depend on CI activity due to NAD⁺ requirements. NextGen-O2k (Oroboros Instruments) was used to measure proline oxidation in isolated mitochondria of various mouse tissues. Simultaneous measurements of oxygen consumption, membrane potential, NADH, and the ubiquinone redox state were correlated to ProDH activity and F₁F_O-ATPase directionality. Proline catabolism generated a sufficiently high membrane potential that was able to maintain the F₁F_O-ATPase operation in the forward mode. This was observed in CI-inhibited mouse liver and kidney mitochondria that exhibited high levels of proline oxidation and ProDH activity. This action was not observed under anoxia or when either CIII or CIV were inhibited. The duroquinone fueling of CIII and CIV partially reproduced the effects of proline. Excess glutamate, however, could not reproduce the proline effect, suggesting that processes upstream of the glutamate conversion from proline were involved. The ProDH inhibitors tetrahydro-2-furoic acid and, to a lesser extent, S-5-oxo-2-tetrahydrofurancarboxylic acid abolished all proline effects. The data show that ProDH-directed proline catabolism could generate sufficient CIII and CIV proton pumping, thus supporting ATP production by the F₁F_O-ATPase even under CI inhibition.

Exploring Thermal Sensitivities and Adaptations of Oxidative Phosphorylation Pathways

Temperature shifts are a major challenge to animals; they drive adaptations in organisms and species, and affect all physiological functions in ectothermic organisms. Understanding the origin and mechanisms of these adaptations is critical for determining whether ectothermic organisms will be able to survive when faced with global climate change. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is thought to be an important metabolic player in this regard, since the capacity of the mitochondria to produce energy greatly varies according to temperature. However, organism survival and fitness depend not only on how much energy is produced, but, more precisely, on how oxidative phosphorylation is affected and which step of the process dictates thermal sensitivity. These questions need to be addressed from a new perspective involving a complex view of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and its related pathways. In this review, we examine the effect of temperature on the commonly measured pathways, but mainly focus on the potential impact of lesser-studied pathways and related steps, including the electron-transferring flavoprotein pathway, glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, choline dehydrogenase, proline dehydrogenase, and sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. Our objective is to reveal new avenues of research that can address the impact of temperature on oxidative phosphorylation in all its complexity to better portray the limitations and the potential adaptations of aerobic metabolism.

Proline as a Sparker Metabolite of Oxidative Metabolism during the Flight of the Bumblebee, Bombus impatiens

Several insect species use the amino acid proline as a major energy substrate. Although initially thought to be limited to blood-feeding dipterans, studies have revealed this capability is more widespread. Recent work with isolated flight muscle showed that the bumblebee Bombus impatiens can oxidize proline at a high rate. However, its role as a metabolic fuel to power flight is unclear. To elucidate the extent to which proline is oxidized to power flight and how its contribution changes during flight, we profiled 14 metabolites central to energy and proline metabolism at key time points in flight muscle and abdominal tissues. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF MS) analysis revealed that proline is likely used as a sparker metabolite of the tricarboxylic acid cycle at the onset of flight, whereby it supplements the intermediates of the cycle. Carbohydrates are the major energy substrates, which is evidenced by marked decreases in abdominal glycogen stores and a lack of alanine accumulation to replenish flight muscle proline. The time course of fuel stores and metabolites changes during flight highlights homeostatic regulation of energy substrates and patterns of changes in metabolic intermediates within pathways. This study clarifies the role of proline and carbohydrate metabolism during flight in hymenopterans, such as B. impatiens.

The effect of pyriproxyfen on the concentration of circulating metabolic fuel molecules and chemical elements in the hemolymph of Acraea horta L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): A quantitative analysis

Many pollinating insects expand their niche to adjacent agricultural areas and are, therefore, exposed to chemical insecticides. Acraea horta L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) is a pollinator butterfly widely distributed in the Southern African region. The objectives of this work were to evaluate carbohydrate, lipid and chemical elements in the hemolymph of A. horta exposed to pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog (JHA). Last instar larvae (L6: day 1 or day 2) were topically exposed to an aqueous solution of pyriproxyfen (100 μg of the active ingredient per insect) or to diluent (control group). Hemolymph was collected after adult eclosion to determine total carbohydrate and lipid concentrations: in the control group lipids were present in lower concentrations than carbohydrates and there was no significant difference in metabolite levels between sexes; a similar pattern with similar levels were measured in the treated group, except that lipid concentrations in treated males were lower, and carbohydrate concentrations in treated females were lower than the control values. Morphologically intact adult males from treated larvae were subjected to free flight; their hemolymph carbohydrate levels were significantly reduced and did not recover to starting levels in a 30 min rest period following the exhaustive flight episode. To assess the effect of pyriproxyfen on a different stage of development, 48 h old butterflies were treated in the same way as described for the L6 larvae above; hemolymph samples were taken 48 h later for metabolite measurements and for quantification of chemical elements: carbohydrate levels decreased significantly after pyriproxyfen exposure, while lipid levels increased; inorganic elements measured in untreated adults were more abundant in females, with a general decrease in concentration following pyriproxyfen exposure, except for an increase in Fe levels in males and Cl levels in females. The quantitative changes measured in A. horta hemolymph via biochemical and chemical element analyses may indicate distinct physiological interferences beyond the main mode of action of pyriproxyfen on JH activity. In conclusion, the use and quantification of pyriproxyfen should be carefully evaluated prior to application in areas where A. horta and other pollinator species occur.

Fat Body-Multifunctional Insect Tissue

Simple Summary

Efficient and proper functioning of processes within living organisms play key roles in times of climate change and strong human pressure. In insects, the most abundant group of organisms, many important changes occur within their tissues, including the fat body, which plays a key role in the development of insects. Fat body cells undergo numerous metabolic changes in basic energy compounds (i.e., lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins), enabling them to move and nourish themselves. In addition to metabolism, the fat body is involved in the development of insects by determining the time an individual becomes an adult, and creates humoral immunity via the synthesis of bactericidal proteins and polypeptides. As an important tissue that integrates all signals from the body, the processes taking place in the fat body have an impact on the functioning of the entire body.

Abstract

The biodiversity of useful organisms, e.g., insects, decreases due to many environmental factors and increasing anthropopressure. Multifunctional tissues, such as the fat body, are key elements in the proper functioning of invertebrate organisms and resistance factors. The fat body is the center of metabolism, integrating signals, controlling molting and metamorphosis, and synthesizing hormones that control the functioning of the whole body and the synthesis of immune system proteins. In fat body cells, lipids, carbohydrates and proteins are the substrates and products of many pathways that can be used for energy production, accumulate as reserves, and mobilize at the appropriate stage of life (diapause, metamorphosis, flight), determining the survival of an individual. The fat body is the main tissue responsible for innate and acquired humoral immunity. The tissue produces bactericidal proteins and polypeptides, i.e., lysozyme. The fat body is also important in the early stages of an insect’s life due to the production of vitellogenin, the yolk protein needed for the development of oocytes. Although a lot of information is available on its structure and biochemistry, the fat body is an interesting research topic on which much is still to be discovered.

Cytochrome c Oxidase at Full Thrust: Regulation and Biological Consequences to Flying Insects

Flight dispersal represents a key aspect of the evolutionary and ecological success of insects, allowing escape from predators, mating, and colonization of new niches. The huge energy demand posed by flight activity is essentially met by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in flight muscle mitochondria. In insects, mitochondrial ATP supply and oxidant production are regulated by several factors, including the energy demand exerted by changes in adenylate balance. Indeed, adenylate directly regulates OXPHOS by targeting both chemiosmotic ATP production and the activities of specific mitochondrial enzymes. In several organisms, cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is regulated at transcriptional, post-translational, and allosteric levels, impacting mitochondrial energy metabolism, and redox balance. This review will present the concepts on how COX function contributes to flying insect biology, focusing on the existing examples in the literature where its structure and activity are regulated not only by physiological and environmental factors but also how changes in its activity impacts insect biology. We also performed in silico sequence analyses and determined the structure models of three COX subunits (IV, VIa, and VIc) from different insect species to compare with mammalian orthologs. We observed that the sequences and structure models of COXIV, COXVIa, and COXVIc were quite similar to their mammalian counterparts. Remarkably, specific substitutions to phosphomimetic amino acids at critical phosphorylation sites emerge as hallmarks on insect COX sequences, suggesting a new regulatory mechanism of COX activity. Therefore, by providing a physiological and bioenergetic framework of COX regulation in such metabolically extreme models, we hope to expand the knowledge of this critical enzyme complex and the potential consequences for insect dispersal.

Metabolic Characterization and Consequences of Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Deficiency in Drosophila melanogaster

In insect, pyruvate is generally the predominant oxidative substrate for mitochondria. This metabolite is transported inside mitochondria via the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), but whether and how this transporter controls mitochondrial oxidative capacities in insects is still relatively unknown. Here, we characterize the importance of pyruvate transport as a metabolic control point for mitochondrial substrate oxidation in two genotypes of an insect model, Drosophila melanogaster, differently expressing MPC1, an essential protein for the MPC function. We evaluated the kinetics of pyruvate oxidation, mitochondrial oxygen consumption, metabolic profile, activities of metabolic enzymes, and climbing abilities of wild-type (WT) flies and flies harboring a deficiency in MPC1 (MPC1^def). We hypothesized that MPC1 deficiency would cause a metabolic reprogramming that would favor the oxidation of alternative substrates. Our results show that the MPC1^def flies display significantly reduced climbing capacity, pyruvate-induced oxygen consumption, and enzymatic activities of pyruvate kinase, alanine aminotransferase, and citrate synthase. Moreover, increased proline oxidation capacity was detected in MPC1^def flies, which was associated with generally lower levels of several metabolites, and particularly those involved in amino acid catabolism such as ornithine, citrulline, and arginosuccinate. This study therefore reveals the flexibility of mitochondrial substrate oxidation allowing Drosophila to maintain cellular homeostasis.

Autumn shifts in cold tolerance metabolites in overwintering adult mountain pine beetles

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major forest pest of pines in western North America. Beetles typically undergo a one-year life cycle with larval cold hardening in preparation for overwintering. Two-year life cycle beetles have been observed but not closely studied. This study tracks cold-hardening and preparation for overwintering by adult mountain pine beetles in their natal galleries. Adults were collected in situ between September and December 2016 for a total of nine time points during 91 days. Concentrations of 41 metabolites in these pooled samples were assessed using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Levels of glycerol and proline increased significantly with lowering temperature during the autumn. Newly eclosed mountain pine beetles appear to prepare for winter by generating the same cold-tolerance compounds found in other insect larvae including mountain pine beetle, but high on-site mortality suggested that two-year life cycle adults have a less efficacious acclimation process. This is the first documentation of cold acclimation metabolite production in overwintering new adult beetles and is evidence of physiological plasticity that would allow evolution by natural selection of alternate life cycles (shortened or lengthened) under a changing climate or during expansion into new geoclimatic areas.

Proline oxidation fuels mitochondrial respiration during dark-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana

Leaf senescence is a form of developmentally programmed cell death that allows the remobilization of nutrients and cellular materials from leaves to sink tissues and organs. Among the catabolic reactions that occur upon senescence, little is known about the role of proline catabolism. In this study, the involvement in dark-induced senescence of proline dehydrogenases (ProDHs), which catalyse the first and rate-limiting step of proline oxidation in mitochondria, was investigated using prodh single- and double-mutants with the help of biochemical, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches. The presence of ProDH2 in mitochondria was confirmed by mass spectrometry and immunogold labelling in dark-induced leaves of Arabidopsis. The prodh1 prodh2 mutant exhibited enhanced levels of most tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates and free amino acids, demonstrating a role of ProDH in mitochondrial metabolism. We also found evidence of the involvement and the importance of ProDH in respiration, with proline as an alternative substrate, and in remobilization of proline during senescence to generate glutamate and energy that can then be exported to sink tissues and organs.

Insect Behavior and Physiological Adaptation Mechanisms Under Starvation Stress

Intermittent food shortages are commonly encountered in the wild. During winter or starvation stress, mammals often choose to hibernate while insects-in the form of eggs, mature larvae, pupae, or adults opt to enter diapause. In response to food shortages, insects may try to find sufficient food to maintain normal growth and metabolism through distribution of populations or even migration. In the face of hunger or starvation, insect responses can include changes in behavior and/or maintenance of a low metabolic rate through physiological adaptations or regulation. For instance, in order to maintain homeostasis of the blood sugar, trehalose under starvation stress, other sugars can be transformed to sustain basic energy metabolism. Furthermore, as the severity of starvation increases, lipids (especially triglycerides) are broken down to improve hunger resistance. Starvation stress simultaneously initiates a series of neural signals and hormone regulation processes in insects. These processes involve neurons or neuropeptides, immunity-related genes, levels of autophagy, heat shock proteins and juvenile hormone levels which maintain lower levels of physiological metabolic activity. This work focuses on hunger stress in insects and reviews its effects on behavior, energy reserve utilization, and physiological regulation. In summary, we highlight the diversity in adaptive strategies of insects to hunger stress and provides potential ideas to improve hunger resistance and cold storage development of natural enemy insects. This gist of literature on insects also broadens our understanding of the factors that dictate phenotypic plasticity in adjusting development and life histories around nutritionally optimal environmental conditions.

Lipid metabolism in insect disease vectors

More than a third of the world population is at constant risk of contracting some insect-transmitted disease, such as Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, malaria, Chagas' disease, African trypanosomiasis, and others. Independent of the life cycle of the pathogen causing the disease, the insect vector hematophagous habit is a common and crucial trait for the transmission of all these diseases. This lifestyle is unique, as hematophagous insects feed on blood, a diet that is rich in protein but relatively poor in lipids and carbohydrates, in huge amounts and low frequency. Another unique feature of these insects is that blood meal triggers essential metabolic processes, as molting and oogenesis and, in this way, regulates the expression of various genes that are involved in these events. In this paper, we review current knowledge of the physiology and biochemistry of lipid metabolism in insect disease vectors, comparing with classical models whenever possible. We address lipid digestion and absorption, hemolymphatic transport, and lipid storage by the fat body and ovary. In this context, both de novo fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis are discussed, including the related fatty acid activation process and the intracellular lipid binding proteins. As lipids are stored in order to be mobilized later on, e.g. for flight activity or survivorship, lipolysis and β-oxidation are also considered. All these events need to be finely regulated, and the role of hormones in this control is summarized. Finally, we also review information about infection, when vector insect physiology is affected, and there is a crosstalk between its immune system and lipid metabolism. There is not abundant information about lipid metabolism in vector insects, and significant current gaps in the field are indicated, as well as questions to be answered in the future.

Functional characterization and quantitative expression analysis of two GnRH-related peptide receptors in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti

To cope with stressful events such as flight, organisms have evolved various regulatory mechanisms, often involving control by endocrine-derived factors. In insects, two stress-related factors include the gonadotropin-releasing hormone-related peptides adipokinetic hormone (AKH) and corazonin (CRZ). AKH is a pleiotropic hormone best known as a substrate liberator of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. Although a universal function has not yet been elucidated, CRZ has been shown to have roles in pigmentation, ecdysis or act as a cardiostimulatory factor. While both these neuropeptides and their respective receptors (AKHR and CRZR) have been characterized in several organisms, details on their specific roles within the disease vector, Aedes aegypti, remain largely unexplored. Here, we obtained three A. aegypti AKHR transcript variants and further identified the A. aegypti CRZR receptor. Receptor expression using a heterologous functional assay revealed that these receptors exhibit a highly specific response for their native ligands. Developmental quantitative expression analysis of CRZR revealed enrichment during the pupal and adult stages. In adults, quantitative spatial expression analysis revealed CRZR transcript in a variety of organs including head, thoracic ganglia, primary reproductive organs (ovary and testis), as well as male carcass. This suggest CRZ may play a role in ecdysis, and neuronal expression of CRZR indicates a possible role for CRZ within the nervous system. Quantitative developmental expression analysis of AKHR identified significant transcript enrichment in early adult stages. AKHR transcript was observed in the head, thoracic ganglia, accessory reproductive tissues and the carcass of adult females, while it was detected in the abdominal ganglia and enriched significantly in the carcass of adult males, which supports the known function of AKH in energy metabolism. Collectively, given the enrichment of CRZR and AKHR in the primary and secondary sex organs, respectively, of adult mosquitoes, these neuropeptides may play a role in regulating mosquito reproductive biology.

Proline as a fuel for insect flight: enhancing carbohydrate oxidation in hymenopterans

Bees are thought to be strict users of carbohydrates as metabolic fuel for flight. Many insects, however, have the ability to oxidize the amino acid proline at a high rate, which is a unique feature of this group of animals. The presence of proline in the haemolymph of bees and in the nectar of plants led to the hypothesis that plants may produce proline as a metabolic reward for pollinators. We investigated flight muscle metabolism of hymenopteran species using high-resolution respirometry performed on permeabilized muscle fibres. The muscle fibres of the honeybee, Apis mellifera, do not have a detectable capacity to oxidize proline, as those from the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, used here as an outgroup representative. The closely related bumblebee, Bombus impatiens, can oxidize proline alone and more than doubles its respiratory capacity when proline is combined with carbohydrate-derived substrates. A distant wasp species, Vespula vulgaris, exhibits the same metabolic phenotype as the bumblebee, suggesting that proline oxidation is common in hymenopterans. Using a combination of mitochondrial substrates and inhibitors, we further show that in B. impatiens, proline oxidation provides reducing equivalents and electrons directly to the electron transport system. Together, these findings demonstrate that some bee and wasp species can greatly enhance the oxidation of carbohydrates using proline as fuel for flight.

Tropical Drosophila ananassae of wet-dry seasons show cross resistance to heat, drought and starvation

Plastic responses to multiple environmental stressors in wet or dry seasonal populations of tropical Drosophila species have received less attention. We tested plastic effects of heat hardening, acclimation to drought or starvation, and changes in trehalose, proline and body lipids in Drosophila ananassae flies reared under wet or dry season-specific conditions. Wet season flies revealed significant increase in heat knockdown, starvation resistance and body lipids after heat hardening. However, accumulation of proline was observed only after desiccation acclimation of dry season flies while wet season flies elicited no proline but trehalose only. Therefore, drought-induced proline can be a marker metabolite for dry-season flies. Further, partial utilization of proline and trehalose under heat hardening reflects their possible thermoprotective effects. Heat hardening elicited cross-protection to starvation stress. Stressor-specific accumulation or utilization as well as rates of metabolic change for each energy metabolite were significantly higher in wet-season flies than dry-season flies. Energy metabolite changes due to inter-related stressors (heat versus desiccation or starvation) resulted in possible maintenance of energetic homeostasis in wet- or dry-season flies. Thus, low or high humidity-induced plastic changes in energy metabolites can provide cross-protection to seasonally varying climatic stressors.

Summary: In the tropical Drosophila ananassae, low or high humidity-induced plastic changes in energy metabolites provide cross-protection to seasonally varying climatic stressors.

Comparative physiological plasticity to desiccation in distinct populations of the malarial mosquito Anopheles coluzzii

Background

In West Africa, populations of the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles coluzzii, are seasonally exposed to strong desiccating conditions during the dry season. Their dynamics strictly follows the pace of the availability of suitable larval development sites (water collections). Accordingly, mosquitoes can reproduce all year long where permanent breeding is possible, or stop reproduction and virtually disappear at the onset of the dry season when surface water dries up, like observed in temporary habitats of dry savannah areas. This highlights the strong adaptive abilities of this mosquito species, which relies at least in part, upon physiological and molecular mechanisms of specific signatures.

Methods

Here, we analysed a range of physiological and molecular responses expressed by geographically different populations of An. coluzzii inhabiting permanent and temporary breeding sites from the north and the south-west of Burkina Faso. Four mosquito colonies, namely (i) Oursi, built from females breeding in permanent habitats of the north; (ii) Déou, from temporary northern habitats; (iii) Soumousso from south-western temporary breeding sites; and (iv) Bama, from permanent habitats of the same south-western zone, were reared in climatic chambers under contrasted environmental conditions, mimicking temperature, relative humidity and light regimen occurring in northern Burkina Faso. Female mosquitoes were analysed for the seasonal variation in their amounts of proteins, triglycerides and free-circulating metabolites. The expression level of genes coding for the adipokinetic (AKH-I) and the AKH/corazonin-related peptides (ACP) were also assessed and compared among populations and environmental conditions.

Results

Our analysis did not reveal an apparent pattern of physiological and molecular variations strictly correlated with either the larval ecotype or the geographical origin of the mosquitoes. However, specific distinct responses were observed among populations, suggesting that dry season survival may rely on more complex ecological parameters at a micro-habitat scale. Interestingly, the physiological and molecular data support the hypothesis that different aestivation abilities exist among populations of An. coluzzii inhabiting contrasted ecological settings. In particular, the striking metabotypes differentiation and the AKH mRNA expression level observed in females from temporary northern populations may suggest the existence of a “strong” aestivation strategy in these specimens.

Conclusion

Our work provides insights into the physiological and molecular basis of dry and rainy season responses in An. coluzzii, and highlights the important diversity of the mechanisms involved. Such results represent key data for understanding the ecophysiological mechanisms underpinning the strong adaptive potential of this malaria vector species, which undoubtedly contributes to the spreading of mosquito distribution areas in space and time.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1854-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Novel members of the adipokinetic hormone family in beetles of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea

Eight beetle species of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea were investigated with respect to peptides belonging to the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) family in their neurohemal organs, the corpora cardiaca (CC). The following beetle families are represented: Scarabaeidae, Lucanidae, and Geotrupidae. AKH peptides were identified through a heterospecific trehalose-mobilizing bioassay and by sequence analyses, using liquid chromatography coupled to positive electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) and analysis of the tandem MS² spectra obtained by collision-induced dissociation. All the beetle species have octapeptide AKHs; some have two AKHs, while others have only one. Novel AKH members were found in Euoniticellus intermedius and Circellium bacchus (family Scarabaeidae), as well as in Dorcus parallelipipedus (family Lucanidae). Two species of the family Geotrupidae and two species of the Scarabaeidae subfamily Cetoniinae contain one known AKH peptide, Melme-CC, while E. intermedius produces a novel peptide code named Euoin-AKH: pEINFTTGWamide. Two AKH peptides were each identified in CC of C. bacchus and D. parallelipipedus: the novel Cirba-AKH: pEFNFSAGWamide and the known peptide, Scade-CC-I in the former, and the novel Dorpa-AKH: pEVNYSPVW amide and the known peptide, Melme-CC in the latter. Kheper bonelli (subfamily Scarabaeinae) also has two AKHs, the known Scade-CC-I and Scade-CC-II. All the novel peptides were synthesized and the amino acid sequence assignments were unequivocally confirmed by co-elution of the synthetic peptides with their natural equivalent, and identical MS parameters of the two forms. The novel synthetic peptides are all active in inducing hypertrehalosemia in cockroaches.

Energy allocation during the maturation of adults in a long-lived insect: implications for dispersal and reproduction

Energy allocation strategies have been widely documented in insects and were formalized in the context of the reproduction process by the terms 'capital breeder' and 'income breeder'. We propose here the extension of this framework to dispersal ability, with the concepts of 'capital disperser' and 'income disperser', and explore the trade-off in resource allocation between dispersal and reproduction. We hypothesized that flight capacity was sex-dependent, due to a trade-off in energy allocation between dispersal and egg production in females. We used Monochamus galloprovincialis as model organism, a long-lived beetle which is the European vector of the pine wood nematode. We estimated the flight capacity with a flight mill and used the number of mature eggs as a proxy for the investment in reproduction. We used the ratio between dry weights of the thorax and the abdomen to investigate the trade-off. The probability of flying increased with the adult weight at emergence, but was not dependent on insect age or sex. Flight distance increased with age in individuals but did not differ between sexes. It was also positively associated with energy allocation to thorax reserves, which increased with age. In females, the abdomen weight and the number of eggs also increase with age with no negative effect on flight capacity, indicating a lack of trade-off. This long-lived beetle has a complex strategy of energy allocation, being a 'capital disperser' in terms of flight ability, an 'income disperser' in terms of flight performance and an 'income breeder' in terms of egg production.

Two novel tyrosine-containing peptides (Tyr(4)) of the adipokinetic hormone family in beetles of the families Coccinellidae and Silphidae

Novel members of the adipokinetic hormone family of peptides have been identified from the corpora cardiaca (CC) of two species of beetles representing two families, the Silphidae and the Coccinellidae. A crude CC extract (0.3 gland equivalents) of the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides, was active in mobilizing trehalose in a heterologous assay using the cockroach Periplaneta americana, whereas the CC extract (0.5 gland equivalents) of the ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis, exhibited no hypertrehalosemic activity. Primary sequences of one adipokinetic hormone from each species were elucidated by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The multiple MS(N) electrospray mass data revealed an octapeptide with an unusual tyrosine residue at position 4 for each species: pGlu-Leu-Thr-Tyr-Ser-Thr-Gly-Trp amide for N. vespilloides (code-named Nicve-AKH) and pGlu-Ile-Asn-Tyr-Ser-Thr-Gly-Trp amide for H. axyridis (code-named Harax-AKH). Assignment of the correct sequences was confirmed by synthesis of the peptides and co-elution in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection or by LC-MS. Moreover, synthetic peptides were shown to be active in the heterologous cockroach assay system, but Harax-AKH only at a dose of 30 pmol, which explains the negative result with the crude CC extract. It appears that the tyrosine residue at position 4 can be used as a diagnostic feature for certain beetle adipokinetic peptides, because this feature has not been found in another order other than Coleoptera.

Gut microbes contribute to nitrogen provisioning in a wood-feeding cerambycid

Xylophagous insects often thrive on nutritionally suboptimal diets through symbiotic associations with microbes that supplement their nutritional requirements, particularly nitrogen. The wood-feeding cerambycid Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) feeds on living, healthy host trees and harbors a diverse gut microbial community. We investigated gut microbial contributions to larval nitrogen requirements through nitrogen fixing and recycling (urea hydrolysis) processes, using a combination of molecular, biochemical, and stable isotope approaches. Genes and transcripts of conserved regions of the urease operon (ureC) and nitrogen fixing (nif) regulon (nifH) were detected in A. glabripennis eggs and larvae from naturally infested logs and from larvae reared on artificial diet. Significant nitrogen fixation and recycling were documented in larvae using (15)N2 gas and (15)N-urea, respectively. Subsequent (15)N-routing of incorporated recycled nitrogen into larval essential and nonessential amino acids was shown for (15)N-urea diet-fed larvae. Results from this study show significant gut microbial contributions to this insect's metabolic nitrogen utilization through nitrogenous waste product recycling and nitrogen fixation.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a putative proline dehydrogenase gene in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Leptinotarsa decemlineata adults exhibit a season-dependent activity. In spring, post-diapause beetles often fly a long distance from overwintering sites to potato fields. In summer and autumn, the flight ability is sharply reduced. Proline is the main energy substrate of L. decemlineata during flight and proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) catalyzes the first step in proline catabolism. Here we identified a putative LdProDH gene; it had three cDNA isoforms which shared the same 5'UTR and coding region, but differed in the lengths of 3'UTRs (515, 1 092 and 1 242 bp for isoforms-1, -2 and -3, respectively). LdProDH encoded a 616 amino acid protein that showed high sequence similarity to ProDH-like proteins from other insect species. LdProDH was expressed in the third and fourth instars larvae and adults, but not in pupae. Dietary ingestion of bacterially expressed LdProDH-dsRNA by adults significantly decreased its messenger RNA (mRNA) level, and caused an elevation of free proline content in the hemolymph. Further observation revealed that three canonical polyadenylation signals (AATAAA) were tandemly located in the 3'UTR of isoform-3. The first, second and third polyadenylation sites gave rise to isoforms-1, -2 and -3, respectively. Analysis of the genomic DNA uncovered that the three isoforms resulted from alternative polyadenylation. The mRNA level of isoform-1, which expressed at low levels in pre-diapause adults, became abundant in post-diapause beetles. It is indicated that the LdProDH expression is fine-tuned through 3'UTR to control proline catabolism for the season-dependent activity of L. decemlineata adults.

Habitat phenotyping of two sub-Antarctic flies by metabolic fingerprinting: evidence for a species outside its home?

Metabolic fingerprinting can elucidate rearrangements of metabolic networks in organisms exposed to various environmental conditions. Maintenance of organismal performance occurs by alterations in metabolic fluxes and pathways, resulting in habitat-specific metabolic signatures. Several insects of sub-Antarctic Islands, including the wingless flies Anatalanta aptera and Calycopteryx moseleyi, are exposed to saline organic matter accumulated along littoral margins. However, C. moseleyi has long been considered restricted to a habitat of lower salinity, the Kerguelen cabbage. High C. moseleyi densities identified in saline decaying seaweeds are intriguing, and may involve osmoregulatory adjustments including accumulation of osmoprotectants. In the present work, we examined quantitative metabotypes (metabolic phenotypes) among wild C. moseleyi individuals from seaweeds versus non-saline Kerguelen cabbages. They were compared to metabotypes from wild A. aptera, a common fly on seaweed. Statistical procedures designed to magnify between-class differences failed to clearly separate C. moseleyi metabotypes from cabbage and seaweed, despite contrasted morphotypes, diets, and salinities. A. aptera exhibited higher glycerol, inositol, trehalose, and other osmoprotectants concentrations that may enhance its performance under saline environments. Seaweed may represent a secondary niche in C. moseleyi, promoted by the marked reduction in Kerguelen cabbage frequency subsequent to climate change, and herbivorous pressures caused by rabbit invasion.

Exotic herbivores on a shared native host: tissue quality after individual, simultaneous, and sequential attack

Plants in nature are often attacked by multiple enemies whose effect on the plant cannot always be predicted based on the outcome of individual attacks. We investigated how two invasive herbivores, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) (HWA) and the elongate hemlock scale (Fiorinia externa) (EHS), alter host plant quality (measured as amino acid concentration and composition) when feeding individually or jointly on eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), an important long-lived forest tree that is in severe decline. The joint herbivore treatments included both simultaneous and sequential infestations by the two herbivores. We expected resource depletion over time, particularly in response to feeding by HWA. In contrast, HWA dramatically increased the concentration and altered the composition of individual free amino acids. Compared to control trees, HWA increased total amino acid concentration by 330% after 1 year of infestation. Conversely, EHS had a negligible effect when feeding individually. Interestingly, there was a marginally significant HWA × EHS interaction that suggests the potential for EHS presence to reduce the impact of HWA on foliage quality when the two species co-occur. We suggest indirect effects of water stress as a possible physiological mechanism for our results. Understanding how species interactions change the physiology of a shared host is crucial to making more accurate predictions about host mortality and subsequent changes in affected communities and ecosystems, and to help design appropriate management plans.

The adipokinetic hormone family in Chrysomeloidea: structural and functional considerations

The presented work is a hybrid of an overview and an original research paper on peptides belonging to the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) family that are present in the corpora cardiaca of Chrysomeloidea. First, we introduce the AKH/red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH) peptide family. Second, we collate the available primary sequence data on AKH peptides in Cerambycidae and Chrysomelidae, and we present new sequencing data (from previously unstudied species) obtained by liquid-chromatography coupled with ion trap electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Our expanded data set encompasses the primary structure of AKHs from seven species of Cerambycidae and three species of Chrysomelidae. All of these species synthesise the octapeptide code-named Peram-CAH-I (pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Asn-Trp amide). Whereas this is the sole AKH peptide in Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae demonstrate a probable event of AKH gene duplication, thereby giving rise to an additional AKH. This second AKH peptide may be either Emppe-AKH (pGlu-Val-Asn-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp amide) or Peram-CAH-II (pGlu-Leu-Thr-Phe-Thr-Pro-Asn-Trp amide). The peptide distribution and structural data suggest that both families are closely related and that Peram-CAH-I is the ancestral peptide. We hypothesise on the molecular evolution of Emppe-AKH and Peram-CAH-II from the ancestral peptide due to nonsynonymous missense single nucleotide polymorphism in the nucleotide coding sequence of prepro-AKH. Finally, we review the biological significance of the AKH peptides as hyperprolinaemic hormones in Chrysomeloidea, i.e. they cause an increase in the circulating concentration of proline. The mobilisation of proline has been demonstrated during flight in both cerambycid and chrysomelid beetles.

Behavioral and neurochemical effects of proline

Proline is an amino acid with an essential role for primary metabolism and physiologic functions. Hyperprolinemia results from the deficiency of specific enzymes for proline catabolism, leading to tissue accumulation of this amino acid. Hyperprolinemic patients can present neurological symptoms and brain abnormalities, whose aetiopathogenesis is poorly understood. This review addresses some of the findings obtained, mainly from animal studies, indicating that high proline levels may be associated to neuropathophysiology of some disorders. In this context, it has been suggested that energy metabolism deficit, Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, kinase creatine, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, lipid content, as well as purinergic and cholinergic systems are involved in the effect of proline on brain damage and spatial memory deficit. The discussion focuses on the relatively low antioxidant defenses of the brain and the vulnerability of neural tissue to reactive species. This offers new perspectives for potential therapeutic strategies for this condition, which may include the early use of appropriate antioxidants as a novel adjuvant therapy, besides the usual treatment based on special diets poor in proline.

Insect fat body: energy, metabolism, and regulation

The fat body plays major roles in the life of insects. It is a dynamic tissue involved in multiple metabolic functions. One of these functions is to store and release energy in response to the energy demands of the insect. Insects store energy reserves in the form of glycogen and triglycerides in the adipocytes, the main fat body cell. Insect adipocytes can store a great amount of lipid reserves as cytoplasmic lipid droplets. Lipid metabolism is essential for growth and reproduction and provides energy needed during extended nonfeeding periods. This review focuses on energy storage and release and summarizes current understanding of the mechanisms underlying these processes in insects.

The adipokinetic hormone system in Culicinae (Diptera: Culicidae): molecular identification and characterization of two adipokinetic hormone (AKH) precursors from Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens and two putative AKH receptor variants from A. aegypti

Insect neuropeptides of the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) family induce the mobilization of energy stores to fuel flight, but also affect the nutritional balance during diapause and oogenesis. They are therefore important regulators for flight, hibernation, and reproduction in mosquitoes including those that transmit human pathogens. In this study, we identified and analyzed the genes encoding two AKH preprohormones in the Yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti: Aedae-AKH-I encodes the octapeptide pELFTPSWa and Aedae-AKH-II the decapeptide pEVTFSRDWNAa. Identical AKHs were identified in the West Nile virus vector, Culex pipiens, whose genes were characterized in this study as Culpi-AKH-I and Culpi-AKH-II. Using Northern blot, transcript expression was shown in A. aegypti, for Aedae-AKH-I in the head/thorax tissues of pupae and females, as well as in the abdomen of adult males; Aedae-AKH-II was only expressed in adults. In an immunocytological study using an AKH-antibody, the corpus cardiacum (CC), the intrinsic CC-cells (X-cells), the nervi corporis cardiaci, cells in the brain and thoracic ganglia were stained. In addition, two splice variants of the AKH-receptor gene were characterized in A. aegypti, (Aedae-AKHR-I and -II). RT-PCR revealed that both variants of these typical G-protein-coupled receptors were expressed in all life stages. Aedae-AKHR-I expression was also detected in the ovaries, indicating once more the influence of the AKH/AKHR system during the insect's oogenesis. Based on phylogenetic data, we postulate two closely related types of AKH-receptors that could bind selectively the two AKH peptides found in A. aegypti.

Comparative and functional genomics of lipases in holometabolous insects

Lipases have key roles in insect lipid acquisition, storage and mobilisation and are also fundamental to many physiological processes underpinning insect reproduction, development, defence from pathogens and oxidative stress, and pheromone signalling. We have screened the recently sequenced genomes of five species from four orders of holometabolous insects, the dipterans Drosophila melanogaster and Anopheles gambiae, the hymenopteran Apis mellifera, the moth Bombyx mori and the beetle Tribolium castaneum, for the six major lipase families that are also found in other organisms. The two most numerous families in the insects, the neutral and acid lipases, are also the main families in mammals, albeit not in Caenorhabditis elegans, plants or microbes. Total numbers of the lipases vary two-fold across the five insect species, from numbers similar to those in mammals up to numbers comparable to those seen in C. elegans. Whilst there is a high degree of orthology with mammalian lipases in the other four families, the great majority of the insect neutral and acid lipases have arisen since the insect orders themselves diverged. Intriguingly, about 10% of the insect neutral and acid lipases have lost motifs critical for catalytic function. Examination of the length of lid and loop regions of the neutral lipase sequences suggest that most of the insect lipases lack triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolysis activity, although the acid lipases all have intact cap domains required for TAG hydrolysis. We have also reviewed the sequence databases and scientific literature for insights into the expression profiles and functions of the insect neutral and acid lipases and the orthologues of the mammalian adipose triglyceride lipase which has a pivotal role in lipid mobilisation. These data suggest that some of the acid and neutral lipase diversity may be due to a requirement for rapid accumulation of dietary lipids. The different roles required of lipases at the four discrete life stages of holometabolous insects may also contribute to the diversity of lipases required by insects. In addition, insects use lipases to perform roles for which there are no correlates in mammals, including as yolk and male accessory gland proteins.

Hormonal regulation of energy metabolism in insects as a driving force for performance

Since all life processes depend on energy, the endocrine control of energy metabolism is one of the driving forces for the performance of an individual. Here, we review the literature on the key players in the endocrine regulation of energy homeostasis in insects, the adipokinetic hormones. These pleiotropic peptides not only control dynamic performance traits (flight, swimming, walking) but also regulatory performance traits (egg production, larval growth, and molting). Adipokinetic hormone is released into the hemolymph during intense muscular activity (flight) and also during apparently less energy-demanding locomotory activities, such as swimming and even walking, and, finally, activates the catabolic enzymes phosphorylase and/or triacylglycerol lipase that mobilize carbohydrates and/or lipids and proline, respectively. At the same time, anabolic processes such as the synthesis of protein, lipid, and glycogen are inhibited. Furthermore, adipokinetic hormones affect locomotory activity via neuromodulatory mechanisms that apparently employ biogenic amines. During oogenesis, it is thought that adipokinetic hormone performs similar tasks, because energetic substrates have to be mobilized and transported from the fat body to the ovaries in order to support oocyte growth. Inhibition of anabolic processes by exogenous adipokinetic hormone results in females that lay fewer and smaller eggs. Much less is known about the role of adipokinetic hormones during larval development and during molting but in this case energy homeostasis has to be tightly regulated as well: in general, during the early phase of a larval instar intake of food prevails and the energy stores of the fat body are established, whereas, prior to the molt, insects stop feeding and mobilize energy stores in the fat body, thereby fueling energy-demanding processes such as the formation of the new cuticle and the emergence from the old one. From the few data available to date, it is clear that adipokinetic hormones are involved in the regulation of these events in larvae.

Metabolic pathways in Anopheles stephensi mitochondria

No studies have been performed on the mitochondria of malaria vector mosquitoes. This information would be valuable in understanding mosquito aging and detoxification of insecticides, two parameters that have a significant impact on malaria parasite transmission in endemic regions. In the present study, we report the analyses of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria of cultured cells [ASE (Anopheles stephensi Mos. 43) cell line] from A. stephensi, a major vector of malaria in India, South-East Asia and parts of the Middle East. ASE cell mitochondria share many features in common with mammalian muscle mitochondria, despite the fact that these cells are of larval origin. However, two major differences with mammalian mitochondria were apparent. One, the glycerol-phosphate shuttle plays as major a role in NADH oxidation in ASE cell mitochondria as it does in insect muscle mitochondria. In contrast, mammalian white muscle mitochondria depend primarily on lactate dehydrogenase, whereas red muscle mitochondria depend on the malate-oxaloacetate shuttle. Two, ASE mitochondria were able to oxidize proline at a rate comparable with that of alpha-glycerophosphate. However, the proline pathway appeared to differ from the currently accepted pathway, in that oxoglutarate could be catabolized completely by the tricarboxylic acid cycle or via transamination, depending on the ATP need.

Virulent Hessian fly larvae manipulate the free amino acid content of host wheat plants

Gall-forming insects induce host plants to form specialized structures (galls) that provide immature life stages of the insect access to host plant nutrients and protection from natural enemies. Feeding by larvae of the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say) causes susceptible host wheat plants to produce a gall-like nutritive tissue that supports larval growth and development. To determine if changes in host plant free amino acid levels are associated with virulent Biotype L Hessian fly larval feeding, we quantified free amino acid levels in crown tissues of susceptible Newton wheat plants 1, 4, and 7 days after Hessian fly egg hatch. Hessian fly-infested susceptible plants were more responsive than resistant plants or uninfested controls, showing higher concentrations of alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, phenylalanine, proline, and serine 4 days after egg hatch. This 4-day post-hatch time point corresponds to the maturation of nutritive tissue cells in susceptible plants and the onset of rapid larval growth. By 7 days after egg hatch, when virulent second instars are actively feeding on the contents of nutritive tissue cells, the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine were more abundant compared to uninfested controls, but the levels of other free amino acids were no longer elevated. Changes in free amino acid abundance described in this report were associated with increased levels of mRNA encoded by wheat genes involved in amino acid synthesis and transport.

The metabolism of proline, a stress substrate, modulates carcinogenic pathways

The resurgence of interest in tumor metabolism has led investigators to emphasize the metabolism of proline as a "stress substrate" and to suggest this pathway as a potential anti-tumor target. Proline oxidase, a.k.a. proline dehydrogenase (POX/PRODH), catalyzes the first step in proline degradation and uses proline to generate ATP for survival or reactive oxygen species for programmed cell death. POX/PRODH is induced by p53 under genotoxic stress and initiates apoptosis by both mitochondrial and death receptor pathways. Furthermore, POX/PRODH is induced by PPARgamma and its pharmacologic ligands, the thiazolidinediones. The anti-tumor effects of PPARgamma may be critically dependent on POX/PRODH. In addition, it is upregulated by nutrient stress through the mTOR pathway to maintain ATP levels. We propose that proline is made available as a stress substrate by the degradation of collagen in the microenvironmental extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases. In a manner analogous to autophagy, this proline-dependent process for bioenergetics from collagen in extracellular matrix can be designated "ecophagy".

Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and flight performance by a hypertrehalosaemic hormone in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

The role of adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and flight performance was evaluated for females of the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Injection of various dosages of synthetic Anoga-AKH-I increased carbohydrate levels in the haemolymph and reduced glycogen reserves in sugar-fed females but did not affect lipid levels. Anoga-AKH-I enhanced the flight performance of both intact and decapitated sugar-fed females, during a 4 h flight period. Anoga-AKH-II had no effect on carbohydrate or lipid levels or flight performance, thus its function remains unknown. Targeted RNA-interference lowered Anoga-AKH receptor expression in sugar-fed females, consequently injections of Anoga-AKH-I failed to mobilize glycogen reserves. Taken together, these results show that a primary role for the neurohormone, Anoga-AKH-I, is to elevate trehalose levels in the haemolymph of female mosquitoes.

Molecular characterization of the first aromatic nutrient transporter from the sodium neurotransmitter symporter family

Nutrient amino acid transporters (NATs, subfamily of sodium neurotransmitter symporter family SNF, a.k.a. SLC6) represent a set of phylogenetically and functionally related transport proteins, which perform intracellular absorption of neutral, predominantly essential amino acids. Functions of NATs appear to be critical for the development and survival in organisms. However, mechanisms of specific and synergetic action of various NAT members in the amino acid transport network are virtually unexplored. A new transporter, agNAT8, was cloned from the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae (SS). Upon heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes it performs high-capacity, sodium-coupled (2:1)uptake of nutrients with a strong preference for aromatic catechol-branched substrates, especially phenylalanine and its derivatives tyrosine and L-DOPA,but not catecholamines. It represents a previously unknown SNF phenotype, and also appears to be the first sodium-dependent B0 type transporter with a narrow selectivity for essential precursors of catecholamine synthesis pathways. It is strongly and specifically transcribed in absorptive and secretory parts of the larval alimentary canal and specific populations of central and peripheral neurons of visual-, chemo- and mechano-sensory afferents. We have identified a new SNF transporter with previously unknown phenotype and showed its important role in the accumulation and redistribution of aromatic substrates. Our results strongly suggest that agNAT8 is an important, if not the major, provider of an essential catechol group in the synthesis of catecholamines for neurochemical signaling as well as ecdysozoan melanization and sclerotization pathways, which may include cuticle hardening/coloring, wound curing, oogenesis, immune responses and melanization of pathogens.

Adipokinetic hormones in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae: identification and expression of genes for two peptides and a putative receptor

Adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) are neuropeptides that mobilize stored fuels for flight in insects, and thus, may regulate flight by mosquitoes that transmit pathogens of human diseases. Our study of AKHs in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, identified and characterized the expression of genes encoding two AKHs, Anoga-AKH-I (pQLFTPAWa) and Anoga-AKH-II (pQVTFSRDWNAa), and a putative homolog for an AKH G-protein coupled receptor. Gene transcripts for both Anoga-AKHs and the AKH receptor were present in eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults of An. gambiae. In females, these transcripts were apparent in heads and thoraces for up to 72 h after blood or sugar feeding, as revealed by RT-PCR. With immunocytochemistry, a cluster of neurosecretory cells posterior to the corpus cardiacum and specific cells in the brain and thoracic ganglia of females were immunostained with an AKH antibody, which recognizes both Anoga-AKHs. Accordingly, Anoga-AKH-I was detected in extracts of female heads and thoraces by HPLC and an AKH radioimmunoassay, whereas Anoga-AKH-II was detected only in heads.

Unique translational modification of an invertebrate neuropeptide: a phosphorylated member of the adipokinetic hormone peptide family

Separation of an extract of corpora cardiaca from the protea beetle, Trichostetha fascicularis, by single-step RP (reverse-phase)-HPLC and monitoring of tryptophan fluorescence resulted in two distinctive peaks, the material of which mobilized proline and carbohydrates in a bioassay performed using the beetle. Material from one of these peaks was; however, inactive in the classical bioassays of locusts and cockroaches that are used for detecting peptides belonging to the AKH (adipokinetic hormone) family. After enzymatically deblocking the N-terminal pyroglutamic acid (pGlu) residue in the peptide material and sequencing by Edman degradation, a partial sequence was obtained: (pGlu)-Ile-Asn-Met-Thr-Xaa-Gly-Trp. The complete sequence was deduced from ESI-MS(n) (electrospray ionization multi-stage-MS); position six was identified as a phosphothreonine residue and the C-terminus is amidated. The peptide, code-named Trifa-CC, was chemically synthesized and used in confirmatory experiments to show that the primary structure had been correctly assigned. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a phosphorylated invertebrate neuropeptide. Synthetic Trifa-CC co-elutes with the natural peptide, found in the gland of the protea beetle, after RP-HPLC. Moreover, the natural peptide can be dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase and the product of that reaction has the same retention time as a synthetic nonphosphorylated octapeptide which has the same sequence as Trifa-CC. Finally, synthetic Trifa-CC has hypertrehalosaemic and hyperprolinaemic biological activity in the protea beetle, but even high concentrations of synthetic Trifa-CC are inactive in locusts and cockroaches. Hence, the correct peptide structure has been assigned. Trifa-CC of the protea beetle is an unusual member of the AKH family that is unique in its post-translational modification. Since it increases the concentration of carbohydrates and proline in the haemolymph when injected into the protea beetle, and since these substrates are also used during flight, we hypothesize that Trifa-CC controls the mobilization of these metabolites in the protea beetle.