Molecular Insights into Structural and Ligand Binding Features of Methoprene-Tolerant in Daphnids

Development of a New Reporter Gene Assay for Detecting Juvenile Hormone Agonists Using Yeast Expressing Methoprene-Tolerant of the Freshwater Cladoceran Daphnia magna

Juvenile hormones (JHs) play crucial roles in regulating growth, metamorphosis, and reproduction in arthropods. Synthetic JH agonists (JHAs), categorized as insect growth regulators, have been widely employed as insecticides. Natural JHs and synthetic JHAs both exert their physiological effects by binding to the JH receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met), forming a functional heterodimer complex with steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs). These juvenoids induce male offspring production in various daphnids, including Daphnia magna, highlighting the significance of the Met-mediated signaling in environmental sex determination. As a representative invertebrate model for assessing aquatic endocrine-disrupting chemicals, D. magna is incorporated in the test guidelines of the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development. We herein introduced a newly developed yeast-based reporter gene assay (RGA) for easy and rapid screening of JH-like ligands for D. magna Met (Dapma-Met). Dapma-Met was expressed alongside the SRC of D. magna (Dapma-SRC) in yeast cells carrying the lacZ reporter plasmid with a JH-responsive element derived from the Bombyx mori Krüppel homolog 1 gene. The yeast RGA system for Dapma-Met revealed a dose-dependent response to various juvenoids. The rank order of the ligand potencies of natural JHs and synthetic JHAs examined in yeast RGA strongly correlated with those previously observed in RGAs for Daphnia Met proteins established in Chinese hamster ovary cells and positively correlated with the male neonate-inducing activity in vivo. Our novel yeast RGA offers a rapid, easy-to-handle, and cost-effective solution that will be valuable for discriminating Dapma-Met ligands among chemicals with male offspring-inducing activity.

SI/II Pocket of Ras: An Opportunity for a Once "Undruggable" Target

Mutations on the Ras-family of small GTPases are among the most common molecular oncogenic drivers, with the HRas isoform being primarily associated with head-and-neck and genito-urinary cancers. Although once considered "undruggable," recent efforts have identified a structurally conserved surface pocket in the Ras family, designated the SI/II pocket, situated near the binding site of the guanidine exchange factor (GEF) SOS1. The SI/II pocket may represent a potential target site for a pan-Ras drug. A crystal structure representing the native state of GDP-bound HRasG12V was generated to characterize the topology of the SI/II pocket. This native-state structure was employed, together with the published structure of GppNHp-bound HRasG12V in state 1 (PDB ID: 4EFM), as a base for further molecular dynamics simulations exploring the conformational dynamics of the SI/II pocket via four generated synthetic HRas model structures. Our results show that the SI/II pocket is natively inaccessible in GDP-bound HRas yet becomes accessible in state 1 GppNHp-bound HRas systems, an effect that seems to be more evident in the mutated enzyme. This points to the GTP-bound state as a most promising target for Ras inhibitors directed at the SI/II pocket. Occlusion of the SI/II pocket is dictated by the spatial position of the α2 α helix in relation to the protein core, with α2 residue Y71 acting as a "tyrosine toggle" capable of restricting the pocket access.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Hepatopancreas Reveals Sexual Dimorphic Response to Methyl Farnesoate Injection in Litopenaeus vannamei

Sexually dimorphic traits such as growth and body size are often found in various crustaceans. Methyl farnesoate (MF), the main active form of sesquiterpenoid hormone in crustaceans, plays vital roles in the regulation of their molting and reproduction. However, understanding on the sex differences in their hormonal regulation is limited. Here, we carried out a comprehensive investigation on sexual dimorphic responses to MF in the hepatopancreas of the most dominant aquacultural crustacean-the white-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Through comparative transcriptomic analysis of the main MF target tissue (hepatopancreas) from both female and male L. vannamei, two sets of sex-specific and four sets of sex-dose-specific differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified after different doses of MF injection. Functional analysis of DETs showed that the male-specific DETs were mainly related to sugar and lipid metabolism, of which multiple chitinases were significantly up-regulated. In contrast, the female-specific DETs were mainly related to miRNA processing and immune responses. Further co-expression network analysis revealed 8 sex-specific response modules and 55 key regulatory transcripts, of which several key transcripts of genes related to energy metabolism and immune responses were identified, such as arginine kinase, tropomyosin, elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 6, thioredoxin reductase, cysteine dioxygenase, lysosomal acid lipase, estradiol 17-beta-dehydrogenase 8, and sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit alpha. Altogether, our study demonstrates the sex differences in the hormonal regulatory networks of L. vannamei, providing new insights into the molecular basis of MF regulatory mechanisms and sex dimorphism in prawn aquaculture.

Are 20-hydroxyecdysone and related genes potential biomarkers of sublethal exposure to lipid-altering contaminants?

In Daphnia magna, 20-hydroecdysone (20E) is the main molting hormone and its metabolism is of interest to identify new biomarkers of exposure to contaminants. The present study aimed to (i) assess baseline levels of 20E and transcription levels of four related-genes (shade, neverland, ultraspiracle, and ecdysteroid receptor); and (ii) evaluate effects in D. magna after 21 days of exposure to fenarimol (anti-ecdysteroid) and a mixture of gemfibrozil and clofibric acid (lipid-lowering drugs) at sublethal concentrations. Endpoints included transcription of the target genes and quantification of 20E, mortality, and reproduction of daphnids. Baseline results showed that average responses were relatively similar and did not vary more than 2-fold. However, intra-day variation was generally high and could be explained by sampling individuals with slightly different stages of their development. Exposure tests indicated a significant decrease in daphnid reproduction following chronic exposure to a concentration of 565 μg/L of fenarimol. However, no difference was observed between the control and exposed groups for any of the investigated genes, nor for the levels of 20E after 21 days of exposure. Following exposition to gemfibrozil and clofibric acid at 1 μg/L, no changes were observed for the measured parameters. These results suggest that changes in transcription levels of the target genes and concentrations of 20E may not be sensitive endpoints that can be used as biomarkers of sublethal exposure to the target compounds in D. magna. Measuring multiple time points instead of a single measure as well as additional molecular endpoints obtained from transcriptomic and metabolomic studies could afford more insights on the changes occurring in exposed daphnids to lipid-altering compounds and identify efficient biomarkers of sublethal exposure.

Juvenile hormone receptor Methoprene tolerant: Functions and applications

During the past 15years, after confirming Methoprene tolerant (Met) as a juvenile hormone (JH) receptor, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the function of Met in supporting JH signal transduction. Met role in JH regulation of development, including metamorphosis, reproduction, diapause, cast differentiation, behavior, im`munity, sleep and epigenetic modifications, have been elucidated. Met's Heterodimeric partners involved in performing some of these functions were discovered. The availability of JH response elements (JHRE) and JH receptor allowed the development of screening assays in cell lines and yeast. These screening assays facilitated the identification of new chemicals that function as JH agonists and antagonists. These new chemicals and others that will likely be discovered in the near future by using JH receptor and JHRE will lead to highly effective species-specific environmentally friendly insecticides for controlling pests and disease vectors.

Juvenile hormone synthesis and signaling disruption triggering male offspring induction and population decline in cladocerans (water flea): Review and adverse outcome pathway development

Juvenile hormone (JH) are a family of multifunctional hormones regulating larval development, molting, metamorphosis, reproduction, and phenotypic plasticity in arthropods. Based on its importance in arthropod life histories, many insect growth regulators (IGRs) mimicking JH have been designed to control harmful insects in agriculture and aquaculture. These JH analogs (JHAs) may also pose hazards to nontarget species by causing unexpected endocrine-disrupting (ED) effects such as molting and metamorphosis defects, larval lethality, and disruption of the sexual identity. This critical review summarizes the current knowledge of the JH-mediated effects in the freshwater cladoceran crustaceans such as Daphnia species on JHA-triggered endocrine disruptive outputs to establish a systematic understanding of JHA effects. Based on the current knowledge, adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) addressing the JHA-mediated ED effects in cladoceran leading to male offspring production and subsequent population decline were developed. The weight of evidence (WoE) of AOPs was assessed according to established guidelines. The review and AOP development aim to present the current scientific understanding of the JH pathway and provide a robust reference for the development of tiered testing strategies and new risk assessment approaches for JHAs in future ecotoxicological research and regulatory processes.

Sex Determination and Differentiation in Decapod and Cladoceran Crustaceans: An Overview of Endocrine Regulation

Mechanisms underlying sex determination and differentiation in animals are known to encompass a diverse array of molecular clues. Recent innovations in high-throughput sequencing and mass spectrometry technologies have been widely applied in non-model organisms without reference genomes. Crustaceans are no exception. They are particularly diverse among the Arthropoda and contain a wide variety of commercially important fishery species such as shrimps, lobsters and crabs (Order Decapoda), and keystone species of aquatic ecosystems such as water fleas (Order Branchiopoda). In terms of decapod sex determination and differentiation, previous approaches have attempted to elucidate their molecular components, to establish mono-sex breeding technology. Here, we overview reports describing the physiological functions of sex hormones regulating masculinization and feminization, and gene discovery by transcriptomics in decapod species. Moreover, this review summarizes the recent progresses of studies on the juvenile hormone-driven sex determination system of the branchiopod genus Daphnia, and then compares sex determination and endocrine systems between decapods and branchiopods. This review provides not only substantial insights for aquaculture research, but also the opportunity to re-organize the current and future trends of this field.