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Frontiers in Genetics 2022(Coquillett), (Hendel), and (Wiedemann) are important pests of fruit and vegetable crops and are difficult to control because of their rapid reproduction rate and egg...
(Coquillett), (Hendel), and (Wiedemann) are important pests of fruit and vegetable crops and are difficult to control because of their rapid reproduction rate and egg production. To investigate the key genes regulating reproduction in three fruit fly species, we selected genomic information of three fruit fly species, screened specific genes and single-copy homolog genes, and performed KEGG and GO enrichment analysis on specific genes and single-copy homolog genes of the strong positive select (SP); the results showed that (Coquillett), (Hendel), and (Wiedemann) had seven, 11, and one -related genes, respectively; (Coquillett) had 84 specific genes enriched in immune system-related pathways; (Hendel) had 1,121 specific genes enriched in signaling pathways related to cell growth and differentiation; (Wiedemann) had 42 specific genes enriched in the degradation and metabolism pathways of exogenous organisms; (Coquillett) may have a stronger immune system; (Hendel) has a faster developmental and reproductive rate; and (Wiedemann) has a higher detoxification capacity. Only one SP single-copy homolog gene (gene name: very long-chain specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, mitochondrial) is enriched in the fatty acid metabolic pathway in both (Coquillett) and (Hendel) as well as in (Coquillett) and (Wiedemann). This study provides a molecular basis for studying the reproductive mechanisms of three fruit fly species and provides a scientific basis for developing effective control strategies for fruit flies.
PubMed: 35692817
DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.893695 -
Molecular Biology and Evolution Mar 2022Insects have evolved numerous adaptations and colonized diverse terrestrial environments. Several polyneopterans, including dictyopterans (cockroaches and mantids) and...
Insects have evolved numerous adaptations and colonized diverse terrestrial environments. Several polyneopterans, including dictyopterans (cockroaches and mantids) and locusts, have developed oothecae, but little is known about the molecular mechanism, physiological function, and evolutionary significance of ootheca formation. Here, we demonstrate that the cockroach asymmetric colleterial glands produce vitellogenins, proline-rich protein, and glycine-rich protein as major ootheca structural proteins (OSPs) that undergo sclerotization and melanization for ootheca formation through the cooperative protocatechuic acid pathway and dopachrome and dopaminechrome subpathway. Functionally, OSP sclerotization and melanization prevent eggs from losing water at warm and dry conditions, and thus effectively maintain embryo viability. Dictyopterans and locusts convergently evolved vitellogenins, apolipoprotein D, and laminins as OSPs, whereas within Dictyoptera, cockroaches and mantids independently developed glycine-rich protein and fibroins as OSPs. Highlighting the ecological-evolutionary importance, convergent ootheca formation represents a successful reproductive strategy in Polyneoptera that promoted the radiation and establishment of cockroaches, mantids, and locusts.
Topics: Acclimatization; Animals; Cockroaches; Coleoptera; Insecta; Reproduction
PubMed: 35192709
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac042 -
Aging Cell Nov 2022Some of the most conspicuous aging phenotypes of C. elegans are related to post-reproductive production of vitellogenins (Vtg), which form yolk protein (YP) complexes...
Some of the most conspicuous aging phenotypes of C. elegans are related to post-reproductive production of vitellogenins (Vtg), which form yolk protein (YP) complexes after processing and lipid loading. Vtg/YP levels show huge increases with age, and inhibition of this extends lifespan, but how subcellular and organism-wide distribution of these proteins changes with age has not been systematically explored. Here, this has been done to understand how vitellogenesis promotes aging. The age-associated changes of intestinal vitellogenin vesicles (VVs), pseudocoelomic yolk patches (PYPs), and gonadal yolk organelles (YOs) have been characterized by immuno-electron microscopy. We find that from reproductive adult day 2 (AD 2) to post-reproductive AD 6 and AD 9, intestinal VVs expand from 0.2 to 3-4 μm in diameter or by >3000 times in volume, PYPs increase by >3 times in YP concentration and volume, while YOs in oocytes shrink slightly from 0.5 to 0.4 μm in diameter or by 49% in volume. In AD 6 and AD 9 worms, mislocalized YOs found in the hypodermis, uterine cells, and the somatic gonadal sheath can reach a size of 10 μm across in the former two tissues. This remarkable size increase of VVs and that of mislocalized YOs in post-reproductive worms are accompanied by extensive fusion between these Vtg/YP-containing vesicular structures in somatic cells. In contrast, no fusion is seen between YOs in oocytes. We propose that in addition to the continued production of Vtg, excessive fusion between VVs and mislocalized YOs in the soma worsen the aging pathologies seen in C. elegans.
Topics: Animals; Vitellogenins; Caenorhabditis elegans; Vitellogenesis; Egg Proteins; Oocytes
PubMed: 36199214
DOI: 10.1111/acel.13719 -
Aging Oct 2021Eggs are rich in nutrients and contain a lot of protein. Although eggs have proved to accelerate the growth of C2C12 cells, the regulatory and mechanism of fertilized...
Eggs are rich in nutrients and contain a lot of protein. Although eggs have proved to accelerate the growth of C2C12 cells, the regulatory and mechanism of fertilized egg yolk extract (FEYE) on skeletal muscle development and fat metabolism remains unclearly. The mice were treated with FEYE by gavage for 24 d, we found that FEYE can inhibit the expression of skeletal muscle atrophy genes such as MSTN and Murf-1, and up-regulate the expression levels of MYOD, MYOG and Irisin. In addition, the treatment of FEYE induced UCP1 and PGC1α high expression in WAT, thereby causing WAT browning reaction. In order to confirm the composition of FEYE, we performed protein full spectrum identification (LC MS/MS) analysis and found the most enriched component is vitellogenin 2 (VTG2). Therefore, we added the recombinant protein VTG2 to C2C12 cells and found that VTG2 promoted the proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 cells. After that, we further proved that VTG2 inhibited the expression of MSTN and improved the expression of MYOD and Irisin. Finally, the dual luciferase test proved that VTG2 directly inhibited the transcriptional activity of MSTN. Our results conclude that FEYE inhibits the expression of MSTN in muscle tissues by delivering VTG2, thereby promoting skeletal muscle development, and can also promote the expression level of FNDC5 in serum. Then, FNDC5 acts on the fat through the serum, stimulating the browning reaction of white adipocytes. Therefore, VTG2 can be used to stop muscle consumption, improve skeletal muscle aging, and prevent obesity.
Topics: Adipose Tissue, Brown; Adipose Tissue, White; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; Egg Yolk; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Muscle, Skeletal; Myostatin; Tissue Extracts; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 34609951
DOI: 10.18632/aging.203590 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Nov 2022is a mite causing serious damage to western honey bees. Managed colonies require artificial varroa control, which may be best obtained by combining mechanical and...
is a mite causing serious damage to western honey bees. Managed colonies require artificial varroa control, which may be best obtained by combining mechanical and chemical methods. This study explored the possible effects of the combination of queen caging and oxalic acid treatment on the immune system (glucose oxidase, phenoloxidase, and vitellogenin) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S transferase) of first post-treatment generation drones and workers (newly emerged, nurses, and foragers). The combination of queen caging and oxalic acid treatment caused a decrease in glucose oxidase activity only in drones. This could cause issues of cuticular sclerotization, making a drone prone to bite injuries, dehydration, and pathogens. No differences in phenoloxidase activity were recorded in both post-treatment drones and workers generation. Among worker bees, the treatment determined a lower vitellogenin content in newly emerged bees while the result was higher in nurse bees. However, the treatment did not significantly affect the antioxidant enzymes activity in either drones or workers. The results obtained in this investigation suggest that the combined anti-varroa treatments had no negative effects on oxidative stress in the first post-treatment generation bees, while effects did occur on the immune system. Further investigations on the potential effects of glucose oxidase decrease in drones and vitellogenin content variation in workers are desirable.
PubMed: 36428349
DOI: 10.3390/ani12223121 -
General and Comparative Endocrinology May 2024Functions of vitellogenins have been in the limelight of fish reproductive physiology research for decades. The Vtg system of acanthomorph teleosts consists of two... (Review)
Review
Functions of vitellogenins have been in the limelight of fish reproductive physiology research for decades. The Vtg system of acanthomorph teleosts consists of two complete forms of Vtgs (VtgAa and VtgAb) and an incomplete form, VtgC. Insufficient uptake and processing of Vtgs and their yolk proteins lead to inadequate oocyte hydration ensuing failure in acquisition of egg buoyancy and early developmental deficiencies. This review presents a summary of our studies on utilization of multiple Vtgs in species with different egg buoyancy characteristics, as examples. Studies of moronids revealed limited degradation of all three forms of lipovitellin heavy chain derived from their three respective forms of Vtg, by which they contribute to the free amino acid pool driving oocyte hydration during oocyte maturation. In later studies, CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to invalidate zebrafish type I, type II and type III Vtgs, which are orthologs of acanthamorph VtgAa, VtgAb and VtgC, respectively. Results revealed type I Vtg to have essential developmental and nutritional functions in both late embryos and larvae. Genomic disturbance of type II Vtg led to high mortalities during the first 24 h of embryonic development. Despite being a minor form of Vtg in zebrafish and most other species, type III Vtg was also found to contribute essentially to the developmental potential of zebrafish zygotes and early embryos. Apart from severe effects on progeny survival, these studies also disclosed previously unreported regulatory effects of Vtgs on fecundity and fertility, and on embryo hatching. We recently utilized parallel reactions monitoring based liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to assess the processing and utilization of lipovitellins derived from different forms of Vtg in Atlantic halibut and European plaice. Results showed the Lv heavy chain of VtgAa (LvHAa) to be consumed during oocyte maturation and the Lv light chain of VtgAb (LvLAb) to be utilized specifically during late larval stages, while all remaining YPs (LvLAa, LvHAb, LvHC, and LvLC) were utilized during or after hatching up until first feeding in halibut. In plaice, all YPs except LvHAa, which similarly to halibut supports oocyte maturation, are utilized from late embryo to late larval development up until first feeding. The collective findings from these studies affirm substantial disparity in modes of utilization of different types of Vtgs among fish species with various egg buoyancy characteristics, and they reveal previously unknown regulatory functions of Vtgs in maintenance of reproductive assets such as maternal fecundity and fertility, and in embryonic hatching. Despite the progress that has been made over the past two decades by examining multiple Vtgs and their functions, a higher complexity of these systems with much greater diversity between species in modes of Vtg utilization is now evident. Further research is needed to reveal novel ways each species has evolved to utilize these complex multiple Vtg systems and to discover unifying principles for this evolution in fishes of diverse lineages, habitats and life history characteristics.
Topics: Animals; Vitellogenins; Zebrafish; Fishes; Oocytes; Oogenesis; Perciformes
PubMed: 38431208
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114479 -
Toxins Feb 2022Wasp allergy with a diagnostic profile of double sensitizations to vespid venom is a frequent clinical problem in areas where different genera of wasps are present.... (Review)
Review
Wasp allergy with a diagnostic profile of double sensitizations to vespid venom is a frequent clinical problem in areas where different genera of wasps are present. Identification of the insect responsible for serious reactions poses a diagnostic challenge as the only effective treatment to date is immunotherapy based on the specific venom. In southern Europe, the double sensitization to and venoms is highly frequent. It has been shown that the major allergenic proteins (Phospholipase A1 and Antigen 5) share sequences across the different genera and species, which would be the cause of cross-reactivity. Additionally, the minor allergens (Dipeptidyl-peptidases, Vitellogenins) have been found to share partial sequence identity. Furthermore, venom contains other homologous proteins whose allergenic nature still remains to be clarified. The traditional diagnostic tools available are insufficient to discriminate between allergy to and in a high number of cases. IgE inhibition is the technique that best identifies the cross-reactivity. When a double sensitization has indeed been shown to exist or great uncertainty surrounds the primary sensitization, therapy with two venoms is advisable to guarantee the safety of the patient. In this case, a strategy involving alternate administration that combines effectiveness with efficiency is possible.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Cross Reactions; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Immunotherapy; Wasp Venoms; Wasps
PubMed: 35202153
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020126 -
Insects Nov 2023Searching for artificial diets positively affecting the survival, immune and antioxidant systems of honey bees is one of main challenges occurring in beekeeping. Among...
Effects of Virgin Coconut Oil-Enriched Diet on Immune and Antioxidant Enzymatic Activity, Fat and Vitellogenin Contents in Newly Emerged and Forager Bees ( L.) Reared in Cages.
Searching for artificial diets positively affecting the survival, immune and antioxidant systems of honey bees is one of main challenges occurring in beekeeping. Among nutrients, lipids play a significant role in insect nutrition as structural components in cell membranes, energy sources and reserves, and are involved in many physiological processes. In this context, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of 0.5% and 1% coconut oil-enriched diet administration on newly emerged and forager bees survival rate, feed intake, immune system, antioxidant system and both fat and vitellogenin content. In newly emerged bees, supplementation with 1% coconut oil determined a decrease in feed consumption, an increase in survival rate from the 3rd to 14th day of feeding, a short-term decrease in phenoloxidase activity, an increase in body fat and no differences in vitellogenin content. Conversely, supplementation with 0.5% coconut oil determined an increase in survival rate from the 3rd to 15th day of feeding and an increase in fat content in the long term (i.e., 20 days). Regarding the forager bee diet, enrichment with 0.5% and 1% coconut oil only determined an increase in fat content. Therefore, supplementation with coconut oil in honey bee diets at low percentages (0.5 and 1%) determines fat gain. Further investigations to evaluate the use of such supplement foods to prevent the fat loss of weak families during winter are desirable.
PubMed: 37999055
DOI: 10.3390/insects14110856 -
Toxics Aug 2022Cyhalofop-butyl (CyB) is a herbicide widely used in paddy fields that may transfer to aquatic ecosystems and cause harm to aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish...
Cyhalofop-butyl (CyB) is a herbicide widely used in paddy fields that may transfer to aquatic ecosystems and cause harm to aquatic organisms. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to CyB at environmental concentrations (0.1, 1 and 10 µg/L) throughout their adult life cycle, from embryo to sexual maturity. The effects of CyB on zebrafish growth and reproduction were studied. It was found that female spawning was inhibited, and adult male fertility decreased. In addition, we examined the expression of sex steroid hormones and genes related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis. After 150 days of exposure, the hormone balance in zebrafish was disturbed, and the concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (VTG) were decreased. Changes in sex hormone were regulated by the expression of genes related to the HPGL axis. These results confirmed that long-term exposure to CyB at environmental concentrations can damage the reproductive capacity of zebrafish by disrupting the transcription of genes related to the HPGL axis. Overall, these data may provide a new understanding of the reproductive toxicity of long-term exposure to CyB in zebrafish parents and offspring.
PubMed: 36136460
DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090495 -
Frontiers in Physiology 2023
PubMed: 37469557
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1244594