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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022The protozoan parasite spp. invades into tick oocytes and remains in the offspring. The transovarial transmission phenomenon of in ticks has been demonstrated...
The protozoan parasite spp. invades into tick oocytes and remains in the offspring. The transovarial transmission phenomenon of in ticks has been demonstrated experimentally, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. invasion into oocytes occurs along with the progression of oogenesis. In the present study, to find the key tick factor(s) for transmission, we focused on molecules involved in yolk protein precursor (vitellogenin, Vg) synthesis and Vg uptake, which are crucial events in tick oogenesis. With a tick- experimental model, the expression profiles of , , , , and , Vg synthesis-related genes, and Vg receptor () and autophagy-related gene 6 (), Vg uptake-related genes, were analyzed using real-time PCR using tissues collected during the preovipositional period in -infected ticks. The expression levels of () and decreased in the fat body of -infected ticks 1 day after engorgement. In the ovary, mRNA expression was significantly higher in -infected ticks than in uninfected ticks 1 and 2 days after engorgement and decreased 3 days after engorgement. expression was significantly lower in -infected ticks than in uninfected ticks 2 and 4 days after engorgement. had a lower gene expression in -infected ticks compared to uninfected ticks 2 days after engorgement. Additionally, western blot analysis using protein extracts from each collected tissue revealed that Vg-2 (HlVg-2) accumulate in the fat body and hemolymph of -infected ticks. These results suggest that Vg uptake from the hemolymph to the ovary was suppressed in the presence of . Moreover, knockdown ticks had a lower detection rate of DNA in the ovary and a significant reduction of DNA in the hemolymph compared with control ticks. Taken together, our results suggest that accumulated HlVg-2 is associated with infection or transmission in the tick body. These findings, besides previous reports on VgR, provide important information to elucidate the transovarial transmission mechanisms of pathogens in tick vectors.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; DNA; Fat Body; Female; Hemolymph; Ixodidae; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35800383
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.908142 -
Journal of Insect Science (Online) Mar 2018Vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) play important roles in the vitellogenesis of insects. In this study, we cloned and characterized the two corresponding...
Vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) play important roles in the vitellogenesis of insects. In this study, we cloned and characterized the two corresponding genes (TpVg and TpVgR) in an economically important insect, Thitarodes pui (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), from the Tibetan plateau. The full length of TpVg is 5566 bp with a 5373 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 1,790 amino acids. Sequence alignment revealed that TpVg has three conserved domains: a Vitellogenin_N domain, a DUF1943 domain, and a von Willebrand factor type D domain (VWD). The full length of TpVgR is 5732 bp, with a 5397 bp ORF encoding 1798 amino acids. BLASTP showed that TpVgR belongs to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene superfamily. Structural analysis revealed that TpVgR has a group of four structural domains: a ligand-binding domain (LBD), an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-precursor homology domain, a transmembrane (TM) domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. In addition, TpVgR has four cysteine-rich LDL repeats in the first ligand-binding site and seven in the second. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression levels of TpVg and TpVgR are much higher in later pupa than in either the larval or adult stage, implying that the synthesis and uptake of Vg in T. pui occurs in the later pupal stage. These results will help us to understand the molecular mechanism of the reproductive capacity and will provide new insight into the mass rearing and utilization of T. pui.
Topics: Animals; Egg Proteins; Female; Moths; Phylogeny; Receptors, Cell Surface; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 29718485
DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iey010 -
Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 1993The eggs from oviparous organisms contain large amounts of vitellus, or yolk, which are utilized by the growing embryo. Vitellogenesis is the process of vitellus... (Review)
Review
The eggs from oviparous organisms contain large amounts of vitellus, or yolk, which are utilized by the growing embryo. Vitellogenesis is the process of vitellus accumulation and involves massive heterosynthetic synthesis of the protein vitellogenin (Vg) and its deposition in the oocyte. This work summarizes data on Vg structure, synthesis, uptake by oocytes and its fate during embryogenesis. The hormonal control of vitellogenesis and its tissue, sex and temporal regulation are also discussed. Where it is available, data on structure and expression of Vg-coding genes are reviewed. Insect vitellogenesis is priorized although other oviparous animal groups outside insects are also treated.
Topics: Animals; Oogenesis; Vitellogenesis; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 8246743
DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761993000100005 -
Journal of Insect Science (Online) May 2023Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a sap-sucking pest that seriously damages several crops and reduces their economic value. Exposure to low...
Sublethal effects of emamectin benzoate on development, reproduction, and vitellogenin and vitellogenin receptor gene expression in Thrips hawaiiensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).
Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a sap-sucking pest that seriously damages several crops and reduces their economic value. Exposure to low concentrations of insecticides may have a sublethal effect on surviving insects. In order to provide a reference for the rational application of emamectin benzoate, its sublethal effects on the development and reproduction of T. hawaiiensis were evaluated. Pupal development time was significantly shorter in T. hawaiiensis treated with sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate (LC10 and LC20) than in control. Female adult longevity and female total longevity were significantly longer following LC20 treatment than in the control and LC10 treatment groups. Nevertheless, male adult longevity and male total longevity were significantly shorter in the LC10 treatment group than in the control and LC20 treatment groups. The sublethal concentration of emamectin benzoate (LC20) significantly shortened the preadult stages and the mean generation. Meanwhile, it significantly increased the finite rate of increase, intrinsic rate of increase, and net reproductive rate. The fecundity was significantly higher after LC20 treatment than after LC10 and control treatments. Compared with the control group, the LC10 and LC20 groups of T. hawaiiensis adults showed a significantly higher expression of the vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) genes, which played a key role in increasing their fecundity. These findings suggest that short-term exposure to sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate may lead to a resurgence and secondary outbreak of T. hawaiiensis infestation. The results have practical applications for the management of this important and noxious pest.
Topics: Female; Male; Animals; Thysanoptera; Vitellogenins; Reproduction; Insecticides; Gene Expression
PubMed: 37294686
DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iead035 -
FEBS Letters Jun 2010As in all advanced insect societies, colony-organization in honey bees emerges through a structured division of labor between essentially sterile helpers called workers.... (Review)
Review
As in all advanced insect societies, colony-organization in honey bees emerges through a structured division of labor between essentially sterile helpers called workers. Worker bees are sisters that conduct all social tasks except for egg-laying, for example nursing brood and foraging for food. Curiously, aging progresses slowly in workers that engage in nursing and even slower when bees postpone nursing during unfavorable periods. We, therefore, seek to understand how senescence can emerge as a function of social task performance. The alternative utilization of a common yolk precursor protein (vitellogenin) in nursing and somatic maintenance can link behavior and aging plasticity in worker bees. Beneficial effects of vitellogenin may also be mediated by inhibitory action on juvenile hormone and insulin-like signaling.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Bees; Behavior, Animal; Biological Evolution; Female; Insect Proteins; Longevity; Male; Social Behavior; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 20385132
DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.04.007 -
Integrative and Comparative Biology Nov 2014Reduced reproduction extends lifespan of females in many animals. To test the effects of reproduction on storage of macronutrients, we block reproductive output in the...
Reduced reproduction extends lifespan of females in many animals. To test the effects of reproduction on storage of macronutrients, we block reproductive output in the lubber grasshopper by injecting RNAi against the precursor to egg-yolk protein, vitellogenin, in early adulthood. Controls were injected with either buffer or RNAi against the major storage protein in the hemolymph, hexamerin-90. Vitellogenin RNAi greatly reduced both levels of mRNA for vitellogenin and ovarian growth, in comparison to both controls. Fat body mass was increased upon vitellogenin RNAi, but concentrations of the three hexameric storage proteins from the hemolymph were not. Surprisingly, hemolymph vitellogenin levels were increased upon vitellogenin RNAi. Total reproductive protein (hemolymph vitellogenin plus ovarian vitellin) was unchanged by vitellogenin RNAi, as reproductive protein was diverted to the hemolymph. Similarly, the increased lipid storage upon vitellogenin RNAi was largely attributable to the reduction in lipid in the ovary, due to decreased ovarian growth. A BLAST search revealed that the 515 bp sequence of vitellogenin used for RNAi had three 11 bp regions identical to the vitellogenin receptor of the cockroach Leucophaea maderae. This suggests that our treatment, in addition to reducing levels of vitellogenin transcript, may have also blocked transport of vitellogenin from the hemolymph to the ovary. This would be consistent with halted ovarian growth simultaneous with high levels of vitellogenin in the hemolymph. Nonetheless, the accumulation of vitellogenin, instead of hexameric storage proteins, is inconsistent with a simple model of the trade-off between reproduction and storage. This was observed in young females; future studies will address whether investment of proteins may shift to the soma as individuals age. Overall, our results suggest that blockage of reproduction in young grasshoppers redirects lipids to storage and reproductive proteins to the hemolymph.
Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Fat Body; Female; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Grasshoppers; Hemolymph; Insect Proteins; Lipid Metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Nymph; Ovary; RNA Interference; RNA, Messenger; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 24920749
DOI: 10.1093/icb/icu068 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Feb 2003Vitellogenin is a female-specific glucolipoprotein yolk precursor produced by all oviparous animals. Vitellogenin expression is under hormonal control, and the protein...
Vitellogenin is a female-specific glucolipoprotein yolk precursor produced by all oviparous animals. Vitellogenin expression is under hormonal control, and the protein is generally synthesized directly before yolk deposition. In the honeybee (Apis mellifera), vitellogenin is not only synthesized by the reproductive queen, but also by the functionally sterile workers. In summer, the worker population consists of a hive bee group performing a multitude of tasks including nursing inside the nest, and a forager group specialized in collecting nectar, pollen, water, and propolis. Vitellogenin is synthesized in large quantities by hive bees. When hive bees develop into foragers, their juvenile hormone titers increase, and this causes cessation of their vitellogenin production. This inverse relationship between vitellogenin synthesis and juvenile hormone is opposite to the norm in insects, and the underlying proximate processes and life-history reasons are still not understood. Here we document an alternative use of vitellogenin by showing that it is a source for the proteinaceous royal jelly that is produced by the hive bees. Hive bees use the jelly to feed larvae, queen, workers, and drones. This finding suggests that the evolution of a brood-rearing worker class and a specialized forager class in an advanced eusocial insect society has been directed by an alternative utilization of yolk protein.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Bees; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 12566563
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0333979100 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2017Panonychus citri is one of the most damaging pests of horticultural crops. Conventional control of this pest population through pesticides has led to the enhanced pest...
Panonychus citri is one of the most damaging pests of horticultural crops. Conventional control of this pest population through pesticides has led to the enhanced pest resistance. Management of P. citri population through RNAi, is still largely unknown. In oviparous organisms, fabrication and development of yolk protein play a vital role in the reproduction. Vitellin (Vn) is the source of eggs storage that helps in proper functioning of Vitellogenin (Vg) and Vitellogenin receptor (VgR). VgR is very compulsory protein for the development of Vg into oocytes. In the current study, Vg (PcVg) and VgR (PcVgR) genes were studied and their expressions at different developmental stages were quantified by RT-qPCR. Females treated with dsRNA of PcVg and PcVgR genes exhibited reduction in gene expression. Down regulation of target genes significantly effected oviposition and reduced the egg laying capacity up to 48% as compared to control (ds-egfp). Synergistic effect of target gene's dsRNA was also accessed that reduced the egg laying up to 60.42%. Furthermore, combination of target dsRNA on deutonymph and protonymph also resulted in 67% and 70% reduction in eggs, respectively. Synergistic effect of dsRNA at 1000 ng/ul resulted in longer life span as compared to control treatments. This study suggests to develop a new strategy of P. citri population control by reducing its reproduction.
Topics: Animals; Egg Proteins; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gene Silencing; Male; Oviposition; RNA Interference; RNA, Double-Stranded; Receptors, Cell Surface; Tetranychidae; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 29170435
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16331-3 -
Biology Open May 2022Vitellogenin is an essential protein involved in ovary maturation in many animals. Detection of this protein correlated with reproductive capacity may be important if...
Vitellogenin is an essential protein involved in ovary maturation in many animals. Detection of this protein correlated with reproductive capacity may be important if carried out on marine organisms such as the red spiny lobster Palinurus elephas, a crustacean that is an economically important crop from wild fish catches. Moreover, in recent years, vitellogenin has assumed an important role as a possible biomarker of marine environmental pollution, as its expression levels can be influenced by the presence of similar estrogen pollutants and can affect the reproductive sphere of marine organisms such as crustaceans. The P. elephas vitellogenin protein and its coding gene have never been isolated, so there is little information about its presence in this lobster. The aim of the present study was to develop a molecular strategy to create, for the first time, an antibody for the detection and quantization of vitellogenin in P. elephas.
Topics: Animals; Crustacea; Female; Palinuridae; Peptides; RNA, Messenger; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 35452506
DOI: 10.1242/bio.059019 -
BMC Evolutionary Biology Mar 2014The genetic and physiological pathways regulating behavior in solitary species are hypothesized to have been co-opted to regulate social behavior in social species. One...
BACKGROUND
The genetic and physiological pathways regulating behavior in solitary species are hypothesized to have been co-opted to regulate social behavior in social species. One classic example is the interaction between vitellogenin (an egg-yolk and storage protein) and juvenile hormone, which are positively correlated in most insect species but have modified interactions in highly eusocial insects. In some of these species (including some termites, ants, and the honey bee), juvenile hormone and vitellogenin levels are negatively correlated and juvenile hormone has shifted its role from a gonadotropin to a regulator of maturation and division of labor in the primarily sterile workers. The function of vitellogenin also seems to have broadened to encompass similar roles. Thus, the functions and molecular interactions of juvenile hormone and vitellogenin are hypothesized to have undergone changes during the evolution of eusociality, but the mechanisms underlying these changes are unknown.Bumble bees offer an excellent model system for testing how the relationship between juvenile hormone and vitellogenin evolved from solitary to social species. Bumble bee colonies are primitively eusocial and comprised of a single reproductive queen and facultatively sterile workers. In Bombus terrestris, juvenile hormone retains its ancestral role as a gonadotropin and is also hypothesized to regulate aggressive behavior. However, the function of vitellogenin and its interactions with juvenile hormone have not yet been characterized.
RESULTS
By characterizing vitellogenin RNA expression levels (vg) in B. terrestris we show that vg is not associated with task and only partially associated with worker age, queen presence, and caste (queen vs worker). The correlations of vg with ovarian activation were not consistent across experiments, but both vg and ovarian activation were significantly associated with levels of aggression experienced by workers. Treatment with juvenile hormone did not affect vg levels in queenless groups.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that social interactions affect vg levels more strongly than a worker's reproductive physiological state, and that juvenile hormone and vg are uncoupled in this species. Thus, although juvenile hormone maintains its traditional role as gonadotropin in B. terrestris, vg has already been co-opted into a novel role, consistent with the model that Bombus represents an intermediate stage in the evolution of eusociality.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Biological Evolution; Female; Insect Proteins; Juvenile Hormones; Male; Models, Biological; RNA, Messenger; Reproduction; Social Behavior; Vitellogenins
PubMed: 24618396
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-14-45