Gut-to-brain regulation of Drosophila aging through neuropeptide F, insulin, and juvenile hormone.

Dietary restriction (DR) slows aging in many animals, while in some cases, the sensory signals from diet alone are sufficient to retard or accelerate lifespan. The digestive tract is a candidate location to sense nutrients, where neuropeptides secreted by enteroendocrine cells (EEC) produce systemic signals in response to food. Here, we measure how Drosophila neuropeptide F (NPF) is secreted into adult circulation by EEC and find that specific EEC differentially respond to dietary sugar and yeast. Female lifespan is increased when gut NPF is genetically depleted, and this manipulation is sufficient to blunt the longevity benefit conferred by DR. Depletion of NPF receptors at insulin-producing neurons of the brain also increases female lifespan, consistent with observations where loss of gut NPF decreases neuronal insulin secretion. The longevity conferred by repressing gut NPF and brain NPF receptors is reversed by treating adults with a juvenile hormone (JH) analog. JH is produced by the adult corpora allata, and inhibition of the insulin receptor at this tissue decreases JH titer and extends lifespan in both males and females, while this longevity is restored to wild type by treating adults with a JH analog. Overall, EEC of the gut modulate Drosophila aging through interorgan communication mediated by a gut-brain-corpora allata axis, and insulin produced in the brain impacts lifespan through its control of JH titer. These data suggest that we consider how human incretins and their analogs, which are used to treat obesity and diabetes, may impact aging.

Female reproductive dormancy in Drosophila is regulated by DH31-producing neurons projecting into the corpus allatum.

Female insects can enter reproductive diapause, a state of suspended egg development, to conserve energy under adverse environments. In many insects, including the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, reproductive diapause, also frequently called reproductive dormancy, is induced under low-temperature and short-day conditions by the downregulation of juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis in the corpus allatum (CA). In this study, we demonstrate that neuropeptide Diuretic hormone 31 (DH31) produced by brain neurons that project into the CA plays an essential role in regulating reproductive dormancy by suppressing JH biosynthesis in adult D. melanogaster. The CA expresses the gene encoding the DH31 receptor, which is required for DH31-triggered elevation of intracellular cAMP in the CA. Knocking down Dh31 in these CA-projecting neurons or DH31 receptor in the CA suppresses the decrease of JH titer, normally observed under dormancy-inducing conditions, leading to abnormal yolk accumulation in the ovaries. Our findings provide the first molecular genetic evidence demonstrating that CA-projecting peptidergic neurons play an essential role in regulating reproductive dormancy by suppressing JH biosynthesis.

Differential gene expression and microRNA profile in corpora allata-corpora cardiaca of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with weak juvenile hormone signalling.

The corpora allata-corpora cardiaca (CA-CC) is an endocrine gland complex that regulates mosquito development and reproduction through the synthesis of juvenile hormone (JH). Epoxidase (Epox) is a key enzyme in the production of JH. We recently utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to establish an epoxidase-deficient (epox-/-) Aedes aegypti line. The CA from epox-/- mutants do not synthesize epoxidated JH III but methyl farneosate (MF), a weak agonist of the JH receptor, and therefore have reduced JH signalling. Illumina sequencing was used to examine the differences in gene expression between the CA-CC from wild type (WT) and epox-/- adult female mosquitoes. From 18,034 identified genes, 317 were significantly differentially expressed. These genes are involved in many biological processes, including the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, energy metabolism, and nutritional uptake. In addition, the same CA-CC samples were also used to examine the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of epox-/- and WT mosquitoes. A total of 197 miRNAs were detected, 24 of which were differentially regulated in epox-/- mutants. miRNA binding sites for these particular miRNAs were identified using an in silico approach; they target a total of 101 differentially expressed genes. Our results suggest that a lack of epoxidase, besides affecting JH synthesis, results in the diminishing of JH signalling that have significant effects on Ae. aegypti CA-CC transcriptome profiles, as well as its miRNA repertoire.

Epoxidation of juvenile hormone was a key innovation improving insect reproductive fitness.

Methyl farnesoate (MF) plays hormonal regulatory roles in crustaceans. An epoxidated form of MF, known as juvenile hormone (JH), controls metamorphosis and stimulates reproduction in insects. To address the evolutionary significance of MF epoxidation, we generated mosquitoes completely lacking either of the two enzymes that catalyze the last steps of MF/JH biosynthesis and epoxidation, respectively: the JH acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) and the P450 epoxidase CYP15 (EPOX). jhamt-/- larvae lacking both MF and JH died at the onset of metamorphosis. Strikingly, epox-/- mutants, which synthesized MF but no JH, completed the entire life cycle. While epox-/- adults were fertile, the reproductive performance of both sexes was dramatically reduced. Our results suggest that although MF can substitute for the absence of JH in mosquitoes, it is with a significant fitness cost. We propose that MF can fulfill most roles of JH, but its epoxidation to JH was a key innovation providing insects with a reproductive advantage.

Coupling Stable Isotope Labeling and Liquid Chromatography-Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Time-of-Flight-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for De Novo Mosquito Ovarian Lipid Studies.

There is a need to better understand lipid metabolism during mosquito ovarian development. Lipids are the major source of energy supporting ovarian follicles development in mosquitoes. In this paper, we describe the complementary use of stable isotope labeling (SIL) and high-resolution mass spectrometry-based tools for the investigation of de novo triglycerides (TG) and diglycerides (DG) during the ovarian previtellogenic (PVG) stage (4-6 days posteclosion) of female adult Aedes aegypti. Liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution trapped ion mobility spectrometry-parallel accumulation sequential fragmentation-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-TIMS-PASEF-TOF MS/MS) allowed the separation and quantification of nonlabeled and 2H/13C-labeled TG and DG species. Three SIL strategies were evaluated (H2O/2H2O with 50:50 and 95:5 mixtures, 13C-sucrose, and 13C-glucose). Results showed wide applicability with no signs of lipid ovarian impairment by SIL induced toxicity. The analytical workflow based on LC-TIMS-TOF MS/MS provided high confidence and high reproducibility for lipid DG and TG identification and SIL incorporation based on their separation by retention time (RT), collision cross section (CCS), and accurate m/z. In addition, the SIL fatty acid chain incorporation was evaluated using PASEF MS/MS. The 2H/13C incorporation into the mosquito diet provided information on how TG lipids are consumed, stored, and recycled during the PVG stage of ovarian development.

A mosquito juvenile hormone binding protein (mJHBP) regulates the activation of innate immune defenses and hemocyte development.

Insects rely on the innate immune system for defense against pathogens, some aspects of which are under hormonal control. Here we provide direct experimental evidence showing that the juvenile hormone-binding protein (mJHBP) of Aedes aegypti is required for the regulation of innate immune responses and the development of mosquito blood cells (hemocytes). Using an mJHBP-deficient mosquito line generated by means of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology we uncovered a mutant phenotype characterized by immunosuppression at the humoral and cellular levels, which profoundly affected susceptibility to bacterial infection. Bacteria-challenged mosquitoes exhibited significantly higher levels of septicemia and mortality relative to the wild type (WT) strain, delayed expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), severe developmental dysregulation of embryonic and larval hemocytes (reduction in the total number of hemocytes) and increased differentiation of the granulocyte lineage. Interestingly, injection of recombinant wild type mJHBP protein into adult females three-days before infection was sufficient to restore normal immune function. Similarly, injection of mJHBP into fourth-instar larvae fully restored normal larval/pupal hemocyte populations in emerging adults. More importantly, the recovery of normal immuno-activation and hemocyte development requires the capability of mJHBP to bind JH III. These results strongly suggest that JH III functions in mosquito immunity and hemocyte development in a manner that is perhaps independent of canonical JH signaling, given the lack of developmental and reproductive abnormalities. Because of the prominent role of hemocytes as regulators of mosquito immunity, this novel discovery may have broader implications for the understanding of vector endocrinology, hemocyte development, vector competence and disease transmission.

Crosstalk between Nutrition, Insulin, Juvenile Hormone, and Ecdysteroid Signaling in the Classical Insect Model, Rhodnius prolixus.

The rigorous balance of endocrine signals that control insect reproductive physiology is crucial for the success of egg production. Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-feeding insect and main vector of Chagas disease, has been used over the last century as a model to unravel aspects of insect metabolism and physiology. Our recent work has shown that nutrition, insulin signaling, and two main types of insect lipophilic hormones, juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroids, are essential for successful reproduction in R. prolixus; however, the interplay behind these endocrine signals has not been established. We used a combination of hormone treatments, gene expression analyses, hormone measurements, and ex vivo experiments using the corpus allatum or the ovary, to investigate how the interaction of these endocrine signals might define the hormone environment for egg production. The results show that after a blood meal, circulating JH levels increase, a process mainly driven through insulin and allatoregulatory neuropeptides. In turn, JH feeds back to provide some control over its own biosynthesis by regulating the expression of critical biosynthetic enzymes in the corpus allatum. Interestingly, insulin also stimulates the synthesis and release of ecdysteroids from the ovary. This study highlights the complex network of endocrine signals that, together, coordinate a successful reproductive cycle.

Three Dimensional Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Imaging (3D-SIMS) of Aedes aegypti ovarian follicles.

The mobilization of nutrient reserves into the ovaries of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after sugar-feeding plays a vital role in the female's reproductive maturation. In the present work, three-dimensional secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging (3D-SIMS) was used to generate ultrahigh spatial resolution (~1 µm) chemical maps and study the composition and spatial distribution of lipids at the single ovarian follicle level (~100 µm in size). 3D-Mass Spectrometry Imaging (3D-MSI) allowed the identification of cellular types in the follicle (oocyte, nurse and follicular cells) using endogenous markers, and revealed that most of the triacyglycerides (TGs) were compartmentalized in the oocyte region. By comparing follicles from water-fed and sugar-fed females (n=2), 3D-MSI-Time of Flight-SIMS showed that TGs were more abundant in ovarian follicles of sugar-fed females; despite relative sample reproducibility per feeding condition, more biological replicates will better support the trends observed. While the current 3D-MSI-TOF-SIMS does not permit MS/MS analysis of the lipid species, complementary LC-MS/MS analysis of the ovarian follicles aided tentative lipid assignments of the SIMS data. The combination of these MS approaches is giving us a first glimpse of the distribution of functionally relevant ovarian lipid molecules at the cellular level. These new tools can be used to investigate the roles of different lipids on follicle fitness and overall mosquito reproductive output.

Gut-to-brain regulation of Drosophila aging through neuropeptide F, insulin and juvenile hormone.

Dietary restriction slows aging in many animals, while in some cases the sensory signals from diet alone are sufficient to retard or accelerate lifespan. The digestive tract is a candidate location to sense nutrients, where neuropeptides secreted by enteroendocrine cells (EEC) produce systemic signals in response to food. Here we measure how Drosophila neuropeptide F (NPF) is secreted into adult circulation by enteroendocrine cells and find that specific enteroendocrine cells differentially respond to dietary sugar and yeast. Lifespan is increased when gut NPF is genetically depleted, and this manipulation is sufficient to blunt the longevity benefit conferred by dietary restriction. Depletion of NPF receptors at insulin producing neurons of the brain also increases lifespan, consistent with observations where loss of gut NPF decreases neuronal insulin secretion. The longevity conferred by repressing gut NPF and brain NPF receptors is reversed by treating adults with a juvenile hormone (JH) analog. JH is produced by the adult corpora allata, and inhibition of the insulin receptor at this tissue decreases JH titer and extends lifespan, while this longevity is restored to wild type by treating adults with a JH analog. Overall, enteroendocrine cells of the gut modulate Drosophila aging through interorgan communication mediated by a gut-brain-corpora allata axis, and insulin produced in the brain impacts lifespan through its control of JH titer. These data suggest that we should consider how human incretins and their analogs, which are used to treat obesity and diabetes, may impact aging.

The embryonic role of juvenile hormone in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica, reveals its function before its involvement in metamorphosis.

To gain insights into how juvenile hormone (JH) came to regulate insect metamorphosis, we studied its function in the ametabolous firebrat, Thermobia domestica. Highest levels of JH occur during late embryogenesis, with only low levels thereafter. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments show that JH acts on embryonic tissues to suppress morphogenesis and cell determination and to promote their terminal differentiation. Similar embryonic actions of JH on hemimetabolous insects with short germ band embryos indicate that JH's embryonic role preceded its derived function as the postembryonic regulator of metamorphosis. The postembryonic expansion of JH function likely followed the evolution of flight. Archaic flying insects were considered to lack metamorphosis because tiny, movable wings were evident on the thoraces of young juveniles and their positive allometric growth eventually allowed them to support flight in late juveniles. Like in Thermobia, we assume that these juveniles lacked JH. However, a postembryonic reappearance of JH during wing morphogenesis in the young juvenile likely redirected wing development to make a wing pad rather than a wing. Maintenance of JH then allowed wing pad growth and its disappearance in the mature juvenile then allowed wing differentiation. Subsequent modification of JH action for hemi- and holometabolous lifestyles are discussed.

Juvenile hormones direct primordial germ cell migration to the embryonic gonad.

Germ cells are essential to sexual reproduction. Across the animal kingdom, extracellular signaling isoprenoids, such as retinoic acids (RAs) in vertebrates and juvenile hormones (JHs) in invertebrates, facilitate multiple processes in reproduction. Here we investigated the role of these potent signaling molecules in embryonic germ cell development, using JHs in Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. In contrast to their established endocrine roles during larval and adult germline development, we found that JH signaling acts locally during embryonic development. Using an in vivo biosensor, we observed active JH signaling first within and near primordial germ cells (PGCs) as they migrate to the developing gonad. Through in vivo and in vitro assays, we determined that JHs are both necessary and sufficient for PGC migration. Analysis into the mechanisms of this newly uncovered paracrine JH function revealed that PGC migration was compromised when JHs were decreased or increased, suggesting that specific titers or spatiotemporal JH dynamics are required for robust PGC colonization of the gonad. Compromised PGC migration can impair fertility and cause germ cell tumors in many species, including humans. In mammals, retinoids have many roles in development and reproduction. We found that like JHs in Drosophila, RA was sufficient to impact mouse PGC migration in vitro. Together, our study reveals a previously unanticipated role of isoprenoids as local effectors of pre-gonadal PGC development and suggests a broadly shared mechanism in PGC migration.

The embryonic role of juvenile hormone in the firebrat, Thermobia domestica, reveals its function before its involvement in metamorphosis.

To gain insights into how juvenile hormone (JH) came to regulate insect metamorphosis, we studied its function in the ametabolous firebrat, Thermobia domestica. Highest levels of JH occur during late embryogenesis, with only low levels thereafter. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments show that JH acts on embryonic tissues to suppress morphogenesis and cell determination and to promote their terminal differentiation. Similar embryonic actions of JH on hemimetabolous insects with short germ band embryos indicate that JH's embryonic role preceded its derived function as the postembryonic regulator of metamorphosis. The postembryonic expansion of JH function likely followed the evolution of flight. Archaic flying insects were considered to lack metamorphosis because tiny, movable wings were evident on the thoraces of young juveniles and their positive allometric growth eventually allowed them to support flight in late juveniles. Like in Thermobia, we assume that these juveniles lacked JH. However, a postembryonic reappearance of JH during wing morphogenesis in the young juvenile likely redirected wing development to make a wing pad rather than a wing. Maintenance of JH then allowed wing pad growth and its disappearance in the mature juvenile then allowed wing differentiation. Subsequent modification of JH action for hemi- and holometabolous lifestyles are discussed.

Tracing de novo Lipids using Stable Isotope Labeling LC-TIMS-TOF MS/MS.

Lipids are highly diverse, and small changes in lipid structures and composition can have profound effects on critical biological functions. Stable isotope labeling (SIL) offers several advantages for the study of lipid distribution, mobilization, and metabolism, as well as de novo lipid synthesis. The successful implementation of the SIL technique requires the removal of interferences from endogenous molecules. In the present work, we describe a high-throughput analytical protocol for the screening of SIL lipids from biological samples; examples will be shown of lipid de novo identification during mosquito ovary development. The use of complementary liquid chromatography trapped ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry allows for the separation and lipids assignment from a single sample in a single scan (<1 h). The described approach takes advantage of recent developments in data-dependent acquisition and data-independent acquisition, using parallel accumulation in the mobility trap followed by sequential fragmentation and collision-induced dissociation. The measurement of SIL at the fatty acid chain level reveals changes in lipid dynamics during the ovary development of mosquitoes. The lipids de novo structures are confidently assigned based on their retention time, mobility, and fragmentation pattern.

Evolution of tissue-specific expression of ancestral genes across vertebrates and insects.

Regulation of gene expression is arguably the main mechanism underlying the phenotypic diversity of tissues within and between species. Here we assembled an extensive transcriptomic dataset covering 8 tissues across 20 bilaterian species and performed analyses using a symmetric phylogeny that allowed the combined and parallel investigation of gene expression evolution between vertebrates and insects. We specifically focused on widely conserved ancestral genes, identifying strong cores of pan-bilaterian tissue-specific genes and even larger groups that diverged to define vertebrate and insect tissues. Systematic inferences of tissue-specificity gains and losses show that nearly half of all ancestral genes have been recruited into tissue-specific transcriptomes. This occurred during both ancient and, especially, recent bilaterian evolution, with several gains being associated with the emergence of unique phenotypes (for example, novel cell types). Such pervasive evolution of tissue specificity was linked to gene duplication coupled with expression specialization of one of the copies, revealing an unappreciated prolonged effect of whole-genome duplications on recent vertebrate evolution.

Functional analysis of a mosquito short-chain dehydrogenase cluster.

The short-chain dehydrogenases (SDR) constitute one of the oldest and largest families of enzymes with over 46,000 members in sequence databases. About 25% of all known dehydrogenases belong to the SDR family. SDR enzymes have critical roles in lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, hormone, and xenobiotic metabolism as well as in redox sensor mechanisms. This family is present in archaea, bacteria, and eukaryota, emphasizing their versatility and fundamental importance for metabolic processes. We identified a cluster of eight SDRs in the mosquito Aedes aegypti (AaSDRs). Members of the cluster differ in tissue specificity and developmental expression. Heterologous expression produced recombinant proteins that had diverse substrate specificities, but distinct from the conventional insect alcohol (ethanol) dehydrogenases. They are all NADP⁺-dependent and they have S-enantioselectivity and preference for secondary alcohols with 8-15 carbons. Homology modeling was used to build the structure of AaSDR1 and two additional cluster members. The computational study helped explain the selectivity toward the (10S)-isomers as well as the reduced activity of AaSDR4 and AaSDR9 for longer isoprenoid substrates. Similar clusters of SDRs are present in other species of insects, suggesting similar selection mechanisms causing duplication and diversification of this family of enzymes.

Investigating the role of aae-miR-34-5p in the regulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis genes in the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Juvenile hormone (JH) controls the development and reproduction of insects. Therefore, a tight regulation of the expression of JH biosynthetic enzymes is critical. microRNAs (miRNAs) play significant roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by interacting with complementary sequences in target genes. Previously, we reported that several miRNAs were differentially expressed during three developmental stages of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with different JH levels (no JH, high JH, and low JH). One of these miRNAs was aae-miR-34-5p. In this study, we identified the presence of potential target sequences of aae-miR-34-5p in the transcripts of some genes encoding JH biosynthetic enzymes. We analysed the developmental expression patterns of aae-miR-34-5p and the predicted target genes involved in JH biogenesis. Increases in miRNA abundance were followed, with a delay, by decreases in transcript levels of target genes. Application of an inhibitor and a mimic of aae-miR-34-5p led respectively to increased and decreased levels of thiolase transcripts, which is one of the early genes of JH biosynthesis. Female adult mosquitoes injected with an aae-miR-34-5p inhibitor exhibited significantly increased transcript levels of three genes encoding JH biosynthetic enzymes, acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (thiolase), farnesyl diphosphate phosphatase, and farnesal dehydrogenase. Overall, our results suggest a potential role of miRNAs in JH production by directly targeting genes involved in its biosynthesis.

Effects of mating on female reproductive physiology in the insect model, Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of the causative parasite of Chagas disease.

The blood-sucking hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus is one of the main vectors of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease that affects several million people worldwide. Consuming a blood meal and mating are events with a high epidemiological impact since after each meal, mated females can lay fertile eggs that result in hundreds of offspring. Thus, a better knowledge of the control of R. prolixus reproductive capacity may provide targets for developing novel strategies to control vector populations, thereby reducing vector-host contacts and disease transmission. Here, we have used a combination of gene transcript expression analysis, biochemical assays, hormone measurements and studies of locomotory activity to investigate how mating influences egg development and egg laying rates in R. prolixus females. The results demonstrate that a blood meal increases egg production capacity and leads to earlier egg laying in mated females compared to virgins. Virgin females, however, have increased survival rate over mated females. Circulating juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroid titers are increased in mated females, a process mainly driven through an upregulation of the transcripts for their biosynthetic enzymes in the corpus allatum and ovaries, respectively. Mated females display weaker locomotory activity compared to virgin females, mainly during the photophase. In essence, this study shows how reproductive output and behaviour are profoundly influenced by mating, highlighting molecular, biochemical, endocrine and behavioral features differentially expressed in mated and virgin R. prolixus females.

NADP+-dependent farnesol dehydrogenase, a corpora allata enzyme involved in juvenile hormone synthesis.

The synthesis of juvenile hormone (JH) is an attractive target for control of insect pests and vectors of disease, but the minute size of the corpora allata (CA), the glands that synthesize JH, has made it difficult to identify important biosynthetic enzymes by classical biochemical approaches. Here, we report identification and characterization of an insect farnesol dehydrogenase (AaSDR-1) that oxidizes farnesol into farnesal, a precursor of JH, in the CA. AaSDR-1 was isolated as an EST in a library of the corpora allata-corpora cardiaca of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The 245-amino acid protein presents the typical short-chain dehydrogenase (SDR) Rossmann-fold motif for nucleotide binding. This feature, together with other conserved sequence motifs, place AaSDR-1 into the "classical" NADP(+)-dependent cP2 SDR subfamily. The gene is part of a group of highly conserved paralogs that cluster together in the mosquito genome; similar clusters of orthologs were found in other insect species. AaSDR-1 acts as a homodimer and efficiently oxidizes C(10) to C(15) isoprenoid and aliphatic alcohols, showing the highest affinity for the conversion of farnesol into farnesal. Farnesol dehydrogenase activity was not detected in the CA of newly emerged mosquitoes but significant activity was detected 24 h later. Real time PCR experiments revealed that AaSDR-1 mRNA levels were very low in the inactive CA of the newly emerged female, but increased >30-fold 24 h later during the peak of JH synthesis. These results suggest that oxidation of farnesol might be a rate-limiting step in JH III synthesis in adult mosquitoes.

Sexual dimorphism of diapause regulation in the hemipteran bug Pyrrhocoris apterus.

Diapause is one of the major strategies for insects to prepare for and survive harsh seasons. In females, the absence of juvenile hormone (JH) is a hallmark of adult reproductive diapause, a developmental arrest, which is much less characterized in males. Here we show that juvenile hormone III skipped bisepoxide (JHSB3) titers in hemolymph remarkably differ between reproductive males and females of the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus, whereas no JH was detected in diapausing adults of both sexes. Like in females, ectopic application of JH mimic effectively terminated male diapause through the canonical JH receptor components, Methoprene-tolerant and Taiman. In contrast to females, long photoperiod induced reproduction even in males with silenced JH reception or in males with removed corpus allatum (CA), the JH-producing gland. JHSB3 was detected in the accessory glands (MAG) of reproductive males, unexpectedly, even in males without CA. If there is a source of JHSB3 outside CA or a long-term storage of JHSB3 in MAGs remains to be elucidated. These sex-related idiosyncrasies are further manifested in different dynamics of diapause termination in P. apterus by low temperature. We would like to propose that this sexual dimorphism of diapause regulation might be explained by the different reproductive costs for each sex.

Role of Methoprene-tolerant in the regulation of oogenesis in Dipetalogaster maxima.

Juvenile hormone (JH) signalling, via its receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), controls metamorphosis and reproduction in insects. Met belongs to a superfamily of transcription factors containing the basic Helix Loop Helix (bHLH) and Per Arnt Sim (PAS) domains. Since its discovery in 1986, Met has been characterized in several insect species. However, in spite of the importance as vectors of Chagas disease, our knowledge on the role of Met in JH signalling in Triatominae is limited. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the Dipetalogaster maxima Met transcript (DmaxMet). Molecular modelling was used to build the structure of Met and identify the JH binding site. To further understand the role of the JH receptor during oogenesis, transcript levels were evaluated in two main target organs of JH, fat body and ovary. Functional studies using Met RNAi revealed significant decreases of transcripts for vitellogenin (Vg) and lipophorin (Lp), as well as their receptors. Lp and Vg protein amounts in fat body, as well as Vg in hemolymph were also decreased, and ovarian development was impaired. Overall, these studies provide additional molecular insights on the roles of JH signalling in oogenesis in Triatominae; and therefore are relevant for the epidemiology of Chagas´ disease.