Orcokinins regulate the expression of neuropeptide precursor genes related to ecdysis in the hemimetabolous insect Rhodnius prolixus

WULFF, JUAN PEDRO; CAPRIOTTI, NATALIA; ONS, SHEILA

JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2018 vol. 108 p. 31 - 39

0022-1910

Ecdysis is a vital process for insects, during which they shed the old cuticle in order to emerge as the followingdevelopmental stage. Given its relevance for survival and reproduction, ecdysis is tightly regulated by peptidichormones that conform an interrelated neuromodulatory network. This network was studied in species thatundergo a complete metamorphosis, but not in hemimetabola. In a recent work, we demonstrated that orcokininneuropeptides are essential for ecdysis to occur in the kissing bug Rhodnius prolixus. Here we performed genesilencing, quantitative PCR and in vitro treatments in order to study the interrelationships between RhoprOKs andhormones such as ecdysis triggering hormone, corazonin, eclosion hormone, crustacean cardioactive peptide andecdysone. Our results suggest that RhoprOKs directly or indirectly regulate the expression of other genes.Whereas RhoprOKA is centrally involved in the regulation of gene expression, RhoprOKB is implicated in processesrelated to midgut physiology. Therefore, we propose that the different transcripts encoded in RhoprOKgene could integrate signaling cues, in order to coordinate the nutritional state with development and ecdysis.Given the emerging data that point to OKs as important factors for survival and reproduction, they could becandidates in the search for new insect management strategies based on neuroendocrine targets.