Role of Orcokinin neuropeptides in oogenesis in the cockroach Blattella germanica

ONS SHEILA; BELLÉS XAVIER; MAESTRO JOSE LUIS

Amsterdam

Simposio; Seventh International Symposium on Molecular Insect Science; 2014

Among the arthropods neuropeptides, Orcokinins (OKs) occur in several species. In insects, two isoforms of the OK gene give rise to two different families of conserved mature neuropeptides; Orcokinin A (OKA) and Orcokinin B (OKB). OKA is expressed in nervous system, meanwhile OKB peptides are detected in nervous system, anterior and posterior midgut. Although an in vitro ecdysteroidogenic effect of OKA has been previously reported in Bombyx mori, the physiological role of OKs has not been yet clarified. Here we report the in vivo RNAi silencing of OK gene in the cockroach Blatella germanica. Our results demonstrate a role of Orcokinins in oogenesis and reproduction.