Role of hunchback in segment patterning of Locusta migratoria manilensis revealed by parental RNAi.
In long germ embryos, all body segments are specified simultaneously during the blastoderm stage. In contrast, in short germ embryos, only the anterior segments are specified during the blastoderm stage, leaving the rest of the body plan to be specified later. The striking embryological differences between short and long germ segmentation imply fundamental differences in patterning at the molecular level. To gain insights into the segmentation mechanisms of short germ insects, we have investigated the role of the homologue of the Drosophila gap gene hunchback (hb) in a short germ insect Locusta migratoria manilensi by paternal RNA interference (RNAi). Phenotypes resulting from hb knockdown were categorized into three classes based on severity. In the most extreme case, embryos developed the most anterior structures only, including the labrum, antennae and eyes. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) L. migratoria manilensis hb (Lmm'hb) controls germ band morphogenesis and segmentation in the anterior region; (ii) Lmm'hb may function as a gap gene in a wide domain including the entire gnathum and thorax; and (iii) Lmm'hb is required for proper growth of the posterior germ band. These findings suggest a more extensive role for L. migratoria manilensis hunchback in anterior patterning than those described in Drosophila.
He
Zheng-Bo
ZB
Genetic Engineering Research Center, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Center of Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing 400044, China.
Cao
Yue-Qing
YQ
Yin
You-Ping
YP
Wang
Zhong-Kang
ZK
Chen
Bin
B
Peng
Guo-Xiong
GX
Xia
Yu-Xian
YX
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019476:Insect Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors