Forkhead transcription factors regulate mosquito reproduction.
Forkhead-box (Fox) genes encode a family of transcription factors defined by a 'winged helix' DNA-binding domain. In this study we aimed to identify Fox factors that are expressed within the fat body of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, and determine whether any of these are involved in the regulation of mosquito yolk protein gene expression. The Ae. aegypti genome contains 18 loci that encode putative Fox factors. Our stringent cladistic analysis has profound implications for the use of Fox genes as phylogenetic markers. Twelve Ae. aegypti Fox genes are expressed within various tissues of adult females, six of which are expressed within the fat body. All six Fox genes expressed in the fat body displayed dynamic expression profiles following a blood meal. We knocked down the 'fat body Foxes' through RNAi to determine whether these 'knockdowns' hindered amino acid-induced vitellogenin gene expression. We also determined the effect of these knockdowns on the number of eggs deposited following a blood meal. Knockdown of FoxN1, FoxN2, FoxL, and FoxO, had a negative effect on amino acid-induced vitellogenin gene expression and resulted in significantly fewer eggs laid. Our analysis stresses the importance of Fox transcription factors in regulating mosquito reproduction.
Department of Entomology and the Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California-Riverside, Watkins Drive, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Immo A
IA
Hansen
Douglas H
DH
Sieglaff
James B
JB
Munro
Shin-Hong
SH
Shiao
Josefa
J
Cruz
Iris W
IW
Lee
John M
JM
Heraty
Alexander S
AS
Raikhel
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012313:RNA