Paralogous genes involved in juvenile hormone action in Drosophila melanogaster.
Juvenile hormone (JH) is critical for multiple aspects of insect development and physiology. Although roles for the hormone have received considerable study, an understanding of the molecules necessary for JH action in insects has been frustratingly slow to evolve. Methoprene-tolerant (Met) in Drosophila melanogaster fulfills many of the requirements for a hormone receptor gene. A paralogous gene, germ-cell expressed (gce), possesses homology and is a candidate as a Met partner in JH action. Expression of gce was found to occur at multiple times and in multiple tissues during development, similar to that previously found for Met. To probe roles of this gene in JH action, we carried out in vivo gce over- and underexpression studies. We show by overexpression studies that gce can substitute in vivo for Met, alleviating preadult but not adult phenotypic characters. We also demonstrate that RNA interference-driven knockdown of gce expression in transgenic flies results in preadult lethality in the absence of MET. These results show that (1) unlike Met, gce is a vital gene and shows functional flexibility and (2) both gene products appear to promote JH action in preadult but not adult development.
Baumann
Aaron
A
Department of Entomology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Barry
Joshua
J
Wang
Shaoli
S
Fujiwara
Yoshihiro
Y
Wilson
Thomas G
TG
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007605:Juvenile Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008726:Methoprene / Q000494:pharmacology; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007605:Juvenile Hormones; D008726:Methoprene; D014157:Transcription Factors; C111234:MET protein, Drosophila; C543965:gce protein, Drosophila