title: Crosstalk of EGFR signalling with Notch and Hippo pathways to regulate cell specification, migration and proliferation in cockroach panoistic ovaries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling is crucial for the regulation of multiple developmental processes. Its function in relation to insect oogenesis has been thoroughly studied in the fly Drosophila melanogaster, which possesses ovaries of the highly modified meroistic type. Conversely, studies in other insect species with different ovary types are scarce. We have studied EGFR functions in the oogenesis of the cockroach Blattella germanica, a phylogenetically basal insect with panoistic ovaries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this cockroach, depletion of EGFR expression aborts oocyte maturation and prevents oviposition, as affects the distribution of F-actins in the follicular cells of the basal ovarian follicle, which triggers premature apoptosis. In the younger ovarian follicles within the ovariole, depletion of EGFR expression reduces the number of follicular cells, possibly because the Hippo pathway is altered; moreover, the concomitant reduction of Notch expression results in the absence of stalk. Finally, depletion of EGFR determines an increase in the number of germinal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the panoistic ovary of B. germanica, EGFR plays a role in the control of cell proliferation through interaction with Hippo and Notch pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08003, Spain.|Permanent address: Department of Pest Control, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nashwa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elshaer
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria-Dolors
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Piulachs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020048:Blattellidae / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
keywords: Blattella germanica; Drosophila melanogaster; Epidermal growth factor; Follicular cells; Insect reproduction