title: The corticotropin-releasing factor-like diuretic hormone 44 (DH44) and kinin neuropeptides modulate desiccation and starvation tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Malpighian tubules are critical organs for epithelial fluid transport and stress tolerance in insects, and are under neuroendocrine control by multiple neuropeptides secreted by identified neurons. Here, we demonstrate roles for CRF-like diuretic hormone 44 (DH44) and Drosophila melanogaster kinin (Drome-kinin, DK) in desiccation and starvation tolerance. Gene expression and labelled DH44 ligand binding data, as well as highly selective knockdowns and/or neuronal ablations of DH44 in neurons of the pars intercerebralis and DH44 receptor (DH44-R2) in Malpighian tubule principal cells, indicate that suppression of DH44 signalling improves desiccation tolerance of the intact fly. Drome-kinin receptor, encoded by the leucokinin receptor gene, LKR, is expressed in DH44 neurons as well as in stellate cells of the Malpighian tubules. LKR knockdown in DH44-expressing neurons reduces Malpighian tubule-specific LKR, suggesting interactions between DH44 and LK signalling pathways. Finally, although a role for DK in desiccation tolerance was not defined, we demonstrate a novel role for Malpighian tubule cell-specific LKR in starvation tolerance. Starvation increases gene expression of epithelial LKR. Also, Malpighian tubule stellate cell-specific knockdown of LKR significantly reduced starvation tolerance, demonstrating a role for neuropeptide signalling during starvation stress.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cannell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dornan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK; Section of Cell- and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Halberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terhzaz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Julian A T
authors.initials: JAT
authors.lastname: Dow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Electronic address: Shireen.Davies@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shireen-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003681:Dehydration; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008317:Malpighian Tubules / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013217:Starvation / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C480120:Dh44 protein, Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; C468143:Lk protein, Drosophila; D009479:Neuropeptides
keywords: DH(44); Desiccation; Drosophila melanogaster; Kinin; Neuropeptide receptor; Starvation