The Insect Prothoracic Gland as a Model for Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis and Regulation.
Steroid hormones are ancient signaling molecules found in vertebrates and insects alike. Both taxa show intriguing parallels with respect to how steroids function and how their synthesis is regulated. As such, insects are excellent models for studying universal aspects of steroid physiology. Here, we present a comprehensive genomic and genetic analysis of the principal steroid hormone-producing organs in two popular insect models, Drosophila and Bombyx. We identified 173 genes with previously unknown specific expression in steroid-producing cells, 15 of which had critical roles in development. The insect neuropeptide PTTH and its vertebrate counterpart ACTH both regulate steroid production, but molecular targets of these pathways remain poorly characterized. Identification of PTTH-dependent gene sets identified the nuclear receptor HR4 as a highly conserved target in both Drosophila and Bombyx. We consider this study to be a critical step toward understanding how steroid hormone production and release are regulated in all animal models.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, G-504 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
Qiuxiang
Q
Ou
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, G-504 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
Jie
J
Zeng
Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, Center for Disease Vector Research, and Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Naoki
N
Yamanaka
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Christina
C
Brakken-Thal
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Michael B
MB
O'Connor
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, G-504 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada. Electronic address: kirst.king-jones@ualberta.ca.
Kirst
K
King-Jones
D000825:Animal Structures / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D006728:Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013997:Time Factors
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006728:Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013256:Steroids
Bombyx; Drosophila; Halloween genes; Nocturnin; PTTH; Ras; Torso; corpus allatum; corpus cardiacum; cytochrome P450; ecdysone; nuclear receptor; ring gland