title: Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 is involved in glycogen metabolism control and embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixus.
abstract: Rhodnius prolixus is a blood-feeding insect that transmits Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli to vertebrate hosts. Rhodnius prolixus is also a classical model in insect physiology, and the recent availability of R. prolixus genome has opened new avenues on triatomine research. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is classically described as a key enzyme involved in glycogen metabolism, also acting as a downstream component of the Wnt pathway during embryogenesis. GSK-3 has been shown to be highly conserved among several organisms, mainly in the catalytic domain region. Meanwhile, the role of GSK-3 during R. prolixus embryogenesis or glycogen metabolism has not been investigated. Here we show that chemical inhibition of GSK-3 by alsterpaullone, an ATP-competitive inhibitor of GSK3, does not affect adult survival rate, though it alters oviposition and egg hatching. Specific GSK-3 gene silencing by dsRNA injection in adult females showed a similar phenotype. Furthermore, bright field and 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining analysis revealed that ovaries and eggs from dsGSK-3 injected females exhibited specific morphological defects. We also demonstrate that glycogen content was inversely related to activity and transcription levels of GSK-3 during embryogenesis. Lastly, after GSK-3 knockdown, we observed changes in the expression of the Wingless (Wnt) downstream target β-catenin as well as in members of other pathways such as the receptor Notch. Taken together, our results show that GSK-3 regulation is essential for R. prolixus oogenesis and embryogenesis.
authors: LIBHM-NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Macaé,RJ.
authors: Flávia B
authors: FB
authors: Mury
authors: LQFPP and UEA-RJ, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darci Ribeiro,Campos dos Goytacazes,RJ.
authors: Magda D
authors: MD
authors: Lugon
authors: LIBHM-NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Macaé,RJ.
authors: Rodrigo Nunes
authors: RN
authors: DA Fonseca
authors: LIBHM-NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Macaé,RJ.
authors: Jose R
authors: JR
authors: Silva
authors: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Mateus
authors: M
authors: Berni
authors: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Helena M
authors: HM
authors: Araujo
authors: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Marcio Ribeiro
authors: MR
authors: Fontenele
authors: LIBHM-NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro,Macaé,RJ.
authors: Leonardo Araujo DE
authors: LA
authors: Abreu
authors: Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM),Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Marílvia
authors: M
authors: Dansa
authors: Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM),Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Glória
authors: G
authors: Braz
authors: Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM),Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Hatisaburo
authors: H
authors: Masuda
authors: Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM),Rio de Janeiro,RJ.
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Logullo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007211:Indoles / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; C120793:alsterpaullone; D006003:Glycogen; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
keywords: Glycogen synthase kinase-3; Rhodnius prolixus; embryogenesis and development; metabolism