Agonist-mediated assembly of the crustacean methyl farnesoate receptor.
The methyl farnesoate receptor (MfR) orchestrates aspects of reproduction and development such as male sex determination in branchiopod crustaceans. Phenotypic endpoints regulated by the receptor have been well-documented, but molecular interactions involved in receptor activation remain elusive. We hypothesized that the MfR subunits, methoprene-tolerant transcription factor (Met) and steroid receptor coactivator (SRC), would be expressed coincident with the timing of sex programming of developing oocytes by methyl farnesoate in daphnids. We also hypothesized that methyl farnesoate activates MfR assembly. Met mRNA was expressed rhythmically during the reproductive cycle, with peak mRNA accumulation just prior period of oocytes programming of sex. Further, we revealed evidence that Met proteins self-associate in the absence of methyl farnesoate, and that the presence of methyl farnesoate stimulates dissociation of Met multimers with subsequent association with SRC. Results demonstrated that the Met subunit is highly dynamic in controlling the action of methyl farnesoate through temporal variation in its expression and availability for receptor assembly.
Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA.
Elizabeth K Medlock
EK
Kakaley
Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA.
Helen Y
HY
Wang
Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 USA.
Gerald A
GA
LeBlanc
D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008954:Models, Biological; D056918:Nuclear Receptor Coactivators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000819:agonists* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D056918:Nuclear Receptor Coactivators; D021122:Protein Subunits; C032429:methyl farnesoate