Department of Physical Education, Xi'an International Studies University, Shaanxi Province, Xi'an 710119, China.
College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Shaanxi Province, Xi'an 710119, China.
Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2021 Sep 1;310:113836. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113836. Epub 2021 Jun 25.
The Estrogen-related receptor (ERR) can regulate the growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and other physiological activities of insects, but its specific mechanism of action is still unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between expression of ERR and Vitellogenins (Vg) and the juvenile hormone (JH) and insulin/insulin-like growth factor/target of rapamycin (IIS/TOR) signaling pathways in Polyrhachis vicina Roger. P. vicina was used as the experimental model to clone the PvVg gene, perform double-stranded RNA synthesis and delivery and observe the effects of pharmacological treatments. The full-length PvVg cDNA product is 5586 bp. Higher PvVg mRNA expression was seen in the pupa and adults, and varying levels were seen in the different body parts of three different castes. RNA interference of PvVg expression led to disturbed development, an abnormal phenotype, and high mortality. PvVg RNAi also led to a reduction in mRNA levels of PvERR, ultraspiracle (PvUSP), forkhead box protein O (PvFOXO) and PvTOR genes in fourth instar larval, but a significant increase was seen in pupa and females. No significant change was seen in workers and males. After PvVg knockdown, application of exogenous JHIII reduced the expression of these genes in pupa and females, increased expression in workers, and decreased PvUSP mRNA expression in males. Both protein and mRNA expression levels of PvFOXO were affected by PvVg RNAi. PvERR RNAi increased PvVg expression in pupa and females and Kruppel-homolog 1 (PvKr-h1) and PvFOXO expression in males. The results of this study suggest that there is an interaction between PvERR and PvVg, and that crosstalk with the JH and IIS/TOR signaling pathways can affect development and reproduction. This effect is caste and developmental stage specific. We also speculate that the FOXO/USP complex participates in JH regulation of PvVg in P. vicina.
雌激素相关受体（ERR）可以调节昆虫的生长发育、代谢、繁殖和其他生理活动，但具体的作用机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨中华蜜蜂（Polyrhachis vicina Roger）中 ERR 与卵黄蛋白原（Vg）和保幼激素（JH）及胰岛素/胰岛素样生长因子/雷帕霉素靶蛋白（IIS/TOR）信号通路之间的关系。选用中华蜜蜂为实验模型，克隆 PvVg 基因，进行双链 RNA 的合成和递呈，并观察药理学处理的影响。PvVg cDNA 全长产物为 5586bp。在蛹和成虫中 PvVg mRNA 表达水平较高，在三个不同品级的不同身体部位也有不同程度的表达。PvVg 表达的 RNA 干扰导致发育紊乱、表型异常和高死亡率。PvVg RNAi 还导致第四龄幼虫 PvERR、超保幼激素（PvUSP）、叉头框蛋白 O（PvFOXO）和 PvTOR 基因的 mRNA 水平降低，但在蛹和雌蜂中显著增加。在工蜂和雄蜂中则无明显变化。在 PvVg 敲低后，外源性 JHIII 处理降低了蛹和雌蜂中这些基因的表达，增加了工蜂中的表达，并降低了雄蜂中 PvUSP 的 mRNA 表达。PvVg RNAi 均影响 PvFOXO 的蛋白和 mRNA 表达水平。PvERR RNAi 增加了蛹和雌蜂中 PvVg 的表达以及雄蜂中 Kruppel-homolog 1（PvKr-h1）和 PvFOXO 的表达。本研究表明 PvERR 与 PvVg 之间存在相互作用，JH 和 IIS/TOR 信号通路的串扰可以影响发育和繁殖。这种影响具有品级和发育阶段特异性。我们还推测 FOXO/USP 复合物参与了中华蜜蜂中 JH 对 PvVg 的调节。
