{"title":"Central role of squid gene during oocyte development in the Hemiptera Rhodnius prolixus","authors":"Agustina Pascual , Catalina Taibo , Rolando Rivera-Pomar","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104719","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oocyte polarity establishment is a conserved and crucial phenomenon for embryonic development. It relies on the precise spatial localization of maternal factors deposited during oocyte development, which is essential for establishing and maintaining cell polarity and subsequently specifying embryonic axes. The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) encoded by the <em>squid</em> (<em>sqd</em>) gene has been implicated in mRNA localization and embryonic axis establishment in <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>. Comparative genomics allowed for the identification of a homologue in <em>Rhodnius prolixus</em>. In this study, we investigated the function of <em>Rp-sqd</em> during oogenesis and early embryonic development. We observed persistent expression of <em>Rp-sqd</em> during oocyte development, with localization in the cytoplasm of ovary germarium and growing oocytes in previtellogenic and vitellogenic stages. A Parental RNA interference (RNAi) experiment targeting <em>Rp-sqd</em> resulted in female sterility. The ovaries showed disrupted oocyte development, disarray of follicular epithelium, and affected nurse cells integrity. Immunostaining and microscopic techniques revealed microtubule disarray and a reduction in the presence of organelles in the trophic cords that connect the germarium with the oocytes. The <em>Rp-sqd</em> depletion impacted the transcript expression of maternal mRNAs involved in apoptosis, axis formation, oogenesis, and cytoskeleton maintenance, indicating a pleiotropic function of <em>Rp-sqd</em> during oogenesis. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of <em>R. prolixus</em> oogenesis, highlighting the crucial role of <em>Rp-sqd</em> in oocyte development, fertility, and germarium integrity. These findings contribute to our understanding of insect developmental processes, provide a foundation for future investigations into reproduction, and reveal the regulatory mechanisms governing the process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"159 ","pages":"Article 104719"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of insect physiology","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022191024001070","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENTOMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Oocyte polarity establishment is a conserved and crucial phenomenon for embryonic development. It relies on the precise spatial localization of maternal factors deposited during oocyte development, which is essential for establishing and maintaining cell polarity and subsequently specifying embryonic axes. The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) encoded by the squid (sqd) gene has been implicated in mRNA localization and embryonic axis establishment in Drosophila melanogaster. Comparative genomics allowed for the identification of a homologue in Rhodnius prolixus. In this study, we investigated the function of Rp-sqd during oogenesis and early embryonic development. We observed persistent expression of Rp-sqd during oocyte development, with localization in the cytoplasm of ovary germarium and growing oocytes in previtellogenic and vitellogenic stages. A Parental RNA interference (RNAi) experiment targeting Rp-sqd resulted in female sterility. The ovaries showed disrupted oocyte development, disarray of follicular epithelium, and affected nurse cells integrity. Immunostaining and microscopic techniques revealed microtubule disarray and a reduction in the presence of organelles in the trophic cords that connect the germarium with the oocytes. The Rp-sqd depletion impacted the transcript expression of maternal mRNAs involved in apoptosis, axis formation, oogenesis, and cytoskeleton maintenance, indicating a pleiotropic function of Rp-sqd during oogenesis. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of R. prolixus oogenesis, highlighting the crucial role of Rp-sqd in oocyte development, fertility, and germarium integrity. These findings contribute to our understanding of insect developmental processes, provide a foundation for future investigations into reproduction, and reveal the regulatory mechanisms governing the process.
期刊介绍:
All aspects of insect physiology are published in this journal which will also accept papers on the physiology of other arthropods, if the referees consider the work to be of general interest. The coverage includes endocrinology (in relation to moulting, reproduction and metabolism), pheromones, neurobiology (cellular, integrative and developmental), physiological pharmacology, nutrition (food selection, digestion and absorption), homeostasis, excretion, reproduction and behaviour. Papers covering functional genomics and molecular approaches to physiological problems will also be included. Communications on structure and applied entomology can be published if the subject matter has an explicit bearing on the physiology of arthropods. Review articles and novel method papers are also welcomed.