A critical role for the Drosophila dopamine D1-like receptor Dop1R2 at the onset of metamorphosis

Abstract

BackgroundInsect metamorphosis relies on temporal and spatial cues that are precisely controlled. Previous studies in Drosophila have shown that untimely activation of genes that are essential to metamorphosis results in growth defects, developmental delay and death. Multiple factors exist that safeguard these genes against dysregulated expression. The list of identified negative regulators that play such a role in Drosophila development continues to expand.ResultsBy using RNAi transgene-induced gene silencing coupled to spatio/temporal assessment, we have unraveled an important role for the Drosophila dopamine 1-like receptor, Dop1R2, in development. We show that Dop1R2 knockdown leads to pre-adult lethality. In adults that escape death, abnormal wing expansion and/or melanization defects occur. Furthermore we show that salivary gland expression of this GPCR during the late larval/prepupal stage is essential for the flies to survive through adulthood. In addition to RNAi-induced effects, treatment of larvae with the high affinity D1-like receptor antagonist flupenthixol, also results in developmental arrest, and in morphological defects comparable to those seen in Dop1R2 RNAi flies. To examine the basis for pupal lethality in Dop1R2 RNAi flies, we carried out transcriptome analysis. These studies revealed up-regulation of genes that respond to ecdysone, regulate morphogenesis and/or modulate defense/immunity.ConclusionTaken together our findings suggest a role for Dop1R2 in the repression of genes that coordinate metamorphosis. Premature release of this inhibition is not tolerated by the developing fly.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12861-016-0115-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in Insects—A Potential Target for New Insecticide Development

“…In just a few short years, GPCR research in insects has progressed from the initial GPCR gene identification to comprehensive bioinformatics analyses, from single GPCR gene analysis to whole genome sequences of GPCRs and explorations of their pathways, and from traditional transcriptional analysis of the gene expression to gene functional characterization of the GPCR genes in insect physiology and cellular biology. The incredible progress being made in related fields includes a wide range of complementary technologies, including bioinformatics and quantitative expression analyses, with functional studies using RNA interferon revealing potential biological functions that significantly impact insect physiology [ 17 , 18 ], including reproduction [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ], regulating growth and development [ 21 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], the stress response [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ], feeding [ 21 , 35 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], general behaviors [ 20 , 57 ,…”

Cicadidae Periostracum, the Cast-Off Skin of Cicada, Protects Dopaminergic Neurons in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease

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Cloning and functional characterization of the DA2 receptor gene in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

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