Role of Kruppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1) in methyl farnesoate-mediated vitellogenesis in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Sep 7, 2018Gene

Role of Kr-h1 in hormone-driven egg yolk production in the swimming crab

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Abstract

Methyl farnesoate (MF) treatment in vitro induced the expression of Pt-Kr-h1 in the hepatopancreas of the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus.

Pt-Kr-h1, a transcription factor influenced by the JH receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), contains seven zinc finger motifs, differing from the eight found in insect counterparts.
MF treatment does not induce Pt-Kr-h1 expression in the ovary, mirroring the expression pattern of Pt-Met.
Silencing Pt-Met through RNA interference (RNAi) significantly decreased Pt-Kr-h1 expression, suggesting its involvement in the MF signaling pathway.
Both Pt-Met and Pt-Kr-h1 RNAi led to reduced vitellogenin (Vg) expression, which could not be restored by MF addition, indicating their role in vitellogenesis regulation.

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Similar to the role of juvenile hormone (JH) in insects, methyl farnesoate (MF), the unepoxidized form of JH III, regulates many developmental processes in crustaceans, such as molting and reproduction. We have previously showed that the JH receptor, Methoprene-tolerant (Met), which is also a candidate receptor for MF, might be involved in the MF-mediated vitellogenesis in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus. In this study, the role of Kruppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1), a transcription factor downstream Met in JH signaling, was further investigated. The deduced protein of Pt-Kr-h1 contained seven repeats of zinc finger motifs, similar to Kr-h1s from other crustacean species, but differing from the eight zinc finger motifs found in insect Kr-h1s. MF treatment in vitro induced the expression of Pt-Kr-h1 in hepatopancreas but not ovary, which is similar to the MF-responsive pattern of Pt-Met as previously reported. Moreover, the expression of Pt-Kr-h1 decreased significantly after treating with Pt-Met dsRNA, strongly indicating that the Pt-Kr-h1 might be involved in the Met-mediated MF signaling pathway. RNAi of Pt-Met and Pt-Kr-h1 both led to a decrease in vitellogenin (Vg) expression, and the reduction cannot be rescued by adding MF, suggesting the regulation of vitellogenesis by MF may act through Met and Kr-h1. These results would help to enhance the current understanding of the regulatory mechanism of MF signaling, and provide a vital resource for further research into the evolution of hormonal pathways in arthropods.

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Role of Kruppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1) in methyl farnesoate-mediated vitellogenesis in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

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