Measuring inotocin receptor gene expression in chronological order in ant queens

Chérasse, Sarah; Aron, Serge

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.09.009

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…While a detailed mechanism of inotocin signalling and its physiology are not entirely known, the expression and localisation profiles of inotocin and its receptor in T. castaneum suggest a role in development and/or as neuromodulator, with few or no direct peripheral physiological actions 8 , 9 . Recent work by Chérasse and Aron 10 also suggest similar neurophysiological and/or developmental roles of inotocin in L. niger . It is beyond the scope of this study to explore the nature and extent of such in vivo effects, but chronic modulation of inotocin receptors may have negative effects on insect reproduction and/or development.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…The first insect oxytocin/vasopressin-type peptide (inotocin: CLITNCPRG-amide) was discovered in the mid-1980s in locusts 7 , and in the meantime, it was found inter alia in beetles 8 , 9 and ants 10 – 12 . We have recently explored the oxytocin-type signalling system of the black garden ant, Lasius niger , and identified a novel selective antagonist of the human V 1a vasopressin receptor 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discovery of peptide probes to modulate oxytocin-type receptors of insects

Keov

Liutkevičiūtė

Hellinger

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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The oxytocin/vasopressin signalling system is conserved across the animal kingdom. In insects, the role of oxytocin-type (inotocin) neuropeptides has only been studied in locusts, beetles and ants, but their physiology continues to be poorly understood. One reason for this knowledge deficit is the lack of available research tools to complement functional genomics efforts. Consequently, ligands to probe insect inotocin receptors are essential. In this study, we sought to identify novel agonists and antagonists of the inotocin receptor from the representative model species Tribolium castaneum and Lasius niger. Drawing upon known ligands of the human receptors, we examined the pharmacology of the plant-derived cyclotide kalata B7 and the synthetic oxytocin analogue atosiban. Kalata B7 is a weak partial agonist of both inotocin receptors. This is the first reported direct interaction of cyclotides with an insect receptor, an observation that may explain their presumed role in herbivore defence. Furthermore, we discovered atosiban is an antagonist of the Tribolium receptor, which may provide a useful probe to investigate the functionality of inotocin signalling in beetles and related insect species. Our findings will enable further examination of insect inotocin receptor pharmacology and physiology, and may trigger studies to comprehend the interaction of plant cyclotides and insects.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovery of peptide probes to modulate oxytocin-type receptors of insects

Keov

Liutkevičiūtė

Hellinger

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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“…We identified transcripts encoding the inotocin receptor (IR) and the inotocin precursor (IP) in 20 ant species (3, 22). Furthermore, inotocin was shown to activate its cognate receptor in vitro in the ant Lasius niger (23), and expression of the receptor was confirmed in the heads of queens (24). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin‐like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity

et al. 2018

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Ants are emerging model systems to study cellular signaling because distinct castes possess different physiologic phenotypes within the same colony. Here we studied the functionality of inotocin signaling, an insect ortholog of mammalian oxytocin (OT), which was recently discovered in ants. In Lasius ants, we determined that specialization within the colony, seasonal factors, and physiologic conditions down-regulated the expression of the OT-like signaling system. Given this natural variation, we interrogated its function using RNAi knockdowns. Next-generation RNA sequencing of OT-like precursor knock-down ants highlighted its role in the regulation of genes involved in metabolism. Knock-down ants exhibited higher walking activity and increased self-grooming in the brood chamber. We propose that OT-like signaling in ants is important for regulating metabolic processes and locomotion.-Liutkevičiūtė, Z., Gil-Mansilla, E., Eder, T., Casillas-Pérez, B., Di Giglio, M. G., Muratspahić, E., Grebien, F., Rattei, T., Muttenthaler, M., Cremer, S., Gruber, C. W. Oxytocin-like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity.

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“…To gain insights into the physiological/behavioral roles of inotocin signaling in L. niger, inotocin receptor expression in the head of queen ants was measured. This revealed that expression levels were highest early in queen life when they experience crowded conditions in their mother nests before leaving to mate (67). Subsequently, a more detailed examination of the expression and physiological/behavioral roles of inotocin was reported, using the ant species Lasius neglectus as a model system (68) ( Table 1).…”

Section: Arthropodamentioning

confidence: 99%