The neuropeptide F/nitric oxide pathway is essential for shaping locomotor plasticity underlying locust phase transition

Abstract

Behavioral plasticity is widespread in swarming animals, but little is known about its underlying neural and molecular mechanisms. Here, we report that a neuropeptide F (NPF)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway plays a critical role in the locomotor plasticity of swarming migratory locusts. The transcripts encoding two related neuropeptides, NPF1a and NPF2, show reduced levels during crowding, and the transcript levels of NPF1a and NPF2 receptors significantly increase during locust isolation. Both NPF1a and NPF2 have suppressive effects on phase-related locomotor activity. A key downstream mediator for both NPFs is nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which regulates phase-related locomotor activity by controlling NO synthesis in the locust brain. Mechanistically, NPF1a and NPF2 modify NOS activity by separately suppressing its phosphorylation and by lowering its transcript level, effects that are mediated by their respective receptors. Our results uncover a hierarchical neurochemical mechanism underlying behavioral plasticity in the swarming locust and provide insights into the NPF/NO axis.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.22526.001

Scanning laser optical tomography resolves developmental neurotoxic effects on pioneer neurons

“…Exposure to test compounds occurs in an intact embryo in which the generation of neurons, establishment of early neural pathways and differentiation of neural phenotypes has been described at single cell resolution [31][32][33] . Meanwhile the complete Locusta migratoria genome including transcriptome and methylome data has been published 34 allowing targeted transcript knockdown via RNAi 35 . Moreover, in some cases, such as for example the leg pioneer neurons, cellular and molecular mechanisms for growth cone navigation have been elucidated in remarkable detail 15,16,36 .…”

Characterization and expression of a long neuropeptide F (NPF) receptor in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus

“…aegypti [ 8 ] and the locust, L . migratoria [ 9 ]. RhoprNPFR has an ORF that spans three exons where the fourth and sixth hydrophobic transmembrane domains span two different exons (exon 1–2 and 2–3, respectively).…”

“…We demonstrated that the NPF receptor in R . prolixus belongs to a distinct monophyletic group of receptors, which is a sister group to NPF receptors identified in other insects, including dipterans [ 6 , 7 , 8 ], orthopterans [ 9 ] and coleopterans [ 32 ]. Interestingly, receptor sequences from another hemipteran insect, the brown plant hopper N .…”

“…In Aedes aegypti , an analysis investigating receptors structurally related to vertebrate neuropeptide Y-like receptors provided evidence that at least two receptors are functionally responsive to NPF [ 8 ], although their expression profiles and function in the mosquito were not determined. Recently, an NPF and NPY receptor was identified in the locust, Locusta migratoria , which were shown to be essential for locomotor activity changes related to phase transition [ 9 ]. Beyond insect species, NPFR was cloned in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis ; however, it was first described as an NPY receptor [ 10 ].…”

The Effect of Pedal Peptide-Type Neuropeptide on Locomotor Behavior and Muscle Physiology in the Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

“…The results of this study indicated that PDP was involved in the regulation of locomotor behavior of the sea cucumber A. japonicus, especially the locomotor endurance. To date, the effects of neuropeptides on animal locomotor behavior have been widely reported in mice, rats, locusts, fruit flies, sea hares, nematodes and other organisms (Pañeda et al, 2009;Kahsai et al, 2010;Yang et al, 2016;Hou et al, 2017;Pauls et al, 2019). Both Nocll neuropeptide and neuropeptide S (NPS) can stimulate the locomotor behavior in mice, and NPS induce this effect through corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (Florin et al, 1997;Pañeda et al, 2009).…”