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Published on: June 2, 2018
Ecdysis triggering hormone signaling in arthropods
Ladislav Roller1, Inka Zitnanová, Li Dai
1Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Peptides
|December 3, 2009
Summary
Ecdysis triggering hormones (ETHs) and their receptors (ETHRs) are conserved across diverse arthropods, initiating molting. Despite conserved signaling molecules, species-specific behaviors highlight evolutionary adaptations in ecdysis.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Comparative Physiology
Background:
- Ecdysis triggering hormones (ETHs) and ETH receptors (ETHRs) regulate the ecdysis sequence in insects.
- Previous studies focused on model moth and dipteran species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and conservation of ETHs and ETHRs in a wider range of arthropod species.
- To explore the evolutionary origins and functional conservation of the ETH-ETHR signaling pathway.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical and molecular techniques, including peptide isolation and cDNA cloning.
- BLAST searches for homology.
- Immunohistochemical staining and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- ETHs and ETHRs were identified in diverse hemimetabolous and holometabolous insects, with variations in peptide number.
- Inka cells producing ETHs were found on the tracheal surface of various insects.
- Putative ETHs and ETHRs were detected in non-insect arthropods (ticks and water fleas), indicating broad conservation.
Conclusions:
- The ETH-ETHR signaling pathway is structurally and functionally conserved across a wide spectrum of arthropods.
- Species-specific differences in ecdysis behaviors suggest evolutionary divergence despite conserved signaling molecules.
- This study expands the known distribution of ETH-ETHR signaling beyond insects.
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