FoxO and rotund form a binding complex governing wing polyphenism in planthoppers

Area of Science:

• Insect genetics
• Evolutionary biology
• Molecular mechanisms of development

Background:

• Wing polyphenism in insects is crucial for studying dispersal evolution.
• The Forkhead box O (FoxO) transcription factor (TF) controls wing development into long-winged (LW) or short-winged morphs.
• The precise regulatory network of FoxO in wing polyphenism remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify novel regulators of wing polyphenism in planthoppers.
• To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of the FoxO module in wing development.
• To understand the genetic basis of dispersal strategies in insects.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomic analysis and phenotypic screening in *Nilaparvata lugens*.
• RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down the *rotund* gene.
• In vitro binding assays to confirm protein-protein interactions.

Main Results:

• The zinc finger TF rotund was identified as a key regulator of wing morphology.
• Knockdown of *rotund* antagonized LW development, converting long wings to intermediate wings.
• Rotund physically interacts with FoxO, forming a regulatory complex.

Conclusions:

• Rotund acts as a wing-morph regulator, modulating FoxO activity.
• The findings reveal a novel combinatorial code involving rotund and FoxO.
• This expands the understanding of transcriptional regulation in insect wing polyphenism and dispersal evolution.