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Published on: November 11, 2016
Brain control of embryonic circadian rhythms in the silkmoth Antheraea pernyi
1Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Insights
The silkmoth brain controls egg hatching via a humoral factor, regulating the clock protein PER in midgut cells. This highlights a novel brain-mediated circadian mechanism in Antheraea pernyi.
Area of Science:
- * Chronobiology
- * Insect physiology
- * Molecular biology
Background:
- * The period (PER) protein is crucial for circadian rhythms.
- * PER-positive cells are found in the silkmoth embryo's brain and midgut.
- * Circadian control of egg-hatching behavior in Antheraea pernyi relies on PER.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the circadian clock potential of embryonic silkmoth brain and midgut tissues.
- * To identify the tissue responsible for circadian control of egg-hatching behavior.
- * To elucidate the role of a humoral factor in mediating circadian regulation.
Main Methods:
- * Embryonic tissue transplantation experiments.
- * Ligation experiments on first instar larvae.
- * Analysis of PER protein localization in midgut epithelial cells.
Main Results:
- * Transplantation experiments revealed the brain harbors the circadian clock for egg-hatching.
- * A humoral factor from the brain mediates this circadian regulation.
- * Circadian control of PER nuclear entry in midgut cells requires an intact brain.
Conclusions:
- * A novel brain-derived factor is implicated in regulating silkmoth egg-hatching behavior.
- * The findings suggest differing mechanisms of PER control across species.
- * This study provides insights into brain-midgut communication in circadian regulation.
Abstract:
The clock protein PER is necessary for circadian control of egg-hatching behavior in the silkmoth Antheraea pernyi. Since the brain and midgut of the silkmoth embryo contain PER-positive cells, we examined the circadian clock potential of these embryonic tissues. Transplantation experiments indicate that the circadian clock controlling egg-hatching behavior resides in brain, and that a humoral factor mediates this circadian regulation. We also used ligation experiments on first instar larvae to show that the circadian control of PER movement into the nuclei of midgut epithelial cells is dependent on an intact (connected) brain. These results implicate a novel brain factor in the circadian regulation of egg-hatching behavior and provide further evidence for differing mechanisms of PER control among species.
