Alteration of insulin and nutrition signal gene expression or depletion of Met reduce both lifespan and reproduction in the German cockroach

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology 2019-10, Vol.118, p.103934-103934, Article 103934
• Main Authors: Li, Na, Zeng, Mei, Xiao, Huilu, Lin, Shuren, Yang, Shuting, Huang, Haixin, Zhu, Shiming, Zhao, Zheng, Ren, Chonghua, Li, Sheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - genetics; Blattella germanica; Blattellidae - genetics; Blattellidae - metabolism; Female; Insect Proteins - genetics; Insulin; Insulin - genetics; Insulin - metabolism; Juvenile hormone; Juvenile Hormones - genetics; Juvenile Hormones - metabolism; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors - genetics; Lifespan; Longevity - genetics; Metamorphosis, Biological; Nutrition; Reproduction; RNA Interference
• ISSN: 0022-1910; 1879-1611
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103934

[Display omitted] •Alteration of insulin and nutrition signal gene expression reduced lifespan and reproduction.•RNAi knockdown of reproduction-related genes had little effects on lifespan.•Met is important for both lifespan and reproduction. In insects, nutrition and hormones coordinately regulate lifespan and reproduction, which might affect each other. We here investigated how nutrition, insulin, and juvenile hormone (JH) signal genes affect lifespan and reproduction in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, a serious urban pest throughout the world. Starvation as well as altering insulin and nutrition signal genes by RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of the expression of either positive or negative components in the two pathways simultaneously reduced lifespan and ootheca number of the mated female cockroaches. Meanwhile, depletion of the JH receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), but not kruppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1) that predominately transduces JH signaling to prevent metamorphosis, significantly reduced the two parameters. Moreover, suppressing the expression of several reproduction-related genes, including doublesex (Dsx), vitellogenin (Vg), and the Vg receptor (VgR), had little yet various effects on lifespan; nevertheless, it is likely that there are some reproduction-independent mating factors reducing lifespan. In conclusion, through blocking lifespan and reproduction in a simultaneous manner, the alteration of insulin and nutrient signal gene expression or the depletion of Met might provide a great potential for controlling the German cockroach.