A new neuropeptide insect parathyroid hormone iPTH in the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008772
• Publication Date: 2020-05-04T17:38:05Z
• Authors: Jia Xie; Ming Sang; Xiaowen Song; Sisi Zhang; Donghun Kim; Jan A. Veenstra; Yoonseong Park; Bin Li
• Keywords: Red flour beetle

In the postgenomics era, comparative genomics have advanced understanding of evolutionary processes neuropeptidergic signaling systems. The origin many systems can be traced date back to early metazoan evolution based on conserved sequences. Insect parathyroid hormone receptor (iPTHR) was previously described as an ortholog vertebrate PTHR that has a well-known function in controlling bone remodeling. However, there no sequence homologous PTH insect genomes, leaving iPTHR orphan receptor. Here, we identified authentic ligand (iPTH) for iPTHR. taxonomic distribution iPTHR, which is lacking Diptera and Lepidoptera, provided lead identifying ligand. We found known PXXXamide (where X any amino acid) cuttlefish Sepia officinalis similar pattern Tests this peptide, iPTH, functional reporter assays confirmed interaction ligand-receptor pair. Study model beetle, Tribolium castaneum, used investigate iPTH system by RNA interference followed sequencing phenotyping. results suggested likely involved regulation cuticle formation culminates with phenotype defects wing exoskeleton maturation at time adult eclosion. Moreover, RNAi iPTHRs also led significant reductions egg numbers hatching rates after parental RNAi.