In temperate regions, the shortening day length informs many insect species to prepare for winter by inducing diapause. The adult diapause of the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, involves a reproductive arrest accompanied by energy storage, reduction of metabolic needs, and preparation to withstand low temperatures. By contrast, nondiapause animals direct nutrient energy to muscle activity and reproduction. The photoperiod-dependent switch from diapause to reproduction is systemically transmitted throughout the organism by juvenile hormone (JH). Here, we show that, at the organ-autonomous level of the insect gut, the decision between reproduction and diapause relies on an interaction between JH signaling and circadian clock genes acting independently of the daily cycle. The JH receptor Methoprene-tolerant and the circadian proteins Clock and Cycle are all required in the gut to activate the Par domain protein 1 gene during reproduction and to simultaneously suppress a mammalian-type cryptochrome 2 gene that promotes the diapause program. A nonperiodic, organ-autonomous feedback between Par domain protein 1 and Cryptochrome 2 then orchestrates expression of downstream genes that mark the diapause vs. reproductive states of the gut. These results show that hormonal signaling through Methoprene-tolerant and circadian proteins controls gut-specific gene activity that is independent of circadian oscillations but differs between reproductive and diapausing animals.

• MeSH
• Circadian Clocks physiology   MeSH
• Photoperiod MeSH
• Heteroptera genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Genes, Insect physiology   MeSH
• Insect Proteins biosynthesis   genetics   MeSH
• Cryptochromes biosynthesis   genetics   MeSH
• Methoprene metabolism   MeSH
• Signal Transduction physiology   MeSH
• Intestinal Mucosa metabolism   MeSH
• Transcription Factors biosynthesis   genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Insect Proteins MeSH
• Cryptochromes MeSH
• Methoprene MeSH
• Transcription Factors MeSH

Differences in the growth of dorsolongitudinal flight muscles and gonads in 1-28 days old long-winged (macropterous) and short-winged (brachypterous) adults of the firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus L.) and the resource allocation to these organs were studied by means of total protein analysis. We found predominant allocation of food resources to flight muscles compared to reproductive organs in both macropterous males and females during the first 5 days of adult life. Subsequent histolysis of developed flight muscles coincided with increased total protein content in some reproductive organs. Initiation of intensive food intake after starvation or application of higher dose of methoprene on macropterous adults changed the resource allocation in favour of growth of reproductive organs and induced precocious histolysis of flight muscles. It indicates an involvement of juvenile hormone in wing morph-related differential allocation of resources in the bug. Increased total protein contents in the ovaries and accessory glands of starved macropterous females and males treated with methoprene, respectively, indicate that proteins derived from the methoprene-induced histolysis of the flight muscles are re-utilized for the growth of the reproductive organs. It is the first report of persistence of differential resource allocation to flight muscles and reproductive organs in the wing-polymorphic insects with non-functional macropterism.

• MeSH
• Energy Metabolism physiology   MeSH
• Heteroptera metabolism   MeSH
• Starvation metabolism   MeSH
• Wings, Animal anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Methoprene metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Ovary metabolism   MeSH
• Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Reproduction physiology   MeSH
• Muscles metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Methoprene MeSH
• Proteins MeSH

The differences in the metabolism and endocrine control of reserve mobilization in long-winged (macropterous) and short-winged (brachypterous) males of a flightless firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) were studied. We found that protein content in the gut was significantly lower in 5-10 day-old macropterous males due to their fasting and higher in 28 day-old ones than in the same aged brachypterous counterparts as the result of renewed food intake. Overall protease activity was significantly lower in 10-14 day-old macropters, while an abrupt increase in the activity starting on day 21 after adult ecdysis was also associated with renewal of the food intake. The levels of carbohydrates in haemolymph were only slightly lower in 1-10 day-old macropterous males than in the same aged brachypters. However, more than twofold higher lipid content in haemolymph of 7-10 day-old macropterous males than in the same aged brachypterous males was found. Higher mobilization of lipid reserves from the fat bodies in macropterous males was accompanied by more intensive adipokinetic response and higher levels of adipokinetic hormone in the body. It is the first report of endocrine regulation of wing morph-related differences in the lipid mobilization in males of wing-polymorphic insects.

• MeSH
• Central Nervous System chemistry   MeSH
• Energy Metabolism MeSH
• Glycogen metabolism   MeSH
• Hemolymph chemistry   MeSH
• Heteroptera anatomy & histology   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Insect Hormones metabolism   MeSH
• Wings, Animal abnormalities   anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid analogs & derivatives   metabolism   MeSH
• Lipid Metabolism MeSH
• Lipid Mobilization physiology   MeSH
• Oligopeptides metabolism   MeSH
• Eating MeSH
• Peptide Hydrolases metabolism   MeSH
• Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Intestines anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Intestinal Mucosa metabolism   MeSH
• Fat Body metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• adipokinetic hormone MeSH Browser
• Glycogen MeSH
• Insect Hormones MeSH
• Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid MeSH
• Oligopeptides MeSH
• Peptide Hydrolases MeSH
• Proteins MeSH