https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.03.018">
 

Abstract

Molting in decapod crustaceans is controlled by molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH), an eyestalk neuropeptide that suppresses production of ecdysteroids by a pair of molting glands (Y-organs or YOs). Eyestalk ablation (ESA) activates the YOs, which hypertrophy and increase ecdysteroid secretion. At mid premolt, which occurs 7–14 days post-ESA, the YO transitions to the committed state; hemolymph ecdysteroid titers increase further and the animal reaches ecdysis ~ 3 weeks post-ESA. Two conserved signaling pathways, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), are expressed in the Gecarcinus lateralis YO. Rapamycin, an mTOR antagonist, inhibits YO ecdysteroidogenesis in vitro. In this study, rapamycin lowered hemolymph ecdysteroid titer in ESA G. lateralis in vivo; levels were significantly lower than in control animals at all intervals (1–14 days post-ESA). Injection of SB431542, an activin TGF-β receptor antagonist, lowered hemolymph ecdysteroid titers 7 and 14 days post-ESA, but had no effect on ecdysteroid titers at 1 and 3 days post-ESA. mRNA levels of mTOR signaling genes Gl-mTOR, Gl-Akt, and Gl-S6k were increased by 3 days post-ESA; the increases in Gl-mTOR and Gl-Akt mRNA levels were blocked by SB431542. Gl-elongation factor 2 and Gl-Rheb mRNA levels were not affected by ESA, but SB431542 lowered mRNA levels at Days 3 and 7 post-ESA. The mRNA level of an activin TGF-β peptide, Gl-myostatin-like factor (Mstn), increased 5.5-fold from 0 to 3 days post-ESA, followed by a 50-fold decrease from 3 to 7 days post-ESA. These data suggest that (1) YO activation involves an up regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway; (2) mTOR is required for YO commitment; and (3) a Mstn-like factor mediates the transition of the YO from the activated to the committed state.

Publication Date

8-1-2016

Journal Title

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Publisher

Elsevier

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.03.018

Document Type

Article

Rights

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comments

This is an Author’s Original Manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology in 2016, available online: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.03.018. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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