Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies
Abstract Ecdysteroids are critical in regulating biological processes such as ecdysis, metamorphosis, embryogenesis, and reproduction in insects. Nevertheless, the ecdysteroid repertoire and expression patterns of their synthesis genes in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), which belong to the mo...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| author | Genta Okude Mari H. Ogihara Minoru Moriyama Takahiro Yamagishi Hiroshi Yamamoto Takema Fukatsu Ryo Futahashi |
| author_facet | Genta Okude Mari H. Ogihara Minoru Moriyama Takahiro Yamagishi Hiroshi Yamamoto Takema Fukatsu Ryo Futahashi |
| author_sort | Genta Okude |
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| description | Abstract Ecdysteroids are critical in regulating biological processes such as ecdysis, metamorphosis, embryogenesis, and reproduction in insects. Nevertheless, the ecdysteroid repertoire and expression patterns of their synthesis genes in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), which belong to the most-ancestral winged insect group, have remained elusive. In this study, we examined the ecdysteroid profile of eight Odonata species and the ecdysteroid fluctuation during metamorphosis in the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis (Zygoptera, Coenagionidae) and the dragonfly Pseudothemis zonata (Anisoptera, Libellulidae). We found that ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) titers corresponded to the progression of ecdysis in the penultimate nymphal instar and metamorphosis in the final nymphal instar, whereas 7-dehydrocholesterol was consistently present in the hemolymph of all the examined species and developmental stages. Considering that a higher amount of 20E was detected than ecdysone, 20E is important for inducing ecdysis and metamorphosis in Odonata, like other insects. We also confirmed that the majority of ecdysteroidogenic genes were conserved in Odonata, and their stage- and region-specific expression patterns were examined in I. senegalensis and P. zonata. Unexpectedly, most ecdysteroidogenic genes were expressed in a variety of tissues. Our study provides insights into the evolution and diversification of the ecdysteroidogenic pathway among insects. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-edd971c7bd814f929d8eb9f3be28668a2025-08-20T03:37:22ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-08387-3Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselfliesGenta Okude0Mari H. Ogihara1Minoru Moriyama2Takahiro Yamagishi3Hiroshi Yamamoto4Takema Fukatsu5Ryo Futahashi6Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of TokyoInstitute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research OrganizationMolecular Biosystems Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of TokyoMolecular Biosystems Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)Abstract Ecdysteroids are critical in regulating biological processes such as ecdysis, metamorphosis, embryogenesis, and reproduction in insects. Nevertheless, the ecdysteroid repertoire and expression patterns of their synthesis genes in Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), which belong to the most-ancestral winged insect group, have remained elusive. In this study, we examined the ecdysteroid profile of eight Odonata species and the ecdysteroid fluctuation during metamorphosis in the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis (Zygoptera, Coenagionidae) and the dragonfly Pseudothemis zonata (Anisoptera, Libellulidae). We found that ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) titers corresponded to the progression of ecdysis in the penultimate nymphal instar and metamorphosis in the final nymphal instar, whereas 7-dehydrocholesterol was consistently present in the hemolymph of all the examined species and developmental stages. Considering that a higher amount of 20E was detected than ecdysone, 20E is important for inducing ecdysis and metamorphosis in Odonata, like other insects. We also confirmed that the majority of ecdysteroidogenic genes were conserved in Odonata, and their stage- and region-specific expression patterns were examined in I. senegalensis and P. zonata. Unexpectedly, most ecdysteroidogenic genes were expressed in a variety of tissues. Our study provides insights into the evolution and diversification of the ecdysteroidogenic pathway among insects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08387-3Insect metamorphosisMolting hormoneEcdysteroidsDragonflyDamselflyRNA-sequencing |
| spellingShingle | Genta Okude Mari H. Ogihara Minoru Moriyama Takahiro Yamagishi Hiroshi Yamamoto Takema Fukatsu Ryo Futahashi Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies Scientific Reports Insect metamorphosis Molting hormone Ecdysteroids Dragonfly Damselfly RNA-sequencing |
| title | Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies |
| title_full | Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies |
| title_fullStr | Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies |
| title_short | Identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies |
| title_sort | identification of ecdysteroids and ecdysteroidogenic genes in dragonflies and damselflies |
| topic | Insect metamorphosis Molting hormone Ecdysteroids Dragonfly Damselfly RNA-sequencing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08387-3 |
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