Implantation assays using the integument of early stage Bombyx larvae: Insights into the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of competence for metamorphosis

Journal of Insect Physiology
Tomohiro Inui, Takaaki Daimon

Abstract

It is widely accepted that the anti-metamorphic action of insect juvenile hormones (JHs) is required to inhibit larval-pupal metamorphosis. However, recent studies using RNAi or knockout techniques reveal that larval status may be maintained independently of JHs during the early larval stages. To investigate why larvae of very early instars do not have competence to metamorphose and how they acquire this competence through larval development, we revisited the classic experiments of Piepho (ca. 1930s) and performed implantation assays using the integument of very young larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Here, we demonstrate that when the integuments of neonate larvae or newly molted second instar larvae are implanted into last instar host larvae, they are able to directly produce pupal cuticle at the time of pupal metamorphosis of the host. To investigate whether the pupal commitment of implants from the neonate first instar larvae is repressed by JHs, the integuments of Met1 knockout larvae lacking a functional JH receptor were implanted into penultimate instar larvae. We found that the implants of Met1 knockout neonate larvae produced patched pupal cuticles after the host larval molt, whereas those of the wild-type strain pr...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 12, 2018·Insect Science·Kang LiSheng Li
Aug 24, 2019·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Marek Jindra
Aug 28, 2020·Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology·Lynn M Riddiford
Apr 17, 2021·General and Comparative Endocrinology·Agata Wanda NicewiczAgnieszka Izabela Babczyńska

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