Juvenile hormone signaling promotes ovulation and maintains egg shape by inducing expression of extracellular matrix genes
Wei Luo, Suning Liu, Wenqiang Zhang, Liu Yang, Jianhua Huang, Shutang Zhou, Qili Feng, Subba Reddy Palli, Jian Wang, Siegfried Roth, Sheng Li
Abstract
Significance The juvenile hormone (JH) plays a key role in regulating insect reproduction. Previous studies have demonstrated how JH activates vitellogenin production in the fat body and stimulates vitellogenin uptake by maturing oocytes. Our studies show that, in Drosophila , JH signaling induces laminin expression in ovarian muscle cells and collagen IV expression in the adult fat body. Laminin locally and collagen IV remotely contribute to the assembly of ovarian muscle extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM components are indispensable for ovarian muscle contraction that externally generates a mechanical force to promote ovulation and maintain egg shape. This study reveals an essential role of JH in the regulation of insect reproduction.