Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster Carrying RNAi Against gce Gene Proved the Involvement of gce in Juvenile Hormone Action

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia- Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Juvenile
hormone (JH) is important for multiple aspects of insect development and
physiology. Although roles of JH have received considerable studies, JH
signaling pathway at the molecular level is still not well understood. Methoprene-tolerant
(Met) in Drosophila melanogaster fulfills many of the
requirements as a hormone receptor gene. A paralogous gene, germ-cell
expressed (gce), possesses homology to Met and is a candidate
as a Met partner in mediating JH action. To probe roles of this gene in
JH action, we carried out in vivo gce underexpression studies using RNAi
technique. Precocious expression of broad (br) gene was found to
occur when gce was knocked down in the young larvae. We also demonstrated
that RNA interference-driven knockdown of gce expression in transgenic
flies results in appearance of resistance to pyriproxyfen (IGRs). These results
show that gce is a vital gene and appears to promote JH action in larval
stages.

Keywords

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences. C, Physiology and Molecular Biology
Volume 4, Issue 1
December 2012
Pages 31-42

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