Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Insect Control and Cotton Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309257
Title: The insect capa neuropeptides impact desiccation and cold stress responses

Author
item TERHZAZ, SELIM - University Of Glasgow
item CABRERO, PABLO - University Of Glasgow
item TEETS, NICHOLAS - The Ohio State University
item HENDERSON, LOUISE - University Of Glasgow
item RITCHIE, MICHAEL - University Of St Andrews
item Nachman, Ronald
item DOW, JULIAN A.T. - Glasgow Caledonian University
item DENLINGER, DAVID - The Ohio State University
item DAVIES, SHIREEN- - University Of Glasgow

Submitted to: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2015
Publication Date: 3/15/2015
Citation: Terhzaz, S., Cabrero, P., Teets, N.M., Henderson, L., Ritchie, M.G., Nachman, R.J., Dow, J., Denlinger, D.L., Davies, S.A. 2015. Neuroendocrine control of desiccation and cold stress responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 112:2882-2887.

Interpretive Summary: Because of problems with the development of resistance to conventional pesticides, there is a critical need for new concepts and alternative approaches in controlling insect pests. The basic premise of this research is that neuropeptides (short chains of amino acids) serve as potent messengers in insects to regulate vital functions in many insects that transmit disease. Nevertheless, these neuropeptides in and of themselves hold little promise as pest control agents because of susceptibility to being degraded in the target pest, and inability to pass through the outside skin and/or digestive tract. We must design neuropeptide mimics that resist degradation by enzymes in the digestive tract and blood of pest invertebrates and interact with the active site within an agricultural or medical pest in such a way as to either over-activate or block critical, neuropeptide-regulated life functions. We report for the first time that neuropeptides of the ‘CAPA’ class are critical mediators of desiccation resistance and cold tolerance in flies, both functions critical for survival under adverse conditions. Modified versions of the CAPA peptides can reduce desiccation resistance, and open the possibility to reduce cold tolerance as well. The work increases our understanding of how stress responses are regulated by neuropeptide hormones and illustrates the use of rationally designed peptide mimics as agents for disrupting protective stress responses. This work brings us one step closer to the development of practical neuropeptide-like substances that will be effective in controlling insect pests in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Technical Abstract: Background: Insects are so successful because of great resistance to environmental stress, yet little is known about how such responses may be mediated by the neuroendocrine system. Results: We provide evidence that the capability (capa) neuropeptide gene and peptide are critical mediators of desiccation resistance and cold tolerance, as demonstrated by targeted in vivo gene silencing, physiological manipulations and stress-resistance assays; and by monitoring the effects of capa neuropeptide analogs on a range of insects including the generalist species Drosophila melanogaster, circum-Arctic D. montana, desert-dwelling D. mojavensis, and mosquitoes. Conclusions: This work thus augments our understanding of how stress responses are mediated by neuroendocrine signaling and illustrates the use of rationally-designed peptide analogs as agents for disrupting protective stress responses.