Transcription profiling reveals tissue-specific metabolic pathways in the fat body and ovary of the diapausing mosquito Culex pipiens

Authors: WEI, XUEYAN - Baylor University; LEE, KARINA - Baylor University; MULLASSERY, NEHA - Baylor University; DHUNGANA, PRABIN - Baylor University; Kang, Dave; SIM, CHEOLHO - Baylor University

Submitted to: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part D: Genomics and Proteomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2024
Publication Date: 5/27/2024
Citation: Wei, X., Lee, K., Mullassery, N., Dhungana, P., Kang, D.S., Sim, C. 2024. Transcription profiling reveals tissue-specific metabolic pathways in the fat body and ovary of the diapausing mosquito Culex pipiens. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part D: Genomics and Proteomics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101260.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101260

Interpretive Summary: During the winter season, the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens, overwinters (also called diapause) as a vital survival strategy. This allows them to undergo specific physiological shifts, including enhanced stress resistance, increased lipid storage, and a longer lifespan. The fat body serves as the main organ for nutrient storage, utilization, and hormonal communication. During overwintering there is a notable shift in ovarian development, highlighting the importance of gene activity within the ovary. Although there have been significant advancements in screening gene activity in overwintering and non-overwintering mosquitoes, there is still a lack of tissue-specific gene activity analysis in the fat body and ovary. Here, we addressed this gap in knowledge. The elevated genes were functionally annotated and shown to be associated with glucose metabolism, stress tolerance, immunity, and epigenetic (gene activity) control.

Technical Abstract: Previous research has shown that changes in phenotype can happen in energy metabolism and reproductive development. However, it is still not clear how these changes are controlled at the transcriptome level in Cx. pipiens. This study involved conducting a thorough analysis of the fat body and ovaries in diapausing Cx. pipiens using RNA-seq to screen the transcriptome. Our objective was to discover new genes and analyze the metabolic pathways that could potentially influence the onset and regulation of diapause. It turned out that genes and pathways involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and cytochrome P450 metabolism are linked to different diapause symptoms. Our study demonstrates the diapause's innate adaptive metabolic flexibility, exposing dynamic changes in transcriptional regulation throughout the period.