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Cited by 131Neurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationInsect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior

TGF-β signaling in insects regulates metamorphosis via juvenile hormone biosynthesis

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Ishimaru, Yoshiyasu, Tomonari, Sayuri, Matsuoka, Yuji, Watanabe, Takahito, Miyawaki, Katsuyuki, Bando, Tetsuya, Tomioka, Kenji, Ohuchi, Hideyo +2 more·2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.1600612113PMC PMC4878498
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Abstract

Significance: Insects undergo a morphological transformation from nymph/larva to adult with or without pupal formation, processes referred to as “hemimetamorphosis” and “holometamorphosis,” respectively. Both processes are regulated by common mechanisms involving the hormones 20-hydroxyecdysone and juvenile hormone (JH). However, it remains unclear how synthesis of JH is regulated in the corpora allata (CA). Here, we report that in Gryllus bimaculatus the TGF-β ligands Myoglianin ( Gb ’Myo) (GDF8/11 homolog) and Decapentaplegic/Glass-bottom boat/60A ( Gb ’Dpp/Gbb) regulate JH synthesis via expression of the JH acid O -methyltransferase in the CA. Furthermore, loss of Gb ’Myo function preserves the status quo action of JH and prevents metamorphosis. These findings elucidate regulatory mechanisms that provide endocrine control of insect life cycles and provide a model of GDF8/11 function.

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  • Elevated myoglianin levels seen when juveniles surpass their threshold weight act on both the corpora allata and the prothoracic glands.

    “The elevated myoglianin levels seen when juveniles surpass their threshold weight act on both the corpora allata [25,8,22] and the prothoracic glands (e.g. [25]).”

    From Regulation of metamorphosis in holometabolous insects (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

    The paper reports that myoglianin regulates juvenile hormone synthesis in the corpora allata. Its Additional information section says myoglianin is expressed in the prothoracic gland, but explicitly states that a connection to ecdysone biosynthesis was not established; it does not establish that myoglianin acts on that gland. The cited passages also do not tie elevated myoglianin to juveniles surpassing a threshold weight. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Myoglianin evokes premetamorphic changes in hemimetabolous insects and suppresses the corpora allata, causing a JH decline, and potentiates prothoracic gland activity.

    “Myoglianin also evokes premetamorphic changes in hemimetabolous insects and is especially prominent in the endocrine system, where it suppresses the corpora allata, causing a JH decline [25,22], and potentiates prothoracic gland activity [25].”

    From Regulation of metamorphosis in holometabolous insects (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

    The paper reports that Myoglianin suppresses JH biosynthesis in the corpora allata of the hemimetabolous cricket Gryllus bimaculatus and that its loss prevents metamorphosis. But the Additional information section says no connection between Myoglianin and ecdysone biosynthesis was established in this study; expression in the prothoracic gland does not show that it potentiates the gland's activity. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Broad knockdown nymphs differ from normal nymphs in that their wing pads grow isometrically with the rest of the body rather than showing positive allometric growth.

    “They differ from normal nymphs in that their wing pads grow isometrically with the rest of the body rather than showing positive allometric growth [22,16,43].”

    From Regulation of metamorphosis in holometabolous insects (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

    The Results (page not available in our copy) compare wing-pad development in myoglianin-knockdown and control nymphs, but do not report Broad knockdown or measure wing-pad growth relative to body growth. Searches for Broad RNAi and allometric growth found no passage addressing the claimed isometric-versus-positive-allometric comparison. (LLM, conf=0.75)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 28

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Cited by

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Authors
Ishimaru, Y., Tomonari, S., Matsuoka, Y., Watanabe, T., Miyawaki, K., Bando, T., Tomioka, K., Ohuchi, H., Noji, S., & Mito, T.
Affiliations
  • Tokushima University (JP)
  • Okayama University (JP)
ORCID
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2016-05-02
Volume
113
Issue
20
Pages
5634-5639
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.1600612113
PMC
PMC4878498
OpenAlex
W2346602210
Cited by
131
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
3.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Repositories DataBase (IRDB) (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • University of Tokushima
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (22370080, 15K06897, 26292176, 25650080)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
Keywords
TGF-beta signaling, juvenile hormone biosynthesis, metamorphosis, Gryllus bimaculatus, JHAMT, decapentaplegic, glass bottom boat, 20-hydroxyecdysone, corpora allata, molting, body size regulation, BMP signaling
MeSH terms
Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Gryllidae, Juvenile Hormones, Metamorphosis, Biological, RNA, Messenger, Signal Transduction, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Insect Proteins, Drosophila Proteins, RNA Interference

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