Juvenile hormone promotes paracellular transport of yolk proteins via remodeling zonula adherens at tricellular junctions in the follicular epithelium

PLoS Genet. 2022 Jun 27;18(6):e1010292. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010292. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Juvenile hormone (JH) acts as a gonadotrophic hormone stimulating insect vitellogenesis and oogenesis. Paracellular transport of yolk proteins through intercellular channels (patency) in the follicular epithelium is a developmentally regulated and evolutionarily conserved process during vitellogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying patency opening are poorly understood. Using the migratory locust Locusta migratoria as a model system, we report here that JH-regulated remodeling of zonula adherens (ZA), the belt-like adherens junction maintaining physical linking between follicle cells controlled the opening of patency. JH triggered phosphorylation of Partitioning defective protein 3 (Par3) via a signaling cascade including G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), small GTPase Cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) and atypical Protein kinase C (aPKC). Par3 phosphorylation resulted in its disassociation from β-Catenin, the cytoplasmic partner of ZA core component E-Cadherin. Release of Par3 from the β-Catenin/E-Cadherin complex caused ZA disassembly at tricellular contacts, consequently leading to patency enlargement. This study provides new insight into how JH stimulates insect vitellogenesis and egg production via inducing the opening of paracellular route for vitellogenin transport crossing the follicular epithelium barrier.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adherens Junctions* / genetics
  • Adherens Junctions* / metabolism
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Epithelium / metabolism
  • Juvenile Hormones* / genetics
  • Juvenile Hormones* / metabolism
  • Vitellogenins / genetics
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Juvenile Hormones
  • Vitellogenins
  • beta Catenin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China grants U1804232 (S.Z.) and U1904103 (H.Z.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.