Publications by authors named "D Chvalova"
Impact of photoperiod and functional clock on male diapause in cryptochrome and pdf mutants in the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol
July 2024
Numerous insect species living in temperate regions survive adverse conditions, such as winter, in a state of developmental arrest. The most reliable cue for anticipating seasonal changes is the day-to-night ratio, the photoperiod. The molecular mechanism of the photoperiodic timer in insects is mostly unclear.
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- Most organisms have circadian clocks made of molecular loops, which differ between species like fruit flies and mice; Drosophila relies on PERIOD and TIMELESS proteins, while mammals use PERIOD and CRYPTOCHROME.
- Researchers examined the circadian clock genes across different bilaterian species and found specific variations in their setups.
- In the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus, knocking out the TIMELESS gene did not disrupt its rhythm but sped it up, suggesting that the circadian clock has evolved while maintaining functionality throughout evolutionary changes.
Sensitivity to magnetic fields is dependent on the intensity and color of light in several animal species. The light-dependent magnetoreception working model points to cryptochrome (Cry) as a protein cooperating with its co-factor flavin, which possibly becomes magnetically susceptible upon excitation by light. The type of Cry involved and what pair of magnetosensitive radicals are responsible is still elusive.
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- EFLamide (EFLa) is a neuropeptide previously found in various arthropods, and new research identified a full-length EFLa gene in the linden bug, expanding its known presence in insects.
- Researchers created null mutants of EFLa to study its role and found that the peptide is expressed in a small cluster of neurons in the lateral protocerebrum, but the mutants showed no significant developmental or functional defects.
- The study also revealed that EFLa is produced through alternative splicing of a gene for Prohormone-4, with this connection being exclusive to certain insect groups, leaving the specific splicing mechanism still unclear.
Article Synopsis
- The CRISPR/Cas9 technique is commonly used for genome editing in human cell lines and model organisms like mice and zebrafish, but research on its application in non-model organisms, particularly non-model insects, is limited.
- This text outlines a new protocol aimed at improving the efficiency of genome editing in non-model insect species by addressing challenges faced by researchers.
- Key optimization steps presented involve precise timing for embryo injection, screening methods like the heteroduplex mobility assay, testing sgRNA efficiency, and examining germline mosaicism, with immediate applicability for other insect species.