EGFR signaling is required for re-establishing the proximodistal axis during distal leg regeneration in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus nymph

Taro Nakamura, Taro Mito, Katsuyuki Miyawaki, Hideyo Ohuchi, Sumihare Noji

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nymphs of hemimetabolous insects, such as cockroaches and crickets, possess functional legs with a remarkable capacity for epimorphic regeneration. In this study, we have focused on the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in regeneration of a nymphal leg in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. We performed loss-of-function analyses with a Gryllus Egfr homolog (Gb'Egfr) and nymphal RNA interference (RNAi). After injection of double-stranded RNA for Gb'Egfr in the body cavity of the third instar cricket nymph, amputation of the leg at the distal tibia resulted in defects of normal distal regeneration. The regenerated leg lacked the distal tarsus and pretarsus. This result indicates that EGFR signaling is required for distal leg patterning in regeneration during the nymphal stage of the cricket. Furthermore, we demonstrated that EGFR signaling acts downstream of the canonical Wnt/Wg signaling and regulates appendage proximodistal (PD) patterning genes aristaless and dachshund during regeneration. Our results suggest that EGFR signaling influences positional information along the PD axis in distal leg patterning of insects, regardless of the leg formation mode.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)46-55
Number of pages10
JournalDevelopmental Biology
Volume319
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 1 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Epidermal growth factor receptor
  • Insect leg
  • Proximodistal axis
  • RNA interference
  • Regeneration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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