Cell signalling mechanisms for insect stress tolerance

Davies, S.A. , Cabrero, P. , Overend, G. , Aitchison, L., Sebastian, S., Terhzaz, S. and Dow, J.A.T. (2014) Cell signalling mechanisms for insect stress tolerance. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(1), pp. 119-128. (doi: 10.1242/jeb.090571) (PMID:24353211)

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Abstract

Insects successfully occupy most environmental niches and this success depends on surviving a broad range of environmental stressors including temperature, desiccation, xenobiotic, osmotic and infection stress. Epithelial tissues play key roles as barriers between the external and internal environments and therefore maintain homeostasis and organismal tolerance to multiple stressors. As such, the crucial role of epithelia in organismal stress tolerance cannot be underestimated. At a molecular level, multiple cell-specific signalling pathways including cyclic cAMP, cyclic cGMP and calcium modulate tissue, and hence, organismal responses to stress. Thus, epithelial cell-specific signal transduction can be usefully studied to determine the molecular mechanisms of organismal stress tolerance in vivo. This review will explore cell signalling modulation of stress tolerance in insects by focusing on cell signalling in a fluid transporting epithelium – the Malpighian tubule. Manipulation of specific genes and signalling pathways in only defined tubule cell types can influence the survival outcome in response to multiple environmental stressors including desiccation, immune, salt (ionic) and oxidative stress, suggesting that studies in the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster may reveal novel pathways required for stress tolerance.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cabrero, Mr Pablo and Dow, Professor Julian and Aitchison, Miss Lorriane and Sebastian, Mr Sujith and Terhzaz, Dr Selim and Davies, Professor Shireen and Overend, Dr Gayle
Authors: Davies, S.A., Cabrero, P., Overend, G., Aitchison, L., Sebastian, S., Terhzaz, S., and Dow, J.A.T.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Experimental Biology
ISSN:0022-0949
ISSN (Online):1477-9145

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
503711Epithelial stress sensors: novel roles for cytochrome P450s and organellar calcium in integrated stress and immune responses.Shireen DaviesBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/G020620/1RI MOLECULAR CELL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
571431Extraordinary pH - the mechanism of generation of pH 12 in living systemsJulian DowBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/J002143/1RI MOLECULAR CELL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
438361Cyclic nucleotide signalling in innate immunityShireen DaviesBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/E011438/1RI MOLECULAR CELL & SYSTEMS BIOLOGY