Juvenile hormone regulates the differential expression of putative juvenile hormone esterases via methoprene-tolerant in non-diapause-destined and diapause-destined adult female beetle.

Juvenile hormone (JH) plays an essential role in regulating molting, metamorphosis, reproduction, and diapause (dormancy), in many insects and crustaceans. JH esterases (JHEs) can control JH titer by regulating JH degradation. Although the biochemistry and structure of JHEs have been well studied, regulation of their expression remains unclear. We identified three putative JHEs (JHE1, JHE2, JHE3) in the cabbage beetle Colaphellus bowringi, and investigated the regulation of their expression by JH signaling in non-diapause-destined (NDD, reproductive) and diapause-destined (DD) female adults. Sequence and phylogenetic tree analyses indicate that the three putative JHEs shared conserved motifs with the JHEs of other insects and one crustacean, and were similar to Coleopteran, Dipteran, Orthopteran, Hymenopteran, and Decapodan JHEs. They were, however, less closely related to Hemipteran and Lepidopteran JHEs. JHEs were more highly expressed in NDD female adults than in DD female adults. JH analog induction in DD female adults significantly upregulated the expression of JHE1 and JHE2, but had no effect on the expression of JHE3. Knockdown of the JH candidate receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met) in NDD female adults downregulated the expression of all three JHEs. These results suggest that JHE expression is positively correlated with JH signaling, and that Met may be involved in the JH-mediated differential expression of JHE in DD and NDD adult female C. bowringi.