Eur. J. Entomol. 100 (2): 267-273, 2003 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2003.042

Period gene expression in relation to seasonality and circadian rhythms in the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera)

Magdalena HODKOVÁ, Zdeňka SYROVÁ, David DOLEŽEL, Ivo ŠAUMAN
Institute of Entomology, Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, CZ-370 05 Czech Republic; e-mail: magda@entu.cas.cz

Wild females of Pyrrhocoris apterus exhibit seasonal changes in neuroendocrine activity and, consequently, reproduction. Long days (18 h light/6 h dark) (LD) stimulate reproduction, whereas short days (12 h light/12 h dark) (SD) induce reproductive arrest (diapause). This study reveals how photoperiod influences the expression of the circadian clock gene, period (per) in the insect's head. There is only a weak diurnal rhythm in per mRNA expression under LD and SD. However, levels of per mRNA are consistently higher (up to 10-fold) under SD than under LD. The influence of photoperiod on per gene expression is linked to a developmental output (diapause vs. reproduction); mutant females, reproducing under both LD and SD, show low per mRNA levels under both photoperiodic conditions. Thus, the magnitude of per gene expression may be important to the translation of photoperiodic signals into a hormonal message. Levels of per mRNA are related to properties of locomotor activity rhythms. Low per mRNA levels (displayed by wild females in LD and mutant females in both LD and SD) are associated with long free-running periods (τ~26-27 h) and late peaks of activity (ψR,L~10-12 h), whereas high per mRNA levels coincide with short free-running periods (τ~24 h) and early peaks of activity (ψR,L~4-6 h). Overall, the data provide a background for a molecular approach to the long-standing question about the role of the circadian system in insect photoperiodism.

Keywords: circadian clock, per mRNA, photoperiod, diapause, locomotor activity rhythms

Received: December 10, 2002; Revised: February 10, 2003; Accepted: April 3, 2003; Published: June 25, 2003  Show citation

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HODKOVÁ, M., SYROVÁ, Z., DOLEŽEL, D., & ŠAUMAN, I. (2003). Period gene expression in relation to seasonality and circadian rhythms in the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera). EJE, 100(2), 267-273. doi: 10.14411/eje.2003.042
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