The Insect Prothoracic Gland as a Model for Steroid Hormone Biosynthesis and Regulation

Steroid hormones are ancient signaling molecules found in vertebrates and insects alike. Both taxa show intriguing parallels with respect to how steroids function and how their synthesis is regulated. As such, insects are excellent models for studying universal aspects of steroid physiology. Here, we present a comprehensive genomic and genetic analysis of the principal steroid hormone-producing organs in two popular insect models, Drosophila and Bombyx. We identified 173 genes with previously unknown specific expression in steroid-producing cells, 15 of which had critical roles in development. The insect neuropeptide PTTH and its vertebrate counterpart ACTH both regulate steroid production, but molecular targets of these pathways remain poorly characterized. Identification of PTTH-dependent gene sets identified the nuclear receptor HR4 as a highly conserved target in both Drosophila and Bombyx. We consider this study to be a critical step toward understanding how steroid hormone production and release are regulated in all animal models. [Display omitted] •Identification of 173 genes with specific expression in steroidogenic cells•Drosophila steroidogenic cells have high proportion of signaling pathway components•In vivo RNAi screen identifies 15 genes involved in steroid production and regulation•Candidate targets of neuropeptide PTTH in controlling steroidogenesis are described Little is known about how steroidogenesis is regulated in animals. Here, Ou et al. examine the steroid hormone-producing cells from two popular insect models to identify players that act in the synthesis and regulation of steroids. The nuclear receptor HR4 is identified as a key regulator in both systems.