Replication protein A is required for juvenile hormone-dependent vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation in locusts

[Display omitted] •Replication protein A (RPA) expression is induced by juvenile hormone (JH) during vitellogenic stage.•RPAs are expressed in differential response to JH receptor and FoxO in female adult locusts.•Depletion of RPAs causes reduction of vitellogenin expression, blocked ovarian growth and arrested oocyte maturation.•Knockdown of an RPA results in increased expression of other RPAs and pro-apoptotic gene Smac. Aside from inhibiting insect metamorphosis, juvenile hormone (JH) has a well-known role in stimulating various aspects of insect reproduction. Replication protein A (RPA), a heterotrimeric complex comprised of RPA1, RPA2 and RPA3 subunits plays an essential role in DNA replication and DNA repair. Here we report that RPAs are highly expressed in the fat body of adult female locust, Locusta migratoria. While RPA1 is upregulated by the JH receptor Methoprene-tolerant (Met), RPA2 and RPA3 expression appears to be primarily controlled by Forkhead box O transcription factor (FoxO). Knockdown of RPA1, RPA2 or RPA3 results in markedly reducd vitellogenin (Vg) expression in the fat body, accompanied by arrested ovarian growth and inhibited oocyte maturation. In addition, depletion of an RPA subunit leads to increased expression of other RPA subunits as well as a pro-apoptotic gene, Smac that is involved in DNA repair and apoptosis. The data indicate a crucial role of RPAs in JH-dependent vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation.