CBR1 decreases protein carbonyl levels via the ROS/Akt/CREB pathway to extend lifespan in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered a major cause of ageing and ageing‐related diseases through protein carbonylation. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that confer protection against ROS. Here, we observed that, compared with nondiapause‐destined pupae, high protein carbonyl levels are present in the brains of diapause‐destined pupae, which is a ‘non‐ageing’ phase in the moth Helicoverpa armigera. Protein carbonyl levels respond to ROS and decrease metabolic activity to induce diapause in order to extend lifespan. However, protein carbonylation in the brains of diapause‐destined pupae still occurs at a physiological level compared to young adult brains. We find that ROS activate Akt, and Akt then phosphorylates the transcription factor CREB to facilitate its nuclear import. CREB binds to the promoter of carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) and regulates its expression. High CBR1 levels reduce protein carbonyl levels to maintain physiological levels. This is the first report showing that the moth brain can naturally control protein carbonyl levels through a distinct ROS‐Akt‐CREB‐CBR1 pathway to extend lifespan. High levels of ROS increase protein carbonyl levels to decrease enzyme activity and maintain a low metabolic activity to induce pupal diapause. Meanwhile, ROS activate Akt, which can phosphorylate CREB for nuclear import, and CREB then binds to the CBR1 promoter to regulate its expression. High levels of CBR1 reduce the protein carbonyl levels to maintain a physiological level of protein carbonyl to extend lifespan.