CREB-B acts as a key mediator of NPF/NO pathway involved in phase-related locomotor plasticity in locusts

Gene expression changes in neural systems are essential for environment-induced behavioral plasticity in animals; however, neuronal signaling pathways mediating the effect of external stimuli on transcriptional changes are largely unknown. Recently, we have demonstrated that the neuropeptide F (NPF)...

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Published inPLoS genetics Vol. 15; no. 5; p. e1008176
Main Authors Hou, Li, Li, Beibei, Ding, Ding, Kang, Le, Wang, Xianhui
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 31.05.2019
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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Summary:Gene expression changes in neural systems are essential for environment-induced behavioral plasticity in animals; however, neuronal signaling pathways mediating the effect of external stimuli on transcriptional changes are largely unknown. Recently, we have demonstrated that the neuropeptide F (NPF)/nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway plays a regulatory role in phase-related locomotor plasticity in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria. Here, we report that a conserved transcription factor, cAMP response element-binding protein B (CREB-B), is a key mediator involved in the signaling pathway from NPF2 to NOS in the migratory locust, triggering locomotor activity shift between solitarious and gregarious phases. We find that CREB-B directly activates brain NOS expression by interacting with NOS promoter region. The phosphorylation at serine 110 site of CREB-B dynamically changes in response to population density variation and is negatively controlled by NPF2. The involvement of CREB-B in NPF2-regulated locomotor plasticity is further validated by RNAi experiment and behavioral assay. Furthermore, we reveal that protein kinase A mediates the regulatory effects of NPF2 on CREB-B phosphorylation and NOS transcription. These findings highlight a precise signal cascade underlying environment-induced behavioral plasticity.
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NO authors have competing interests.
ISSN:1553-7404
1553-7390
1553-7404
DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1008176