Juvenile Hormone Studies in Drosophila melanogaster

Front Physiol. 2022 Feb 10:12:785320. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.785320. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

In the field of insect endocrinology, juvenile hormone (JH) is one of the most wondrous entomological terms. As a unique sesquiterpenoid hormone produced and released by the endocrine gland, corpus allatum (CA), JH is a critical regulator in multiple developmental and physiological processes, such as metamorphosis, reproduction, and behavior. Benefited from the precise genetic interventions and simplicity, the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an indispensable model in JH studies. This review is aimed to present the regulatory factors on JH biosynthesis and an overview of the regulatory roles of JH in Drosophila. The future directions of JH studies are also discussed, and a few hot spots are highlighted.

Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; behavior; corpus allatum; juvenile hormone; metamorphosis; methoprene-tolerant; reproduction.

Publication types

  • Review