D3369: Histone acetylation levels play important roles in reproduction and embryonic development of yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L.

The increasing global incidence of dengue and Zika virus infections transmitted by Aedes aegypti L. underscores the urgent need to devise novel strategies for vector control. Aedes aegypti is among the many mosquito species that lay eggs only after feeding on the blood of a vertebrate host. Oogenesis in A. aegypti L. consists of two stages: pre-vitellogenic, which occurs before blood feeding, and vitellogenic, which occurs after blood feeding. During the previtellogenic stage, the primary egg chambers do not progress further; however, in the vitellogenic stage, they complete oogenesis and produce mature eggs. Gene expression is regulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs), which include the methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of histones and other proteins. Epigenetic alterations, such as histone acetylation regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC), govern insect development and reproduction. Injecting dsRNA targeting genes coding for HATs and HDACs into newly emerged female mosquitoes successfully knocked down these genes. Knocking down some of the HATs and HDACs blocked reproduction and embryonic development, suggesting that acetylation levels of histones play critical roles in these two processes.