A role for Taiman in metamorphosis
A role for Taiman in metamorphosis
Recently, the transcription factor Methoprene-tolerant (Met) has been reported to be the JH receptor in the context of insect metamorphosis. Further experiments in vitro suggested that Met did not act alone as the JH receptor, but had to heterodimerise with the protein Taiman. Researchers have discovered that Taiman is expressed in a number of isoforms, and selective depletion has shown that at least some of these are involved in transducing the JH signal that represses metamorphosis.
Recently, the transcription factor Methoprene-tolerant (Met) has been reported to be the JH receptor in the context of insect metamorphosis.
Further experiments in vitro suggested that Met did not act alone as the JH receptor, but had to heterodimerise with the protein Taiman.
Unfortunately, Taiman depletion experiments to demonstrate this protein's involvement in metamorphosis proved unsuccessful because they resulted in 100% mortality. Researchers have discovered that Taiman is expressed in a number of isoforms, and selective depletion has shown that at least some of these are involved in transducing the JH signal that represses metamorphosis.
Ref. Art.: Lozano J, Kayukawa T, Shinoda T, Belles X. 2014. A Role for Taiman in Insect Metamorphosis. PLoS Genet 10(10): e1004769. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1004769