Juvenile hormone–dependent Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor Greglin safeguards insect vitellogenesis and egg production

In addition to preventing insect metamorphosis, juvenile hormone (JH) is known to stimulate aspects of insect reproduction. However, the molecular mechanisms of JH action in insect reproduction remain largely unknown. By reanalyzing the transcriptomic data from adults and other developmental stages of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria, we identified a gene coding for Kazal-type protease inhibitor, previously named Greglin. Greglin is specifically expressed in adult females and most abundant in the fat body and ovaries. Interestingly, Greglin is among the top 3 of highly expressed genes in adult female locusts, after 2 vitellogenin (Vg) genes. Greglin is induced by JH and expressed at remarkably high levels in the vitellogenic stage. Knockdown of Greglin in adult female locusts results in accelerated degradation of serine protease substrate and significantly reduced levels of Greglin protein in hemolymph and ovaries. The consequent phenotypes include blocked oocyte maturation, arrested ovarian growth...