Reproduction is essential for the survival of a species and is under the close coordination of the central nerve system (CNS). In Drosophila melanogaster, juvenile hormones (JHs) from the corpora allatum(CA) are essential for egg-production because they promote vitellogenesis and enhance ecdysteroid biosynthesis. JH biosynthesis is under the control of neuropeptides, such as Drosophila insulin-like peptide (dilp) and allatostatin C (AstC). However, how these neuropeptide pathways coordinate JH production remain elusive. Here, we report a small number of neurons in the brain and ventral nerve cord (VNC) neurons that produce a neuropeptide AstC regulate egg-production negatively. The brain neurons seem to act indirectly by inhibiting secretion of dilp that up-regulates JH production, whereas the VNC neurons seem to release AstC into the hemolymph to suppress the CA activity directly. On the CA, the AstC actions appear mediated by two G-protein coupled receptors, AstC-R1 and AstC-R2. We will discuss our recent efforts to identify agonists for either receptor, which will be potential leads for insect reproduction regulators.

• Chen Zhang(School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)
• Yong-Hoon Jang(School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)
• Young-Joon Kim(School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)