Catalase and superoxide dismutase-2 enhance survival and protect ovaries during overwintering diapause in the mosquito Culex pipiens

Lifespan extension and stress resistance are two important features of diapause that are essential for successful overwintering. We present several lines of evidence suggesting that genes encoding two antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase-2, are critical in generating these characteristics during diapause in overwintering adults of the mosquito Culex pipiens. Expression of both catalase and sod-2 was dramatically higher in young diapausing females than in their nondiapausing counterparts at the same age. Suppression of catalase, but not sod-2, resulted in increased damage to the ovaries, as evidenced by signs of apoptosis in ovarian follicle cells. Adult survival time was shortened when levels of either catalase or sod-2 were suppressed using RNAi. Together these results imply that these two antioxidants are particularly important in promoting survival in diapausing females, while elevation of catalase also contributes to protection of the ovaries. In addition, RNAi directed against forkhead transcription factor (foxo), a gene thought to be upstream of the genes encoding these antioxidants, resulted in suppression of both catalase and sod-2. The linkage with FOXO suggests that the genes encoding these two antioxidants are components of an important gene network regulated by this transcription factor.

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► Catalase and sod-2 expression is higher in diapausing than in nondiapausing mosquitoes.
► foxo regulates expression of both catalase and sod-2.
► Knocking down catalase causes increased damage to the ovaries.
► Survival is shortened when either catalase or sod-2 is suppressed.
► Antioxidants promote survival and tissue protection during diapause.