Transcription factors, microRNAs and RNA binding factors frequently interact to coordinate gene expression during development. The transcription factor BROAD (BR) is a global regulator of insect gene transcription and governs the timing of the commitment to pupate. I determined BR expression in the Ae. aegypti midgut by qPCR, and correlated its expression with that of nine miRNAs and three RNA-binding factors. During midgut metamorphosis the expression of these factors was dynamic and reproducible.
To better understand the changes in expression patterns, I evaluated the effects of hormone analogs on expression. Using this approach I uncovered concurrent up-regulation of BR, miR-34 and miR-14 in the pupal midgut when treated with methoprene, and found that RH2485 accelerated expression of BR, BRAT, and microRNAs let-7, and miR-125. Treatment with each hormone analog resulted in a change in BR expression.
Finally, I evaluated the effect of nutrients on expression levels. Surprisingly, though most transcripts were down-regulated during starvation, the expression of BR did not decrease, while microRNAs miR-34 and miR-14 were elevated. This may identify a novel role for miR-34 during starvation in an invertebrate, and raises the possibility that miR-34 and miR-14 are part of a starvation-induced stress response in the mosquito midgut.
In summary, this expression analysis suggests that microRNA regulation plays an important role during midgut metamorphosis, and reveals a new layer of regulatory complexity in the control of development in Ae. aegypti.
","abstract_html":"<p>Transcription factors, microRNAs and RNA binding factors frequently interact to coordinate gene expression during development. The transcription factor <em>BROAD (BR)</em> is a global regulator of insect gene transcription and governs the timing of the commitment to pupate. I determined <em>BR</em> expression in the <em>Ae. aegypti</em> midgut by qPCR, and correlated its expression with that of nine miRNAs and three RNA-binding factors. During midgut metamorphosis the expression of these factors was dynamic and reproducible.</p> <p>To better understand the changes in expression patterns, I evaluated the effects of hormone analogs on expression. Using this approach I uncovered concurrent up-regulation of <em>BR, miR-34</em> and <em>miR-14</em> in the pupal midgut when treated with methoprene, and found that RH2485 accelerated expression of <em>BR, BRAT,</em> and microRNAs <em>let-7</em>, and <em>miR-125</em>. Treatment with each hormone analog resulted in a change in <em>BR</em> expression.</p> <p>Finally, I evaluated the effect of nutrients on expression levels. Surprisingly, though most transcripts were down-regulated during starvation, the expression of <em>BR</em> did not decrease, while microRNAs<em> miR-34</em> and <em>miR-14</em> were elevated. This may identify a novel role for <em>miR-34</em> during starvation in an invertebrate, and raises the possibility that <em>miR-34</em> and <em>miR-14</em> are part of a starvation-induced stress response in the mosquito midgut.</p> <p>In summary, this expression analysis suggests that microRNA regulation plays an important role during midgut metamorphosis, and reveals a new layer of regulatory complexity in the control of development in <em>Ae. aegypti</em>.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ray, Kathryn"],"institution":"The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":"Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["James T. Nishiura"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Peter N. Lipke","Barbara Studamire","Diana P. Bratu","Edward B. Dubrovsky"],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2013-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:49Z","subjects":["Biology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1959","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["James T. Nishiura"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Peter N. Lipke","Barbara Studamire","Diana P. Bratu","Edward B. Dubrovsky"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ray, Kathryn"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-03-16T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Biology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1959"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Transcription factors, microRNAs and RNA binding factors frequently interact to coordinate gene expression during development. The transcription factor BROAD (BR) is a global regulator of insect gene transcription and governs the timing of the commitment to pupate. I determined BR expression in the Ae. aegypti midgut by qPCR, and correlated its expression with that of nine miRNAs and three RNA-binding factors. During midgut metamorphosis the expression of these factors was dynamic and reproducible.
To better understand the changes in expression patterns, I evaluated the effects of hormone analogs on expression. Using this approach I uncovered concurrent up-regulation of BR, miR-34 and miR-14 in the pupal midgut when treated with methoprene, and found that RH2485 accelerated expression of BR, BRAT, and microRNAs let-7, and miR-125. Treatment with each hormone analog resulted in a change in BR expression.
Finally, I evaluated the effect of nutrients on expression levels. Surprisingly, though most transcripts were down-regulated during starvation, the expression of BR did not decrease, while microRNAs miR-34 and miR-14 were elevated. This may identify a novel role for miR-34 during starvation in an invertebrate, and raises the possibility that miR-34 and miR-14 are part of a starvation-induced stress response in the mosquito midgut.
In summary, this expression analysis suggests that microRNA regulation plays an important role during midgut metamorphosis, and reveals a new layer of regulatory complexity in the control of development in Ae. aegypti.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Expression of the Transcription Factor Broad and RNA-Binding Factors in the Midgut of the Mosquito Aedes Aegypti During Metamorphosis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["James T. Nishiura"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Peter N. Lipke","Barbara Studamire","Diana P. Bratu","Edward B. Dubrovsky"],"dc:creator":["Ray, Kathryn"],"dc:date.available":["2017-03-16T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Transcription factors, microRNAs and RNA binding factors frequently interact to coordinate gene expression during development. The transcription factor BROAD (BR) is a global regulator of insect gene transcription and governs the timing of the commitment to pupate. I determined BR expression in the Ae. aegypti midgut by qPCR, and correlated its expression with that of nine miRNAs and three RNA-binding factors. During midgut metamorphosis the expression of these factors was dynamic and reproducible.
To better understand the changes in expression patterns, I evaluated the effects of hormone analogs on expression. Using this approach I uncovered concurrent up-regulation of BR, miR-34 and miR-14 in the pupal midgut when treated with methoprene, and found that RH2485 accelerated expression of BR, BRAT, and microRNAs let-7, and miR-125. Treatment with each hormone analog resulted in a change in BR expression.
Finally, I evaluated the effect of nutrients on expression levels. Surprisingly, though most transcripts were down-regulated during starvation, the expression of BR did not decrease, while microRNAs miR-34 and miR-14 were elevated. This may identify a novel role for miR-34 during starvation in an invertebrate, and raises the possibility that miR-34 and miR-14 are part of a starvation-induced stress response in the mosquito midgut.
In summary, this expression analysis suggests that microRNA regulation plays an important role during midgut metamorphosis, and reveals a new layer of regulatory complexity in the control of development in Ae. aegypti.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1959"],"dc:subject":["Biology"],"dc:title":["The Expression of the Transcription Factor Broad and RNA-Binding Factors in the Midgut of the Mosquito Aedes Aegypti During Metamorphosis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:58:49Z"}