Expression of the senescence-related gene FoxO in Daphnia pulex and its role in the regulation of reproductive transformation (Branchiopoda, Cladocera)

Abstract The gene FoxO plays an important role in regulating individual growth and development, cell survival, and senescence, mainly through transcriptional regulation and the signal transduction pathway. In this study, the full-length cDNA sequence of the FoxO gene was cloned from Daphnia pulex. FoxO was silenced by RNA interference. The expression levels of the senescence-related genes FoxO , Akt , and Sir2 were analysed before and after interference by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Meanwhile, the production of an ephippium in D. pulex was evaluated before and after interference. The expression of FoxO and protein abundance decreased after interference. The number of ephippia produced in the Akt interference group was higher than in the two control groups, and the expressions of the senescence-related genes Akt and Sir2 decreased after interference. The results indicate that FoxO regulated senescence, primarily through the phosphorylation of Akt and acetylation of Sir2 , thereby affecting the reproductive transformation of D. pulex .