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VOL. 10, ISSUE 10 (2025)
Molecular regulation of diapause in Insects: Integration of signaling pathways, genes, enzymes, hormones, and epigenetic mechanisms
Authors
Dr. Saurav Shome
Abstract
Insect diapause is a dynamic, genetically programmed
state of developmental arrest that enables survival under unfavorable
environmental conditions. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the
molecular and physiological mechanisms governing diapause across diverse insect
taxa. It examines how metabolic suppression and biochemical adaptations support
energy conservation and stress resilience during diapause, including the
accumulation and strategic utilization of storage proteins and nutrient
reserves. Central to diapause regulations are circadian rhythms and
photoperiodic cues, which orchestrate its initiation and maintenance through
complex interactions between clock genes and neuroendocrine pathways. Recent
advances in understanding the genetic and hormonal regulation of larval diapause
as well as the mechanisms of cell cycle arrest during insect diapause are also
addressed in this review, highlighting how growth and proliferation are
suppressed at the molecular level. In addition, the protective roles of heat
shock proteins and antioxidant systems in enhancing stress tolerance during
diapause are explored. A critical section of this review focuses on the roles
of key hormonal signals—including prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH),
ecdysteroids, juvenile hormone (JH), and their upstream regulators in the
corpora allata—in modulating diapause entry, maintenance, and termination. The
transcription factor FoxO is identified as a central integrator of stress
signaling, nutrient sensing, and developmental arrest. The regulatory functions
of lesser studied but increasingly relevant signaling pathways, such as
adipokinetic hormone (AKH), corazonin, and Wnt signaling, are also discussed. Finally,
the review explores how epigenetic modifications, chromatin remodeling, and
non-coding RNAs—particularly microRNAs—contribute to the long-term
reprogramming of gene expression during diapause. By integrating findings
across molecular, hormonal, and physiological domains, this review offers a
holistic perspective on the regulatory networks that orchestrate insect
diapause, with implications for developmental biology, pest management, and
climate resilience in insects.
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Pages:105-120
How to cite this article:
Dr. Saurav Shome "Molecular regulation of diapause in Insects: Integration of signaling pathways, genes, enzymes, hormones, and epigenetic mechanisms". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 10, Issue 10, 2025, Pages 105-120
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