Matrix metalloproteinases are involved in eclosion and wing expansion in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the major proteinases that process or degrade numerous extracellular matrix (ECM) components and are evolutionarily conserved from nematodes to humans. During molting in insects, the old cuticle is removed and replaced by a new counterpart. Although the regulatory mechanisms of hormones and nutrients in molting have been well studied, very little is known about the roles of ECM-modifying enzymes in this process. Here, we found that MMPs are necessary for imaginal molting of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. Inhibition of Mmp activity via inhibitor treatment led to the failure of eclosion and wing expansion. Five Mmps genes were identified from the P. americana genome, and PaMmp2 played the dominant roles during molting. Further microscopic investigations showed that newly formed adult cuticles were attenuated and that then chitin content was reduced upon Mmp inhibition. Transcriptomic analysis of the integument demonstrated that multiple signaling and metabolic pathways were changed. Microscopic investigation of the wings showed that epithelial cells were restrained together because they were incapable of degrading the ECM upon Mmp inhibition. Transcriptomic analysis of the wing identified dozens of possible genes functioned in wing expansion. This is the first study to show the essential roles of Mmps in the nymph-adult transition of hemimetabolous insects.

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