David L. Denlinger

Updated: 17 April, 2000

The focus of my laboratory is the regulation of insect diapause, temperature tolerance and reproduction. Our interest in diapause ranges from its environmental and hormonal regulation to molecular studies examining diapause-specific gene expression. Our recent discovery of diapause-specific brain proteins suggests that a unique set of genes is expressed during diapause, and such genes offer interesting potential as regulators of the diapause response. In addition, we are seeking the identity of a maternally- derived brain factor that turns off the capacity for diapause. Experiments with temperature tolerance examine insects' responses to both high and low temperatures. Of special interest are the physiological adjustments that prevent cold shock and heat shock injury. An ongoing project in Kenya focuses on regulation of reproduction and metamorphosis in the tsetse fly, vector of African sleeping sickness. We are currently characterizing a hormone that stimulates parturition behavior in the tsetse female.

Laboratory Members:

Key Publications:

Denlinger, D. L. and J. Zdarek. 1997. A hormone from the uterus of the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans, stimulates parturition and abortion. J. Insect Physiol. 43:135-142.

Flannagan, R. D., S. P. Tammariello, K. H. Joplin, R. A. Cikra-Ireland, G. D. Yocum and D. L. Denlinger. 1998. Diapause-specific gene expression in pupae of the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:5616-5620.

Denlinger, D.L. and S.Tanaka, 1999. Diapause. In: Encyclopedia of Reproduction, Ed. E.Knobil and J.D. Neill, pp. 863-872. Academic Press.

Rivers, D. B, R.E. Lee, Jr. and D.L. Denlinger. 2000. Cold hardiness of the fly pupal parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis is enhanced by its host Sarcophaga crassipalpis. Journal of Insect Physiology 46: 99-106.

Zdarek, J, R. Nachman and D.L. Denlinger. 2000. Parturition hormone in the tsetse Glossina morsitans: Activity in reproductive tissues from other species and response of tsetse to identified neuropeptides and other neuroactive compounds. Journal of Insect Physiology 46: 213-219.

Rinehart, J.P., G.D. Yocum and D.L. Denlinger. Developmental upregulation of inducible hsp70 transcripts, but not the cognate form, during pupal diapause in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (in press).

Click on image or here to return to the Ohio State Department of Entomology home page.