Vitellogenesis is the process of yolk protein formation in the

oocytes An oocyte (, ), oöcyte, or ovocyte is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female g ...

of non mammalian vertebrates during sexual maturation. The term ''vitellogenesis'' comes from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

''vitellus'' ("egg yolk").

Yolk Among animals which produce eggs, the yolk (; also known as the vitellus) is the nutrient-bearing portion of the egg whose primary function is to supply food for the development of the embryo. Some types of egg contain no yolk, for example bec ...

proteins, such as Lipovitellin and

Phosvitin Phosvitin is one of the egg (commonly hen's egg) yolk phosphoproteins known for being the most phosphorylated protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins ...

, provides maturing oocytes with the metabolic energy required for development. Vitellogens are the precursor cells that lead to yolk protein synthesis in the oocyte.

Estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal acti ...

and vitellogenin production have a positive correlation. When estrogen production in the ovary is increased via the activation of the hypothalmo-pituitary axis it leads to heightened vitellogenin production in the liver. Vitellogenin production in the liver is the first step of vitellogenesis. Once Vittelogenins are released into the blood stream where they are then transported to the growing oocyte where they lead to yolk protein production. The transport of vitellogenins into the maturing oocyte is done via receptor mediated endocytosis which is a low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Yolk is a lipoprotein composed of proteins, phospholipids and neutral fats along with a small amount of glycogen. The yolk is synthesised in the liver of the female parent in soluble form. Through circulation it is transported to the follicle cells that surround the maturing ovum, and is deposited in the form of yolk platelets and granules in the ooplasm. The mitochondria and Golgi complex are said to bring about the conversion of the soluble form of yolk into insoluble granules or platelets. The two hormones responsible for vitellogenesis stimulation in insects are sesquiterpenoid

juvenile hormone Juvenile hormones (JHs) are a group of acyclic sesquiterpenoids that regulate many aspects of insect physiology. The first discovery of a JH was by Vincent Wigglesworth. JHs regulate development, reproduction, diapause, and polyphenisms.The chem ...

(JH) and ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (E20). More recent studies are showing the importance of

miRNA MicroRNA (miRNA) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules containing 21 to 23 nucleotides. Found in plants, animals and some viruses, miRNAs are involved in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRN ...

in vitellogenesis stimulation as well. The pathways that these hormones regulate is largely dependent on the evolutionary growth of the insect species. Together, JH, E20, and miRNA help synthesize vitellogenins within the

fat body 300px, Stained cells of an insect fat body Fat body is a highly dynamic insect tissue composed primarily of storage cells. It is distributed throughout the insect's internal body cavity; the haemocoel, in close proximity to the epidermis, dige ...

. JH uses a JH

Methoprene Methoprene is a juvenile hormone (JH) analog which acts as a growth regulator when used as an insecticide. It is an amber-colored liquid with a faint fruity odor. Methoprene does not kill insects. Instead, it interferes with an insect’s life ...

tolerant /Taiman receptor complex that is regulated by JH to synthesis vitellogenins in the fat body. In cockroaches, for example, vitellogenesis can be stimulated by injection of

into immature females and mature males. In mosquitoes infected with ''

Plasmodium ''Plasmodium'' is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of ''Plasmodium'' species involve development in a blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vert ...

'', vitellogenesis may be manipulated by the parasites to reduce

fecundity Fecundity is defined in two ways; in human demography, it is the potential for reproduction of a recorded population as opposed to a sole organism, while in population biology, it is considered similar to fertility, the natural capability to pr ...

References

Germ cells {{developmental-biology-stub