To grow or not to grow: activation or repression of early oogenesis in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica.

In this one-year postdoctoral mandate we will examine the role of the dopamine receptor 2 (D2R) in the regulation of early oogenesis in the cockroach, Blattella germanica. Using cell-based functional assays we will characterize the BlageD2R. Based on the research of Bai and Palli (Sci. Rep. 6: 1–10, 2016), we hypothesize that this receptor can be activated by both dopamine and juvenile hormone. In close collaboration with the lab of Dr. Maria-Dolors Piulachs in Barcelona, we will also try to functionally characterize the role of this receptor in vivo. Using the RNA interference technique we will check the effect of a D2R knockdown on oogenesis. Furthermore, we will determine the tissue and temporal distribution of this receptor by means of the quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR technique.