Figure 4

Hypothetic model of seasonal photoperiodism transcriptomic regulation in the pea aphid's head. This scheme corresponds to the head of the sexuparae submitted to photoperiod shortening and transmitting the signal to its embryos, the future sexuals. The photoperiod is sensed by still unknown photoreceptors located either in the brain (left side of the diagram) or in the compound eyes (right side). Perception is followed by a series of nervous signalling through different pathways such as Rho, Wunen or Dunc. In parallel, modification of the cuticle structure might lead to a higher concentration in dopamine in the brain that acts as a neurotransmitter. Nervous signalisation is relayed by endocrine regulation through the juvenile hormone signalling: the insulin pathway could be a regulator of the JH signalling pathway. SN: short night, LN: long night, cc: corpora cardiaca, ca: corpora allata.