biostudies-literatureZhang XSNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaUSDA | National Institute of Food and AgricultureE7832-E7840https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5604040biostudies-literatureUnknown114(37)Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well-known accelerants of aging, but, paradoxically, we show that physiological levels of ROS extend life span in pupae of the moth <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>, resulting in the dormant state of diapause. This developmental switch appears to operate through a variant of the conventional insulin-signaling pathway, as evidenced by the facts that Akt, p-Akt, and PRMT1 are elevated by ROS, but not insulin, and that high levels of p-Akt fail to phosphorylate FoxO through PRMT1-mediated methylation. These results suggest a distinct signaling pathway culminating in the elevation of FoxO, which in turn promotes the extension of life span characteristic of diapause.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaReactive oxygen species extend insect life span using components of the insulin-signaling pathway.PMC56040402015-67013-2341631230066Lin XWWang TXu WHZhang XSDenlinger DLfalseReactive oxygen species extend insect life span using components of the insulin-signaling pathway.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well-known accelerants of aging, but, paradoxically, we show that physiological levels of ROS extend life span in pupae of the moth <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>, resulting in the dormant state of diapause. This developmental switch appears to operate through a variant of the conventional insulin-signaling pathway, as evidenced by the facts that Akt, p-Akt, and PRMT1 are elevated by ROS, but not insulin, and that high levels of p-Akt fail to phosphorylate FoxO through PRMT1-mediated methylation. These results suggest a distinct signaling pathway culminating in the elevation of FoxO, which in turn promotes the extension of life span characteristic of diapause.2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Sep2024-11-05T20:56:29.341Z2019-03-26T23:08:41ZS-EPMC56040402884795010.1073/pnas.1711042114