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Rhodnius prolixus Malpighian tubule's aquaporin expression is modulated by 5‐hydroxytryptamine
Author(s) -
Martini Sabrina V.,
Goldenberg Regina C.,
Fortes Fabio S.A.,
CamposDeCarvalho Antônio C.,
Falkenstein Dóris,
Morales Marcelo M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.20017
Subject(s) - rhodnius prolixus , biology , malpighian tubule system , complementary dna , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , gene expression , rhodnius , gene , biochemistry , midgut , insect , ecology , botany , larva
The purpose of the present study was to detect the presence of an aquaporin‐like water channel, a member of the major intrinsic protein (MIP) family, in the Malpighian tubule (MT) of the hematophagous insect Rhodnius prolixus , which excrete a large bulk of fluid after a massive blood meal, and its possible regulation by 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Southern blots of cDNA was obtained from adult R. prolixus MT poly (A) + RNA. Employing degenerate primers corresponding to the NPA (amino acid sequence motifs repeats Asn‐Pro‐Ala) highly conserved domain of amino acids sequences of all members of the MIP gene family, we were able to identify a 365‐base pair PCR product. The R. prolixus MT mRNA expression of this water transporter is increased in the animal after blood meal and in tubules treated with 5‐hydroxytryptamine or cAMP. The up‐regulated expression of MT MIP mRNA after a blood meal is probably due to the action of 5‐hydroxytryptamine via a cyclic AMP dependent pathway. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 57:133–141, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.