Premium
Molecular effect pathways involved in crustacean molting and in its disruption
Author(s) -
TUMBURU LAXMINATH,
Gao Yongping,
Wheatly Michele G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.1021.4
Subject(s) - biology , second messenger system , endoplasmic reticulum , moulting , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , endocrinology , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , botany , larva
In crustaceans, calcium (Ca 2+ ) is not only involved in the role as an intracellular second messenger, but also in the cyclical cycle of mineralization/demineralization knowns as molting cycle. Molting is an endocrine‐mediated process, controlled by ecysteroids. Numerous endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been found to interfere with edcysteroid signaling, thereby disrupting the natural molting process. We hypothesize that the hormonal regulation of Ca 2+ flux in crustacean molting occurs through a pathway involving cyclic nucleotides. We have successfully cloned and sequenced the ligand‐binding cDNA fragment of ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) and retinoid‐x‐receptor (RXR) from the hepatopancreas of the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii . Using real‐time PCR, we have determined in our observations so far, that molting is a function of ecdysteroid signalling, and can temporally regulate Ca 2+ transporters. We have selected two EDCs, a synthetic estrogen 17α‐ethinyl‐estradiol (EE2), and a natural estrogen 17β‐estradiol (E2) to address the hypothesis of this study. Studies are underway to determine the effect of EE2 and E2 on the levels cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) and the expression of nuclear receptors (EcR and RXR) and Ca 2+ transporters (SERCA: Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca 2+ ‐ATPase; PMCA: Plasma Membrane Ca 2+ ‐ATPase; CaM: Calmodulin). (Supported by Grants IBN 0445202 to MGW, YG and CMG).