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Postgenomics of Tribolium : Targeting the endocrine regulation of diuresis
Author(s) -
PARK Yoonseong,
BEEMAN Richard W.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
entomological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1748-5967
pISSN - 1738-2297
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2008.00143.x
Subject(s) - biology , red flour beetle , desiccation tolerance , insect , pest analysis , genome , integrated pest management , gene , desiccation , evolutionary biology , zoology , genetics , botany , ecology
Coleopteran insects comprise a highly successful taxon, representing more than 25% of eukaryotic species, many of which are economically important. One of these, the red flour beetle ( Tribolium castaneum H.), is a major pest of stored grain and cereal products and is also an excellent genetic model for the Coleoptera. The Tribolium genome sequencing project was recently completed, the first for an agricultural insect pest species. This genome sequence and annotation, in combination with the tractability of Tribolium for genetic dissection and functional genomic analysis, makes it one of the most useful subjects for studies of insect development, genetics and physiology. Tribolium has a number of interesting physiological adaptations, including desiccation tolerance associated with specialized cryptonephridial organs for active rectal absorption of atmospheric water. The study of endocrine regulation of diuresis in this species has led to the identification of a number of osmoregulatory peptides, including the novel arginine‐vasopressin‐like peptide.