TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential regulation of transferrin 1 and 2 in Aedes aegypti
AU - Zhou, Guoli
AU - Velasquez, Lissette S.
AU - Geiser, Dawn L.
AU - Mayo, Jonathan J.
AU - Winzerling, Joy J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Dr Michael Reihle, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, for providing mosquito facilities for regular mosquito rearing and E. Kohlhepp for his technical support. This work was supported by funds from the National Institute of Health (GM056812), the Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Agriculture and Life Science, the BIO5 Institute for Collaborative Bioresearch, the Undergraduate Biology Research Program and the Honors College at The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
PY - 2009/3
Y1 - 2009/3
N2 - Available evidence has shown that transferrins are involved in iron metabolism, immunity and development in eukaryotic organisms including insects. Here we characterize the gene and message expression profile of Aedes aegypti transferrin 2 (AaTf2) in response to iron, bacterial challenge and life stage. We show that AaTf2 shares a low similarity with A. aegypti transferrin 1 (AaTf1), but higher similarity with mammalian transferrins and avian ovotransferrin. Iron-binding pocket analysis indicates that AaTf2 has residue substitutions of Y188F, T120S, and R124S in the N lobe, and Y517N, H585N, T452S, and R456T in the C lobe, which could alter or reduce iron-binding activity. In vivo studies of message expression reveal that AaTf2 message is expressed at higher levels in larva and pupa, as well as adult female ovaries 72 h post blood meal (PBM) and support that AaTf2 could play a role in larval and pupal development and in late physiological events of the gonotrophic cycle. Bacterial challenge significantly increases AaTf1 expression in ovaries at 0 and 24 h PBM, but decreases AaTf2 expression in ovaries at 72 h PBM, suggesting that AaTf1 and AaTf2 play different roles in immunity of female adults during a gonotrophic cycle.
AB - Available evidence has shown that transferrins are involved in iron metabolism, immunity and development in eukaryotic organisms including insects. Here we characterize the gene and message expression profile of Aedes aegypti transferrin 2 (AaTf2) in response to iron, bacterial challenge and life stage. We show that AaTf2 shares a low similarity with A. aegypti transferrin 1 (AaTf1), but higher similarity with mammalian transferrins and avian ovotransferrin. Iron-binding pocket analysis indicates that AaTf2 has residue substitutions of Y188F, T120S, and R124S in the N lobe, and Y517N, H585N, T452S, and R456T in the C lobe, which could alter or reduce iron-binding activity. In vivo studies of message expression reveal that AaTf2 message is expressed at higher levels in larva and pupa, as well as adult female ovaries 72 h post blood meal (PBM) and support that AaTf2 could play a role in larval and pupal development and in late physiological events of the gonotrophic cycle. Bacterial challenge significantly increases AaTf1 expression in ovaries at 0 and 24 h PBM, but decreases AaTf2 expression in ovaries at 72 h PBM, suggesting that AaTf1 and AaTf2 play different roles in immunity of female adults during a gonotrophic cycle.
KW - Bacterial challenge
KW - Developmental expression
KW - Gonotrophic cycle
KW - Iron metabolism
KW - Transferrin
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2008.12.004
DO - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2008.12.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 19166934
AN - SCOPUS:61349186316
SN - 0965-1748
VL - 39
SP - 234
EP - 244
JO - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
IS - 3
ER -