Silencing the genes for dopa decarboxylase or dopachrome conversion enzyme reduces melanization of foreign targets in Anopheles gambiae.
The production of melanin is a complex biochemical process in which several enzymes may play a role. Although phenoloxidase and serine proteases are clearly key components, the activity of other enzymes, including dopa decarboxylase and dopachrome conversion enzyme may also be required. We tested the effect of knockdown of gene expression for these two enzymes on melanization of abiotic targets in the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Knockdown of dopa decarboxylase and dopachrome conversion enzyme resulted in a significant reduction of melanization of Sephadex beads at 24 h after injection. Knockdown of a third enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase, which is involved in endogenous production of tyrosine, had no effect on bead melanization. Quantitative analysis of gene expression demonstrated significant upregulation of phenylalanine hydroxylase, but not the other two genes, following injection.
Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. paskewit@entomology.wisc.edu
Susan M
SM
Paskewitz
Olga
O
Andreev
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D003911:Dextrans / Q000378:metabolism; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D003911:Dextrans; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008543:Melanins; C025614:sephadex; D004296:Dopa Decarboxylase; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C042501:dopachrome isomerase