The cloning, phylogenetic relationship and distribution pattern of two new putative GPCR-type octopamine receptors in the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria).
The biogenic amine octopamine functions as a neuromodulator, neurotransmitter and neurohormone in insect nervous systems. It plays a prominent role in modulating multiple physiological and behavioural processes in invertebrates. Octopamine exerts its effects by binding to specific receptor proteins that belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. We found two partial sequences of putative octopamine receptors in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria (SgOctalphaR and SgOctbetaR) and investigated their transcript levels in males and females of both phases and during the transition between long-term solitarious and gregarious locusts. The transcript levels of SgOctalphaR are the highest in the central nervous system, whereas those of SgOctbetaR are the highest in the flight muscles, followed by the central nervous system. Both SgOctalphaR and SgOctbetaR show higher transcript levels in long-term gregarious locusts as compared to solitarious ones. The rise of SgOctbetaR transcript levels already appears during the first 4h of gregarisation, during which also the behavioural changes take place.
Verlinden
Heleen
H
Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Vleugels
Rut
R
Marchal
Elisabeth
E
Badisco
Liesbeth
L
Tobback
Julie
J
Pflüger
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Blenau
Wolfgang
W
Vanden Broeck
Jozef
J
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000235:genetics*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D017982:Receptors, Biogenic Amine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D017982:Receptors, Biogenic Amine; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C027604:norsynephrine receptor