title: Cloning and expression analysis of a muscarinic cholinergic receptor from the brain of ant, Polyrhachis vicina.
abstract: Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchRs) are the predominant cholinergic receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems of animals. They also have been found in various insect nervous systems. In this article, a full-length cDNA of a pupative mAchR (PmAchR) was obtained from the brains of ant Polyrhachis vicina by homology cloning in combination with rapid amplification of cDNA ends. PmAchR encodes a 599-amino acid protein that exhibits a high degree of homology with other mAchRs. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that PmAchR is differentially expressed in the brains of workers, males, and females. By in situ hybridization, it is revealed that PmAchR is widely expressed in different soma clusters of the brain, including the mushroom bodies, the antennal lobes, as well as the optic lobes (OL), and the most intensely staining is found in Kenyon cells. Nonetheless, there are more positive nerve fibers in the OL of males' brains than in females' and workers' brains.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, National Ministry Education, Northwest A&F Universtiy, Yangling, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shu-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Geng-Si
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Xi
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic