title: Identification, spatial expression analysis and functional characterization of a pyrokinin-1 receptor in the Chagas' disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus.
abstract: The capability or capa gene, encodes a pyrokinin-related peptide (known as pyrokinin-1, PK1) that contains the consensus carboxy-terminal sequence of WFGPRL-NH(2). Although the CAPA precursor polypeptide in Rhodnius prolixus yields the anti-diuretic hormone, RhoprCAPA-α2, no function has yet been elucidated for the pyrokinin-1 peptide, RhoprCAPA-αPK1. In order to elucidate the possible physiological roles of the PK1-related peptides in R. prolixus, we have isolated and functionally characterized the PK1 receptor, RhoprPK1-R. Additionally, we have determined a set of three optimal reference genes to utilize for normalization of data obtained when carrying out spatial expression analyses via quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) in various tissues of fifth instar R. prolixus. The RhoprPK1-R expression profile differs strikingly from the receptor for the anti-diuretic hormone RhoprCAPA-α2, which is localized mainly to gut epithelial tissues. Instead, RhoprPK1-R expression in fifth instar stage insects was identified in tissues that are not involved in osmotic and ionic balance, including the prothoracic glands, male reproductive tissues and a pooled sample composed of fat body, dorsal vessel, abdominal nerves and female reproductive tissues. Thus, this research establishes novel possibilities for the physiological roles of the pyrokinin-related peptides in this medically relevant disease vector.
authors: Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1. paluzzi@mcmaster.ca
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Paluzzi
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016466:CHO Cells; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled