Predominant expression and activity of vacuolar H(+)-ATPases in the mixed segment of the wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis.
The mixed segment is a unique part of the gut present only in the most apical lineage of termites and consists of a complex of overlapping mesenteric and proctodeal epithelia. In spite of its unique structure, the physiological functions of the mixed segment have been poorly studied. We performed transcriptome analysis to identify functional enzymes acting in the mixed segment of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis. We sequenced the transcripts (4563 isotigs) of the mixed segment and compared them with those of the midgut (4813 isotigs) and the first proctodeal segment (3629 isotigs). We found that vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) subunits were predominant in the mixed segment, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis. The V-ATPase activity in these three tissues was in a good agreement with the expression patterns, suggesting that V-ATPase is a prevalent enzyme in the mixed segment of the termites. The results confirmed the proposed role of the mixed segment as a transporting epithelium.
Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
Rohitha P
RP
Kumara
Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
Seikoh
S
Saitoh
Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
Hiroaki
H
Aoyama
Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
Naoya
N
Shinzato
Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan. Electronic address: tokuda@comb.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.
Gaku
G
Tokuda
D000818:Animals; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000201:enzymology; D015870:Gene Expression; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000201:enzymology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D059467:Transcriptome; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*
D019476:Insect Proteins; D025262:Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
Gut; Mixed segment; Termite; Transcriptome; V-ATPase