title: Identification of G protein coupled receptors for opsines and neurohormones in Rhodnius prolixus. Genomic and transcriptomic analysis.
abstract: The importance of Chagas disease motivated the scientific effort to obtain the complete genomic sequence of the vector species Rhodnius prolixus, this information is also relevant to the understanding of triatomine biology in general. The central nervous system is the key regulator of insect physiology and behavior. Neurohormones (neuropeptides and biogenic amines) are the chemical messengers involved in the regulation and integration of neuroendocrine signals. In insects, this signaling is mainly mediated by the interaction of neurohormone ligands with G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The recently sequenced R. prolixus genome provides us with the opportunity to analyze this important family of genes in triatomines, supplying relevant information for further functional studies. Next-generation sequencing methods offer an excellent opportunity for transcriptomic exploration in key organs and tissues in the presence of a reference genome as well as when a reference genome is not available. We undertook a genomic analysis to obtain a genome-wide inventory of opsines and the GPCRs for neurohormones in R. prolixus. Furthermore, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of R. prolixus central nervous system, focusing on neuropeptide precursor genes and neurohormone and opsines GPCRs. In addition, we mined the whole transcriptomes of Triatoma dimidiata, Triatoma infestans and Triatoma pallidipennis - three sanitary relevant triatomine species - to identify neuropeptide precursors and GPCRs genes. Our study reveals a high degree of sequence conservation in the molecular components of the neuroendocrine system of triatomines.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética y Genómica Funcional, Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bvd 120 y 62, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: sheila.ons@presi.unlp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ons
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Monteagudo 2772, 2700 Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: andreslavore@unnoba.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavore
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, bloco D. Prédio do CCS, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil. Electronic address: msterkel29@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sterkel
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética y Genómica Funcional, Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bvd 120 y 62, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: juanpwulff@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wulff
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética y Genómica Funcional, Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bvd 120 y 62, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: sierra.ivana@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, Sta. María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Mexico. Electronic address: jmbarnet@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Barnetche
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, Sta. María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Mexico. Electronic address: mhenry@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Mario Henry
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética y Genómica Funcional, Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bvd 120 y 62, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Ciencias Básicas y Experimentales, Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Monteagudo 2772, 2700 Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: rrivera@unnoba.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rivera-Pomar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D049750:Genome, Insect; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D055355:Opsins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D055355:Opsins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Chagas disease; GPCRs; Insect; Neuropeptides; Transcriptome; Triatoma