title: The ACBP gene family in Rhodnius prolixus: Expression, characterization and function of RpACBP-1.
abstract: The acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBP) constitute a family of conserved proteins that bind acyl-CoA with high affinity and protect it from hydrolysis. Thus, ACBPs may have essential roles in basal cellular lipid metabolism. The genome of the insect Rhodnius prolixus encodes five ACBP genes similar to those described for other insect species. The qPCR analysis revealed that these genes have characteristic expression profiles in insect organs, suggesting that they have specific roles in insect physiology. Recombinant RpACBP-1 was able to bind acyl-CoA in an in vitro gel-shift assay. Moreover, heterologous RpACBP-1 expression in acb1Δ mutant yeast rescued the multi-lobed vacuole phenotype, indicating that RpACBP-1 acts as a bona fide acyl-CoA-binding protein. RpACBP-1 knockdown using RNAi caused triacylglycerol accumulation in the insect posterior midgut and a reduction in the number of deposited eggs. The amount of stored triacylglycerol was reduced in flight muscle, and the incorporation of fatty acids in cholesteryl esters was increased in the fat body. These results showed that RpACBP-1 participates in several lipid metabolism steps in R. prolixus.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi, Syddansk Universitet, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Majerowicz
authors.affiliation: Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi, Syddansk Universitet, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hannibal-Bach
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodolfo S C
authors.initials: RSC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bozaquel-Morais
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alves-Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem e Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano A M
authors.initials: LAM
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.affiliation: Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi, Syddansk Universitet, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nils J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Færgeman
authors.affiliation: Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi, Syddansk Universitet, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Brazil. Electronic address: katia@bioqmed.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Katia C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Gondim
mesh_terms: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D026261:Diazepam Binding Inhibitor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005216:Fat Body / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D010058:Oviposition; D034622:RNA Interference; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D026261:Diazepam Binding Inhibitor; D019476:Insect Proteins
keywords: ACBP; Gene expression; Lipid metabolism; Lipidomics; RNAi; Rhodnius prolixus