Comparison of the Malpighian tubules and fat body transcriptional profiles of Zophobas morio larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Publication date: Available online 9 November 2018Source: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and ProteomicsAuthor(s): Jaqueline R. Silva, Danilo T. Amaral, Vadim R. VivianiAbstractThe Malpighian tubules in insects play an essential role in osmoregulation, through the transport of ions during excretion, whereas the fat body is usually associated with the intermediary metabolism. The tubules also are involved in excretion of organic solutes and xenobiotics. However, with the exception of a preliminary transcriptional survey of the Zophobas morio (Tenebrionidae) larval tubules, there are no detailed transcriptional analysis of this organ in Coleoptera. A luciferase-like enzyme that displays weak luminescence activity in the presence of firefly D-luciferin was cloned from the tubules of Z. morio larvae. In order to better understand the molecular physiology of tubules and fat body in Coleoptera larvae, and to investigate the occurrence and functions of AMP-CoA ligases in these tissues, we performed a comparative transcriptional analysis of these tissues using Z. morio larvae. As expected, the tubules displayed organic and inorganic transporters, xenobiotic metabolism enzymes, V-ATPases, channels, and pumps. The fat body showed proteins that are synthesized in this tissue and secreted to the hemolymph, as well as enzymes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. These tissues are also involved in common pathways, such as nitrogen metabolism to degradatio...
Source: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and Proteomics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research