The main goal of the proposed study is the molecular characterization of the cationic amino acid (AA) translocation system in the fat body of the Yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, the principle vector for Dengue fever. As an adaption to their unique life style, the fat body tissue of adult mosquitoes houses an AA sensing and transport system which is essential for reproduction. The nutritional status of mosquitoes affects this system. The transport of cationic AAs over the fat body plasma membrane after a blood meal is indispensable for mosquito reproduction. In vertebrates cationic AAs are translocated by proteins of the Solute Carrier Family 7 (SLC7). We have identified one transporter of the SLC7 family as a transporter for the cationic AA L-histidine in mosquitoes;however, there has been no comprehensive investigation into the transport mechanisms of the other cationic AAs so far. Consequently, cationic AA transporters, their substrate specificities, and transport kinetics have not been identified. To address this problem we will use a combination of pyrosequencing, reverse genetics, and electrophysiological techniques. The proposed work will achieve a significant gain of knowledge in the field of AA transport in vector mosquitoes. .

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative The proposed work will prove significant for human health through the identification and characterization of essential and mosquito/insect-specific transporters that present high-value targets for the development of insecticidal substances.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Pilot Research Project (SC2)
Project #
5SC2GM092300-03
Application #
8245717
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1-MBRS-7 (GC))
Program Officer
Chin, Jean
Project Start
2010-04-01
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2014-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$144,144
Indirect Cost
$45,144
Name
New Mexico State University Las Cruces
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
173851965
City
Las Cruces
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
88003
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Carpenter, Victoria K; Drake, Lisa L; Aguirre, Sarah E et al. (2012) SLC7 amino acid transporters of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti and their role in fat body TOR signaling and reproduction. J Insect Physiol 58:513-22
Drake, Lisa L; Price, David P; Aguirre, Sarah E et al. (2012) RNAi-mediated gene knockdown and in vivo diuresis assay in adult female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. J Vis Exp :e3479
Hansen, Immo A; Boudko, Dmitri Y; Shiao, Shin-Hong et al. (2011) AaCAT1 of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti: a novel histidine-specific amino acid transporter from the SLC7 family. J Biol Chem 286:10803-13
Price, David P; Nagarajan, Vijayaraj; Churbanov, Alexander et al. (2011) The fat body transcriptomes of the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti, pre- and post- blood meal. PLoS One 6:e22573