Document Detail


Molecular and functional characterization of a juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase expressed in the corpora allata of mosquitoes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18984053     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase (JHAMT) was isolated as an abundant EST in a library of the corpora allata of the adult female mosquito Aedes aegypti. Its full length cDNA encodes a 278-aa protein that has 43% amino acid identity with BmJHAMT, a juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase previously cloned from Bombyx mori. Heterologous expression produced a recombinant protein that metabolizes farnesoic acid (FA) into methyl farnesoate, as well as juvenile hormone acid into juvenile hormone III (JH III) with exquisite stereo specificity. Real time PCR experiments showed that JHAMT mRNA levels are not an unequivocal indicator of JH III synthesis rates; the A. aegypti JHAMT gene, silent in female pupae, was transcriptionally activated just 4-6h before adult eclosion. Radiochemical methyltransferase assays using active and inactive corpora allata glands (CA) dissected from sugar and blood-fed females respectively, clearly indicated that significant levels of JHAMT enzymatic activity are present when the CA shows very low spontaneous rates of JH III synthesis. Having the last enzymes of the JH synthetic pathway readily available all the time might be critical for the adult female mosquito to sustain rapid dynamic changes in JH III synthesis in response to nutritional changes or peripheral influences, such as mating or feeding. These results suggest that this gene has different roles in the regulation of JH synthesis in pupal and adult female mosquitoes, and support the hypothesis that the rate-limiting steps in JH III synthesis in adult female mosquitoes are located before entrance of FA into the synthetic pathway.
Authors:
Jaime G Mayoral; Marcela Nouzova; Michiyo Yoshiyama; Tetsuro Shinoda; Salvador Hernandez-Martinez; Elena Dolghih; Adrian G Turjanski; Adrian E Roitberg; Horacio Priestap; Mario Perez; Lucy Mackenzie; Yiping Li; Fernando G Noriega
Related Documents :
6381733 - Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonists containing very hydrophobic amino acids.
11165003 - A guide to 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases.
1332713 - Metabolism of 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid in the red alga lithothamnion corallioides: ...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2008-10-17
Journal Detail:
Title:  Insect biochemistry and molecular biology     Volume:  39     ISSN:  1879-0240     ISO Abbreviation:  Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol.     Publication Date:  2009 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-02-19     Completed Date:  2009-03-02     Revised Date:  2011-09-26    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9207282     Medline TA:  Insect Biochem Mol Biol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  31-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cloning, Molecular
Corpora Allata / chemistry,  enzymology*,  growth & development
Culicidae / chemistry,  enzymology*,  genetics,  growth & development
Female
Gene Expression*
Insect Proteins / chemistry,  genetics,  metabolism*
Juvenile Hormones / metabolism*
Methyltransferases / chemistry,  genetics,  metabolism*
Molecular Sequence Data
Sequence Alignment
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
AI 45545/AI/NIAID NIH HHS; R01 AI045545-09/AI/NIAID NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Insect Proteins; 0/Juvenile Hormones; EC 2.1.1.-/Methyltransferases
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  New tools for discovering and characterizing microbial diversity.
Next Document:  Overexpression and purification of rat peroxisomal membrane protein 22, PMP22, in Pichia pastoris.