An aquaporin and an aquaglyceroporin have roles in low temperature adaptation of mosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis)

Two aquaporin homologs are inAnopheles sinensis, AsAQP2 (A. sinensis aquaglyceroporin), and AsAQP4 (An. sinensis aquaporin); AsAQP2 transports water, glycerol, and urea, and AsAQP4 transports water alone. These 2 AQPs are highly expressed in the Malpighian tubules and midguts. AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 expression is up-regulated by blood feeding compared with sugar feeding. Mosquitoes with reduced AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 expression survived significantly longer under low temperatures than normal temperature. AbstractMosquitoes (Anopheles sinensis), widely geographically distributed in Asia including China, are the primary vector of the malaria parasitePlasmodium vivax and other parasitic diseases such as Malayan filariasis.An. sinensis can survive through low winter temperatures. Aquaporin channels are found in all life forms, where they facilitate environmental adaptation by allowing rapid trans-cellular movement of water (classical aquaporins) or water and solutes such as glycerol (aquaglyceroporins). Here, we identified and characterized 2 aquaporin (AQP) homologs inAn. sinensis: AsAQP2 (An. sinensis aquaglyceroporin) and AsAQP4 (An. sinensis aquaporin). When expressed in frog (Xenopus laevis) oocytes, AsAQP2 transported water, glycerol, and urea; AsAQP4 transported only water. Water permeation through AsAQP2 and AsAQP4 was inhibited by mercuric chloride.AsAQP2 expression was slightly higher in adult female mosquitoes than in males, andAsAQP4 expression was significantly higher in adult...
Source: Insect Science - Category: Biology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research