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Francikowski J, Krzyżowski M, Kochańska B, Potrzebska M, Baran B, Chajec Ł, Urbisz A, Małota K, Łozowski B, Kloc M, Kubiak J. Characterisation of white and yellow eye colour mutant strains of house cricket, Acheta domesticus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216281. [PMID: 31059541 PMCID: PMC6502451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Two eye-colour mutant strains, white (W) and yellow (Y) of house cricket Acheta domesticus were established in our laboratory. We phenotyped and genotyped the mutants, performed genetic crossings and studied the eye structure and pigment composition using light and electron microscopy and biochemical analysis. We show that W and Y phenotypes are controlled by a single autosomal recessive allele, as both traits are metabolically independent. The analysis of the mutants`eye structure showed a reduced number of dark pigment granules while simultaneously, and an increased amount of light vacuoles in white eye mutants was observed. Significant differences in eye pigment composition between strains were also found. The Y mutant had a lower number of ommochromes, while the W mutant had a lower number of ommochromes and pteridines. This indicates that mutated genes are involved in two different, independent metabolic pathways regulating tryptophan metabolism enzymes, pigment transporter granules or pigment granule formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Francikowski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Michał Krzyżowski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Barbara Kochańska
- The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Marta Potrzebska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bartosz Baran
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Chajec
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Urbisz
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Karol Małota
- Department of Embryology and Histology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bartosz Łozowski
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ecotoxicology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Kloc
- The Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston,Texas, United States of America
- The Houston Methodist Hospital, Department of Surgery, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Genetics, Houston Texas, United States of America
| | - Jacek Kubiak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (WIHE), Warsaw, Poland
- UnivRennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes), UMR 6290, Cell Cycle Group, Faculty of Medicine, Rennes, France
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Han Q, Beerntsen BT, Li J. The tryptophan oxidation pathway in mosquitoes with emphasis on xanthurenic acid biosynthesis. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2007; 53:254-63. [PMID: 17070835 PMCID: PMC2577175 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2006.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2006] [Revised: 09/01/2006] [Accepted: 09/04/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Oxidation of tryptophan to kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) is the major catabolic pathway in mosquitoes. However, 3-HK is oxidized easily under physiological conditions, resulting in the production of reactive radical species. To overcome this problem, mosquitoes have developed an efficient mechanism to prevent 3-HK from accumulating by converting this chemically reactive compound to the chemically stable xanthurenic acid. Interestingly, 3-HK is a precursor for the production of compound eye pigments during the pupal and early adult stages; consequently, mosquitoes need to preserve and transport 3-HK for compound eye pigmentation in pupae and adults. This review summarizes the tryptophan oxidation pathway, compares and contrasts the mosquito tryptophan oxidation pathway with other model species, and discusses possible driving forces leading to the functional adaptation and evolution of enzymes involved in the mosquito tryptophan oxidation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Han
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Han Q, Calvo E, Marinotti O, Fang J, Rizzi M, James AA, Li J. Analysis of the wild-type and mutant genes encoding the enzyme kynurenine monooxygenase of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2003; 12:483-490. [PMID: 12974953 PMCID: PMC2629591 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2583.2003.00433.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) catalyses the hydroxylation of kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine. KMO has a key role in tryptophan catabolism and synthesis of ommochrome pigments in mosquitoes. The gene encoding this enzyme in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is called kynurenine hydroxylase (kh) and a mutant allele that produces white eyes has been designated khw. A number of cDNA clones representative of wild-type and mutant genes were isolated. Sequence analyses of the wild-type and mutant cDNAs revealed a deletion of 162 nucleotides in the mutant gene near the 3'-end of the deduced coding region. RT-PCR analyses confirm the transcription of a truncated mRNA in the mutant strain. The in-frame deletion results in a loss of 54 amino acids, which disrupts a major alpha-helix and which probably accounts for the loss of activity of the enzyme. Recombinant Ae. aegypti KMO showed high substrate specificity for kynurenine with optimum activity at 40 degrees C and pH = 7.5. Kinetic parameters and inhibition of KMO activity by Cl- and pyridoxal-5-phosphate were determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Han
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
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