Arylalkalamine N‐acetyltransferase‐1 functions on cuticle pigmentation in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase (aaNAT) catalyzes the acetylation of dopamine, 5‐hydroxy‐tryptamine, tryptamine, octopamine, norepinephrine and other arylalkylamines to form respective N‐acetyl‐arylalkylamines. Depending on the products formed, aaNATs are involved in a variety of physiological functions. In the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, a number of aaNATs and aaNAT‐like proteins have been reported. However, the primary function of each individual aaNAT is yet to be identified. In this study we investigated the function of Ae. aegypti aaNAT1 (Ae‐aaNAT1) in cuticle pigmentation and development of morphology. Ae‐aaNAT1 transcripts were detected at all stages of development with highest expressions after pupation and right before adult eclosion. Ae‐aaNAT1 mutant mosquitoes generated using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) – CRISPR‐associated protein 9 had no obvious effect on larval and pupal development. However, the mutant mosquitoes exhibited a roughened exoskeletal surface, darker cuticles, and color pattern changes suggesting that Ae‐aaNAT1 plays a role in development of the morphology and pigmentation of Ae. aegypti adult cuticles. The mutant also showed less blood feeding efficiency and lower fecundity when compared with the wild‐type. The mutation of Ae‐aaNAT1 influenced expression of genes involved in cuticle formation. In summary, Ae‐aaNAT1 mainly functions on cuticular pigmentation and also affects blood feeding efficiency and fecundity.

Arylalkalamine N‐acetyltransferase‐1 acts on a secondary amine in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

“…In this study, we showed that the Ae‐aaNAT1 protein exhibited high biochemical activity to epinephrine. Our previously findings showed that Ae‐aaNAT1 mutants had lower blood carrying capacity than the WTs [9]. Together, it suggests that Ae‐aaNAT1 might play a key role in the anti‐haemostasis.…”

“…To further investigate Ae-aaNAT1 involvement in blood meal acquisition, salivary glands of Ae-aaNAT1 mutant mosquitoes obtained previously [9] and WTs were dissected for evaluating the anticoagulation. The care and use of mice in this study were approved by the Hainan University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.…”

“…It has therefore been intensively studied in vertebrates [3][4][5]. However, studies of aaNATs have been focused on cuticle pigmentation and formation in insects [6][7][8][9].…”

“…To understand the function diversity of different aaNATs in the mosquito, an aaNAT1 mutant of Ae . aegypti was obtained for further investigation [9]. In this report, to determine any novel substrate of Ae .…”

Evolutionary Genomics Reveals Multiple Functions of Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase in Fish

“…In specific, expression of aanat genes is driven directly by the circadian clock when night falls, followed by phosphorylation-dependent activation by cyclic-AMP-dependent activation of protein kinase A (PKA), and protection by binding to 14-3-3 proteins, resulting in increased melatonin production. In contrast, light during the daytime disrupts the AANAT/14-3-3 complex, leading to proteolytic degradation of the enzyme and suppression of melatonin synthesis ( Coon et al, 2001 ; Falcón et al, 2010 ; Zhang L. et al, 2021 ).…”