Differential Expression of Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Isoforms in Flight Muscles of the Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Flight muscles of Triatoma infestans have two glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) isoforms: GPDH-1 is involved in flight metabolism and GPDH-2 provides lipid precursors. Total GPDH activity was greater in the natural population and almost only due to GPDH-1. Different expression and activity observed between GPDH isoforms in the natural population and the first laboratory generation was not detected in the second laboratory generation. This pattern may be caused by gradual adaptation to laboratory nutritional conditions. During development, the expression of GPDH-2 increased with a longer time of intake, which would imply an increment in lipid biosynthesis. The GPDH-1 transcript predominated with respect to that of GPDH-2 in the lower nutritional condition, suggesting the necessity of insects to fly during this nutritional status. The transcriptional pattern showed a delay at 22 C. The isoforms activities and transcript patterns in flight muscles suggest transcriptional adaptation to metabolic requirements originated by alternative splicing.

Daily Variations in the Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Isoforms Expression in Triatoma infestans Flight Muscles

“…26 In another study, we showed that GPDH-1 and GPDH-2 exhibited a tissue-specific pattern of expression and differentiated by sex and that the expression pattern of GPDH changes with different temperatures and amount of intake. 27 These results were consistent with transcripts requirement for GPDH isozymes expression according to the metabolic role described for GPDH isozymes in flying insects. 23,24 Daily rhythms have been observed in a wide variety of behavioral, physiological, and metabolic process in many insects.…”

Clock Gene Period in the Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

“…It was demonstrated that GPDH isoforms present a pattern of temporal expression, tissue-specific, differentiated by sex, and show changes in relation to temperature and the amount of intake. 22,23 In flight muscles of adult T. infestans under different conditions of photoperiod, the expression of GPDH isoforms presented rhythmic variations differentiated by sex. 24 GPDH-1, the isoform involved in the energetic metabolism of the flight, showed a rhythmic expression profile and synchronized in constant darkness, suggesting an endogenous clock regulation.…”