Article

Immunolocalization of a lipase-like protein in the reproductive apparatus of female Phlebotomus papatasi, at various stages of the gonotrophic cycle.

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Largo dell'Università, Università della Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (impact factor: 1.43). 11/2007; 101(7):611-9. DOI:10.1179/136485907X193879 pp.611-9
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT In female phlebotomine sandflies, little is known about the reproductive accessory glands that presumably contribute to egg production and/or oviposition. The main protein secreted in the accessory glands of female Phlebotomus papatasi was recently characterised as a lipase-like protein, the first to be found in the female accessory glands of any insect. This protein, named PhpaLIP (for Phlebotomus papatasi lipase), has now been detected and localized in the reproductive tissues of female P. papatasi, at different stages of the gonotrophic cycle, using a polyclonal anti-PhpaLIP serum and both confocal scanning laser and immuno-electron microscopy. PhpaLIP appears to be always present in the accessory glands (with a secretory peak shortly before oviposition) but was also detected in the follicle cells of the ovarioles, within the developing vitelline envelope, and in the oviducts. The results are discussed in relation to the functions that PhpaLIP could have during the gonotrophic cycle, in the various reproductive structures of female P. papatasi.

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    Article: First transcriptome of the testis-vas deferens-male accessory gland and proteome of the spermatophore from Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).
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    ABSTRACT: Ticks are important vectors of numerous human diseases and animal diseases. Feeding stimulates spermatogenesis, mating and insemination of male factors that trigger female reproduction. The physiology of male reproduction and its regulation of female development are essentially a black box. Several transcriptomes have catalogued expression of tick genes in the salivary glands, synganglion and midgut but no comprehensive investigation has addressed male reproduction and mating. Consequently, a new global approach using transcriptomics, proteomics, and quantitative gene expression is needed to understand male reproduction and stimulation of female reproduction.This first transcriptome to the reproductive biology of fed male ticks, Dermacentor variabilis, was obtained by 454 pyrosequencing (563,093 reads, 12,804 contigs). Gene Ontology (Biological Processes level III) recognized 3,866 transcripts in 73 different categories; spermiogenesis; spermatogenesis; peptidases, lipases and hydrolases; oxidative and environmental stress; immune defense; and protein binding. Reproduction-associated genes included serine/threonine kinase, metalloendoproteinases, ferritins, serine proteases, trypsin, cysteine proteases, serpins, a cystatin, GPCR and others. qRT-PCR showed significant upregulation from unfed versus fed adult male reproductive organs of zinc metalloprotease, astacin metalloprotease and serine protease, enzymes important in spermiogenesis and mating activity in insects, as well as a GPCR with the greatest similarity to a SIFamide receptor known to be important in regulating courtship behavior in Drosophila. Proteomics on these organs and the spermatophore by tryptic digestion/Liquid chromatography/Mass spectrometry/Mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) demonstrated expression of many of the same messages found by 454 sequencing, supporting their identification, and revealed differences in protein distribution in the reproductive system versus the spermatophore. We found Efα but no EF β in the transcriptome and neither of these proteins in the spermatophore. Thus, the previously described model for male regulation of female reproduction may not apply to other ticks. A new paradigm is needed to explain male stimulation of female tick reproduction.
    PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(9):e24711. · 4.09 Impact Factor

Keywords

accessory glands
 
confocal scanning laser
 
developing vitelline envelope
 
different stages
 
egg production
 
female accessory glands
 
female P. papatasi
 
female phlebotomine sandflies
 
female Phlebotomus papatasi
 
follicle cells
 
gonotrophic cycle
 
immuno-electron microscopy
 
lipase-like protein
 
main protein secreted
 
Phlebotomus papatasi lipase
 
polyclonal anti-PhpaLIP serum
 
reproductive accessory glands
 
reproductive tissues
 
secretory peak
 
various reproductive structures