Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Hemocyanins in Dinocras cephalotes and Perla marginata (Plecoptera).
(2011)
Journal - Environmental entomology (United States )
Abstract :
Hemocyanins are large oligomeric respiratory proteins found in many arthropods and mollusks. The overall expression of hemocyanin mRNA, revealed by studies on Plecoptera hemocyanin sequencing, has raised the question of whether the protein is expressed or not. In fact, the presence of expressed hemocyanin has only been reported in the literature for one species, Perla marginata (Panzer, 1799). In this paper, we report the presence of hemocyanin and hexamerin proteins in Dinocras cephalotes (Curtis, 1827), a species closely related to P. marginata. To assess the presence of hemocyanin, we used a reproducible and highly sensitive method based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. We conclude that regardless of its putative function (respiratory, immune defense, storage protein), the hemocyanin is actually expressed in species in which its mRNA is present.
Do all stoneflies nymphs have respiratory proteins? Further data on the presence of hemocyanin in the larval stages of plecoptera species.
(2009)
Journal - Insect molecular biology (England )
Abstract :
Contrary to what was assumed regarding the presence of respiratory proteins in insects, a functional hemocyanin was recently found in larvae and adults of the stoneflies species Perla marginata, whereas in the close species Perla grandis, hemocyanin functionality was deduced from sequence data. In order to verify if the presence of this ancient trait is widespread within the order and to investigate why stoneflies have maintained it, we have extended the search for hemocyanin to species of other Plecoptera families. In particular, we assessed the presence of hemocyanin in the larval stage of nine Plecoptera species, belonging to six of the seven families of the European stonefly-fauna, and analyzed its potential functionality as deduced by sequence data. We cloned and sequenced the corresponding cDNAs and studied their expression with RT-PCR technique. Moreover, we performed homology studies using the deduced amino acid sequences. On the basis of our analysis, we hypothesized a functional role of the hemocyanin only for two species: Dinocras cephalotes and Isoperla grammatica (Perloidea). In all the investigated Nemouroidea and in Siphonoperla torrentium (Perloidea), this protein may have been lost. Larval size, life-cycle length, trophic role and environmental induction are discussed as possible explanations of these different physiological requirements.
| ISSN : | 1365-2583 |
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| Mesh Heading : | Animals Hemocyanin Insect Proteins Insects Larva Nymph Phylogeny Sequence Alignment Sequence Analysis, DNA Sequence Homology, Amino Acid chemistry chemistry |
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| Mesh Heading Relevant : | metabolism metabolism growth & development metabolism |
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