Insect digestion: a molecular, cellular, physiological and evolutionary approach

• Grant number: 17/08103-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2018 - January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Walter Ribeiro Terra
• Grantee: Walter Ribeiro Terra
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Clelia Ferreira Terra
• Associated researchers: Adriana Rios Lopes ; Alberto Augusto Gonçalves de Freitas Castro Ribeiro
• Associated grant(s): 19/21065-0 - Digestion and midgut absorption in 3 insects:an enzymological, transcriptomic , and proteomic approach., AV.BR
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/22451-0 - Transporters associated with intestinal physiology in Tenebrio molitor, Rhodnius prolixus and Dysdercus peruvianus, BP.PD

Abstract

The objective of this project is to describe the spatial organization of the midgut physiological processes and their underlying molecular events of insect types pertaining to different orders. The aim of these studies is to find out general principles from which hypotheses can be advanced in relation to the digestive and absorptive processes and tissue metabolic interactions of insects not previously studied. Such studies are necessary for developing new insect control procedures. The project is divided into 3 parts: (a) Midgut molecular physiology and tissue metabolic interactions, which models will be based on cDNA deep sequencing (obtained by Illumina) associated with data on digestive enzymes, buffering systems, and transporters, etc. The models will be tested by enzyme and transporter inhibitors and by protein silencing with the aid of RNAi; (b) Insect-purified or recombinant digestive enzymes in a search for peculiarities that set them apart from vertebrate enzymes and that led insects to overcome plant defenses; (c) Evolution of insect digestive systems. The present proposal will be improved by studying insect groups not considered before, such as leafhoppers, thrips, and cerambycid beetles, basal and more derived hymenopterans like wasps and ants. Another approach for evolution will be "phylotranscriptomics", the comparative analysis of whole or part of the midgut transcriptomes (obtained by Illumina sequencing) we have available or intend to prepare and phylogenomics of chosen insect genomes. (AU)

Scientific publications

(15)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TERRA, WALTER R.; DIAS, RENATA O.; FERREIRA, CLELIA. Recruited lysosomal enzymes as major digestive enzymes in insects. BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS, v. 47, n. 2, p. 615-623, APR 30 2019. (17/08103-4)

BARROSO, I.; FERREIRA, C.; TERRA, W.. Molecular model of primary protein digestion and absorption of amino acids and peptides in the midgut cell microvilli of Musca domestica larvae. FEBS OPEN BIO, v. 11, p. 1-pg., 2021-07-01. (19/22451-0, 17/08103-4)

SILVA, CARLOS P.; DIAS, RENATA O.; BERNARDES, VANESSA; BARROSO, IGNACIO G.; CARDOSO, CHRISTIANE; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. ecruitment of lysosomal cathepsins B, L and D as digestive enzymes in Coleopter. Insect Molecular Biology, v. 31, n. 2, DEC 2021. (17/08103-4)

BARROSO, IGNACIO G.; FUZITA, FELIPE J.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Midgut fluxes and digestive enzyme recycling in Musca domestica: A molecular approach. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v. 241, MAR 2020. (17/08103-4)

BARROSO, IGNACIO G.; CARDOSO, CHRISTIANE; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the underlying mechanisms of digestion of triacylglycerols and phosphatides and absorption and fate of fatty acids along the midgut of Musca domestica. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology D-Genomics & Proteomics, v. 39, SEP 2021. (17/08103-4)

TERRA, WALTER R.; DIAS, RENATA O.; FERREIRA, CLELIA. Recruited lysosomal enzymes as major digestive enzymes in insects. BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS, v. 47, p. 9-pg., 2019-04-30. (17/08103-4)

TERRA, WALTER R.; DIAS, RENATA O.; OLIVEIRA, PEDRO L.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; VENANCIO, THIAGO M.. Transcriptomic analyses uncover emerging roles of mucins, lysosome/secretory addressing and detoxification pathways in insect midguts. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE, v. 29, p. 34-40, OCT 2018. (17/08103-4)

DIAS, RENATA O.; CARDOSO, CHRISTIANE; LEAL, CAMILA S.; RIBEIRO, ALBERTO F.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Domain structure and expression along the midgut and carcass of peritrophins and cuticle proteins analogous to peritrophins in insects with and without peritrophic membrane. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, v. 114, p. 1-9, APR 2019. (17/08103-4)

FUZITA, FELIPE J.; PIMENTA, DANIEL C.; PALMISANO, GIUSEPPE; TERRA, WALTER R.; FERREIRA, CLELIA. Detergent-resistant domains in Spodoptera frugiperda midgut microvillar membranes and their relation to microapocrine secretion. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, v. 235, p. 8-18, SEP 2019. (17/08103-4, 14/14183-2, 14/06863-3)

PIMENTEL, ANDRE C.; BARROSO, IGNACIO G.; FERREIRA, JESSICA M. J.; DIAS, RENATA O.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Molecular machinery of starch digestion and glucose absorption along the midgut of Musca domestica. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY, v. 109, p. 11-20, AUG-SEP 2018. (17/08103-4)

BARROSO, IGNACIO G.; SANTOS, CARLA S.; BERTOTTI, MAURO; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Molecular mechanisms associated with acidification and alkalization along the larval midgut of Musca domestica. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v. 237, NOV 2019. (15/20776-9, 17/08103-4)

LIMA, LUCAS R.; DIAS, RENATA O.; FUZITA, FELIPE JUN; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.; SILVA-FILHO, MARCIO C.. The Evolution, Gene Expression Profile, and Secretion of Digestive Peptidases in Lepidoptera Species. CATALYSTS, v. 10, n. 2, FEB 2020. (14/50275-9, 17/08103-4)

PIMENTEL, ANDRE C.; DIAS, RENATA O.; BIFANO, THAIS D.; GENTA, FERNANDO A.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Cathepsins L and B in Dysdercus peruvianus, Rhodnius prolixus, and Mahanarva fimbriolata. Looking for enzyme adaptations to digestion. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, v. 127, DEC 2020. (17/08103-4)

TERRA, WALTER R.; FERREIRA, CLELIA. Evolutionary trends of digestion and absorption in the major insect orders. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT, v. 56, MAY 2020. (17/08103-4)

FUZITA, FELIPE J.; PALMISANO, GIUSEPPE; PIMENTA, DANIEL C.; TERRA, WALTER R.; FERREIRA, CLELIA. A proteomic approach to identify digestive enzymes, their exocytic and microapocrine secretory routes and their compartmentalization in the midgut of Spodoptera frugiperda. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, v. 257, JAN 2022. (14/06863-3, 17/08103-4, 14/14183-2)