Evolution of molecular processes associated with nutrient absorption, fluid circulation and buffering in the intestines of Hemiptera and Diptera

• Grant number: 15/19541-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Walter Ribeiro Terra
• Grantee: Renata de Oliveira Dias
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/51685-8 - Insect digestion: a molecular, cellular, physiological and evolutionary approach, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/15195-2 - Comparative genomic analysis with focus in the insect digestive physiology evolution, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Different groups of insects diverged along the evolutionary history in the characteristics of their digestive systems. Over the past 30 years, our group has looked to understand these peculiarities in different insect orders. In this context, some of our results include differences in overall morphology, composition, synthesis and secretion rates of digestive enzymes, variations in the intestinal pH and in the distribution of membrane transport proteins. As example, it is known that different portions of the gut are involved in water absorption in the detritophagous Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae and in the seed-sucker bug Dysdercus peruvianus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae), but the membrane transport proteins involved in this and other characteristics have not yet been completely elucidated. In this way, the present study aims to understand the molecular basis of the phenomena associated with digestion in these two insects: D. peruvianus and M. domestica, model organisms in the study of the Hemiptera and Diptera orders, respectively. In particular, emphasis will be given to revealing the transport proteins involved in the circulation of nutrients and fluids and in the luminal buffering processes. In addition, the variety and evolution of carriers in sap-sucking insects will be analyzed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

DAMASCENO, TICIANE F.; DIAS, RENATA O.; DE OLIVEIRA, JULIANA R.; SALINAS, ROBERTO K.; JULIANO, MARIA A.; FERREIRA, CLELIA; TERRA, WALTER R.. Active subsite properties, subsite residues and targeting to lysosomes or midgut lumen of cathepsins L from the beetle Tenebrio molitor. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, v. 89, p. 17-30, OCT 2017. (15/19541-7, 16/07490-1, 11/51685-8)