In silico classification and structural characterization of proteins phosphatase from Aedes Aegypti mosquito

• Grant number: 22/14718-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Elena de Souza Fraga Machado
• Grantee: Gabriel Pires dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/02605-3 - Structural and functional characterization of mitochondrial protein phosphatases by redox metabolism and their role in cell biology, AP.JP

Abstract

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation is important for the regulation and signaling process of cellular function. Protein phosphatases and protein kinases play a role in various cellular functions, such as cell division and meiosis, apoptosis, protein synthesis, metabolism, regulation of membrane receptors and channels, and cytoskeletal reorganization. Protein kinases control the amplitude of the signaling response, while protein phosphatases control the duration of signaling and its maximum amplitude. Recently, the ortholog of human protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in Aedes Aegypti mosquito was studied, showing its importance in the control of egg production. The present project aims to identify and structurally characterize the orthologs of human phosphatase proteins in Aedes aegypti through bioinformatics tools. Additionaly, will be analyzed the tissue distribution of these proteins in the mosquito. This characterization could be essential to study the molecular mechanisms that these proteins are involved in the physiological aspects of Aedes aegypti. And finally, they would contribute for possible analysis and construction of instruments to combat Aedes aegypti and its trasmitted arboviruses.