Neuropeptidomics of the Mosquito Aedes Aegypti

Abstract

Neuropeptidomic data were collected on the mosquito Ae. aegypti, which is considered the most tractable mosquito species for physiological and endocrine studies. The data were solely obtained by direct mass spectrometric profiling, including tandem fragmentation, of selected tissues from single specimens, which yielded a largely complete accounting of the putative bioactive neuropeptides; truncated neuropeptides with low abundance were not counted as mature peptides. Differential processing within the CNS was detected for the CAPA-precursor, and differential post-translational processing (pyroglutamate formation) was detected for AST-C and CAPA-PVK-2. For the first time in insects, we succeeded in the direct mass spectrometric profiling of midgut tissue which yielded a comprehensive and immediate overview of the peptides involved in the endocrine system of the gut. Head peptides which were earlier identified as the most abundant RFamides of Ae. aegypti, were not detected in any part of the CNS or midgut. This study provides a framework for future investigations on mosquito endocrinology and neurobiology. Given the high sequence similarity of neuropeptide precursors identified in other medically important mosquitoes, conclusions regarding the peptidome of Ae. aegypti likely are applicable to these mosquitoes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA526620

Entities

People

  • David H. Russell
  • Joe W. Crim
  • Joerg Kahnt
  • Mark R. Brown
  • Reinhard Predel
  • Ronald J. Nachman
  • Stephen F. Garczynski
  • Susanne Neupert
  • William K. Russell

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amino Acids
  • Animal Structures
  • Biological Factors
  • Brain
  • Cells
  • Central Nervous System
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Detection
  • Encephalitis
  • Endocrine Cells
  • Mass Spectra
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Nervous System
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Peptides
  • Proteins

Readers

  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.
  • Neuroscience
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology