Dietary control of late trypsin gene transcription in Aedes aegypti Article

Noriega, FG, Barillas-Mury, C, Wells, MA. (1994). Dietary control of late trypsin gene transcription in Aedes aegypti . INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, 24(6), 627-631. 10.1016/0965-1748(94)90099-X

cited authors

  • Noriega, FG; Barillas-Mury, C; Wells, MA

authors

abstract

  • In Aedes aegypti the levels of midgut trypsin activity after feeding are directly proportional to the protein concentration in the meal. The mechanisms of this up-regulatory event were investigated by analyzing the expression of the late trypsin gene under different dietary conditions. Transcription of the gene was dependent on both the quality and quantity of protein in the meal. As measured by Northern blot analysis, the levels of late trypsin gene expression increased up to 100-fold 24 h after feeding on γ-globulin, hemoglobin or albumin (100 mg/ml). In contrast, gelatin, histone, amino acids, saline or agarose were very poor inducers of transcription. The rates of late trypsin transcription induced during the first 24 h were directly proportional to the concentration of protein in the meal. These data further support the suggestion that the primary mechanism that regulates the synthesis of trypsin in the mosquito midgut is transcriptional regulation of the gene. This regulatory mechanism enables the midgut to maintain the appropriate balance between protease synthesis and the protein content of the meal. © 1994.

publication date

  • January 1, 1994

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 627

end page

  • 631

volume

  • 24

issue

  • 6