Nutrient content of diet affects the signaling activity of the insulin/target of rapamycin/p70 S6 kinase pathway in the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae.

Full Abstract

Regulation of female mosquito feeding and reproduction plays a central role in their disease-vector competence. In this study we show that Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes engorged on albumin, amino acid and saline meals the same way as on blood, whereas sucrose evoked a typical plant nectar feeding response. Among the artificial diets, only the albumin-containing ones allowed follicular development. The target of rapamycin (TOR)/p70 S6 kinase (S6K) pathway has been identified as an essential nutrient-sensing tool controlling egg development in mosquitoes under the control of regulating inputs from the insulin pathway. We assayed the early response of TOR, S6K, tuberous sclerosis (TSC2), insulin receptor (INR) and two insulin-like peptides (ILPs) by quantitative real-time PCR assessment of mRNA levels and immunoblotting of phosphorylated active TOR and S6K in An. gambiae ovary and brain 3 h after engorgement. We show that transcript levels of s6k and members of the insulin pathway are readily affected by nutrients (especially one ILP in the head) and that the TOR/S6K phosphorylation is able to react quickly to a meal to an extent which depends on the true nutritive value.

Author information

Author/s: Arsic, Dany (D); Guerin, Patrick M (PM);

Affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, CP 158, 2009 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Dany.Arsic(-atsign-)unine.ch

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of insect physiology (J Insect Physiol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 54 (issue 8) : pp 1226-35

Dates: Created 2008/11/17; Completed 2008/12/09;

PMID: 18634792, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Animals
Anopheles gambiae - genetics; metabolism
Feeding Behavior
Female
Gene Expression
Humans
Insect Bites and Stings
Insect Proteins - genetics; metabolism

Insect Proteins - genetics; metabolism
Insulin - genetics; metabolism
Phosphorylation
Receptor, Insulin - genetics; metabolism
Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa - genetics; metabolism
Signal Transduction
Sirolimus - metabolism
Tuberous Sclerosis - genetics; metabolism

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Insect Proteins (0) ; Insulin (11061-68-0) ; Sirolimus (53123-88-9) ; Receptor, Insulin (EC 2.7.1.112) ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa (EC 2.7.1.37)

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