Publications by authors named "Camila Waltero"
Studies on the transcriptional control of gene expression are crucial to understand changes in organism's physiological or cellular conditions. To obtain reliable data on mRNA amounts and the estimation of gene expression levels, it is crucial to normalize the target gene with one or more internal reference gene(s). However, the use of constitutive genes as reference genes is controversial, as their expression patterns are sometimes more complex than previously thought.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral research groups around the world have studied diverse aspects of energy metabolism in arthropod disease vectors, with the aim of discovering potential control targets. As in all oviparous organisms, arthropod embryonic development is characterized by the mobilization of maternally-derived metabolites for the formation of new tissues and organs. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a serine-threonine kinase described as an important regulator of metabolism and development in a wide range of organisms.
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- Embryogenesis in ticks is a complex, energy-demanding process regulated by the insulin signaling pathway, particularly focusing on the role of the TOR protein.
- Research using the BME26 tick embryonic cell line revealed that insulin stimulates TOR transcription, and inhibiting TOR led to cell viability loss and downregulation of downstream targets S6K and 4E-BP1.
- Experiments also showed that reducing TOR function in female ticks resulted in delayed egg-laying, abnormal egg structure, and lower hatching rates, indicating its critical role in reproduction and a potential target for tick control strategies.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural byproducts of metabolism that have toxic effects well documented in mammals. In hematophagous arthropods, however, these processes are not largely understood. Here, we describe that Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and embryonic cell line (BME26) employ an adaptive metabolic compensation mechanism that confers tolerance to hydrogen peroxide (HO) at concentrations too high for others organisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this work we evaluated several genes involved in gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and glycogen metabolism, the major pathways for carbohydrate catabolism and anabolism, in the BME26 Rhipicephalus microplus embryonic cell line. Genetic and catalytic control of the genes and enzymes associated with these pathways are modulated by alterations in energy resource availability (primarily glucose). BME26 cells in media were investigated using three different glucose concentrations, and changes in the transcription levels of target genes in response to carbohydrate utilization were assessed.
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- The study investigates the role of AKT (protein kinase B) in glycogen metabolism and cell viability in the tick species Rhipicephalus microplus during embryogenesis.
- Results show that inhibiting AKT decreases glycogen levels and cell viability, while inhibiting GSK3 increases glycogen levels, highlighting an antagonistic relationship between the two proteins.
- Understanding the AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway in ticks could lead to new strategies for tick control, given the conserved nature of this axis in their embryonic development.