Characterization of Carbonic Anhydrase 9 in the Alimentary Canal of Aedes aegypti and Its Relationship to Homologous Mosquito Carbonic Anhydrases.

In the mosquito midgut, luminal pH regulation and cellular ion transport processes are important for the digestion of food and maintenance of cellular homeostasis. pH regulation in the mosquito gut is affected by the vectorial movement of the principal ions including bicarbonate/carbonate and protons. As in all metazoans, mosquitoes employ the product of aerobic metabolism carbon dioxide in its bicarbonate/carbonate form as one of the major buffers of cellular and extracellular pH.

Characterization of the Expression of Basigin Gene Products Within the Pineal Gland of Mice.

The expression of Basigin gene products and monocarboxylate transporter-1 (MCT1) has been investigated within the mammalian neural retina and suggests a role for these proteins in cellular metabolism within that tissue. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of these same proteins in the pineal gland of the mouse brain. Mouse pineal gland and neural retina RNA and protein were subjected to quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting analyses.

Dose and developmental responses of Anopheles merus larvae to salinity.

Saltwater tolerance is a trait that carries both ecological and epidemiological significance for Anopheles mosquitoes that transmit human malaria, as it plays a key role in determining their habitat use and ecological distribution, and thus their local contribution to malaria transmission. Here, we lay the groundwork for genetic dissection of this trait by quantifying saltwater tolerance in three closely related cryptic species and malaria vectors from the Afrotropical Anopheles gambiae complex that are known to differ starkly in their tolerance to salinity: the obligate freshwater species A. gambiae and A.

New model of action for mood stabilizers: phosphoproteome from rat pre-frontal cortex synaptoneurosomal preparations.

Background: Mitochondrial short and long-range movements are necessary to generate the energy needed for synaptic signaling and plasticity. Therefore, an effective mechanism to transport and anchor mitochondria to pre- and post-synaptic terminals is as important as functional mitochondria in neuronal firing. Mitochondrial movement range is regulated by phosphorylation of cytoskeletal and motor proteins in addition to changes in mitochondrial membrane potential.

Larval anopheline mosquito recta exhibit a dramatic change in localization patterns of ion transport proteins in response to shifting salinity: a comparison between anopheline and culicine larvae.

Mosquito larvae live in dynamic aqueous environments, which can fluctuate drastically in salinity due to environmental events such as rainfall and evaporation. Larval survival depends upon the ability to regulate hemolymph osmolarity by absorbing and excreting ions. A major organ involved in ion regulation is the rectum, the last region for modification of the primary urine before excretion.

Carbonic anhydrase in the adult mosquito midgut.

We have previously demonstrated the involvement of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in larval mosquito midgut physiology. In this study, we used Hansson's histochemistry to examine the distribution of the enzyme in the midgut of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex nigripalpus, Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles quadrimaculatus adult mosquitoes. Additionally, we quantitated CA content in the anterior and posterior midgut of adult males and females from these species using the 18O isotope exchange method coupled to mass spectrometry.

Alkalization of larval mosquito midgut and the role of carbonic anhydrase in different species of mosquitoes.

We have previously demonstrated the involvement of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in the alkalization mechanism of the Aedes aegypti larval midgut. In this study, we used Hansson's histochemistry to examine the distribution of the enzyme in the midgut of six different species of mosquito larvae (Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex nigripalpus, Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, Anopheles quadrimaculatus). Additionally, we quantitated CA content in the gastric caeca, anterior and posterior midgut of fourth instar larvae from these species using the 18O isotope exchange method coupled to mass spectrometry.

Retina-specific expression of 5A11/Basigin-2, a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily.

Purpose: 5A11/Basigin has recently been identified as a critical glycoprotein for full maturity and function of the mouse retina. However, the biological function of 5A11/Basigin has yet to be determined. Previous reports indicate the presence of multiple 5A11/Basigin polypeptides within the retina.