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Croce AC, Garbelli A, Moyano A, Soldano S, Tejeda-Guzmán C, Missirlis F, Scolari F. Developmental and Nutritional Dynamics of Malpighian Tubule Autofluorescence in the Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:245. [PMID: 38203417 PMCID: PMC10778832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Malpighian tubules (MTs) are arthropod excretory organs crucial for the osmoregulation, detoxification and excretion of xenobiotics and metabolic wastes, which include tryptophan degradation products along the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Specifically, the toxic intermediate 3-hydroxy kynurenine (3-HK) is metabolized through transamination to xanthurenic acid or in the synthesis of ommochrome pigments. Early investigations in Drosophila larval fat bodies revealed an intracellular autofluorescence (AF) that depended on tryptophan administration. Subsequent observations documented AF changes in the MTs of Drosophila eye-color mutants genetically affecting the conversion of tryptophan to KYN or 3-HK and the intracellular availability of zinc ions. In the present study, the AF properties of the MTs in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, were characterized in different stages of the insect's life cycle, tryptophan-administered larvae and blood-fed adult females. Confocal imaging and microspectroscopy showed AF changes in the distribution of intracellular, brilliant granules and in the emission spectral shape and amplitude between the proximal and distal segments of MTs across the different samples. The findings suggest AF can serve as a promising marker for investigating the functional status of MTs in response to metabolic alterations, contributing to the use of MTs as a potential research model in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Cleta Croce
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM CNR “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.G.); (A.M.); (S.S.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Garbelli
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM CNR “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.G.); (A.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Andrea Moyano
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM CNR “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.G.); (A.M.); (S.S.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Soldano
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM CNR “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.G.); (A.M.); (S.S.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlos Tejeda-Guzmán
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Cinvestav, Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (C.T.-G.); (F.M.)
| | - Fanis Missirlis
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neuroscience, Cinvestav, Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (C.T.-G.); (F.M.)
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM CNR “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza”, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.G.); (A.M.); (S.S.)
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Characterization of Spontaneous Melanization by Fluorescence Spectroscopy: A Basis for Analytical Application to Biological Substrates. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030433. [PMID: 36979125 PMCID: PMC10044826 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Melanin is present in various biological substrates where it may participate in several processes, from innate immunity to the still-unsolved opposite roles in antioxidant protection, including photoprotection and the related ability to interact with light. Melanin–light interaction has also been an important source of inspiration for the development of innovative bioengineering applications. These are based on melanin’s light-energy-absorption ability of its chemically and structurally complex components and precursors, and on the improvement in analytical and diagnostic procedures in biomedicine. In this regard, here, we characterized the fluorescence spectral properties of melanin and of its precursor L-tyrosine in an aqueous solution during spontaneous melanization. Besides the confirmation of the typical fluorescence-emission signature of melanin and L-tyrosine, we provide additional insights on both emission and excitation spectra recorded during melanization. On these bases, we performed a subsequent characterization on the aqueous extracts from two different melanin-containing biological substrates, namely hairs from a domestic black cat and eggs from the Asian tiger mosquito. The results from the mild extraction procedure, purposely applied to obtain only the soluble components, combined with fluorescence spectral analysis are expected to promote further investigation of the melanization processes, particularly in insects.
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