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Kim TK, Waldman J, Ibanez-Carrasco F, Tirloni L, Waltero C, Calixo C, Braz GR, Mulenga A, da Silva Vaz Junior I, Logullo C. Stable internal reference genes for quantitative RT-PCR analyses in Rhipicephalus microplus during embryogenesis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102251. [PMID: 37708803 PMCID: PMC10555470 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
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. In various arthropod vectors, including ticks, several constitutive genes have been identified by studying gene expression in different tissues and life stages. The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a major vector for several pathogens and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions globally. Tick developmental physiology is an essential aspect of research, particularly embryogenesis, where many important developmental events occur, thus the identification of stable reference genes is essential for the interpretation of reliable gene expression data. This study aimed to identify and select R. microplus housekeeping genes and evaluate their stability during embryogenesis. Reference genes used as internal control in molecular assays were selected based on previous studies. These genes were screened by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and tested for gene expression stability during embryogenesis. Results demonstrated that the relative stability of reference genes varied at different time points during the embryogenesis. The GeNorm tool showed that elongation factor 1α (Elf1a) and ribosomal protein L4 (Rpl4) were the most stable genes, while H3 histone family 3A (Hist3A) and ribosomal protein S18 (RpS18) were the least stable. The NormFinder tool showed that Rpl4 was the most stable gene, while the ranking of Elf1a was intermediate in all tested conditions. The BestKeeper tool showed that Rpl4 and cyclophilin A (CycA) were the more and less stable genes, respectively. These data collectively demonstrate that Rpl4, Elf1a, and GAPDH are suitable internal controls for normalizing qPCR during R. microplus embryogenesis. These genes were consistently identified as the most stable in various analysis methods employed in this study. Thus, findings presented in this study offer valuable information for the study of gene expression during embryogenesis in R. microplus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA; Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Waldman
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Freddy Ibanez-Carrasco
- Department of Entomology, Minnie Bell Heep Center, Texas A&M University, Suite 412, 2475 TAMU, 370 Olsen Blvd, College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 2415 East US Highway 83, Weslaco, TX 78596, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Camila Waltero
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Christiano Calixo
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gloria R Braz
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Logullo
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil,; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Waltero C, Martins R, Calixto C, da Fonseca RN, Abreu LAD, da Silva Vaz I, Logullo C. The hallmarks of GSK-3 in morphogenesis and embryonic development metabolism in arthropods. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 118:103307. [PMID: 31857215 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Several 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. GSK-3 was first identified based on its action upon glycogen synthase, a central enzyme in glycogen biosynthesis. Currently, it is recognized as a key component of multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, transcription, cell migration, and immune response. The present review will describe the current knowledge on GSK-3 activation and its role in morphogenesis and embryonic metabolism in arthropods. Altogether, the information discussed here can spark new approaches and strategies for further studies, enhancing our understanding of these important arthropod vectors and strengthening the resources in the search for novel control methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Waltero
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Martins
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christiano Calixto
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Brazil
| | - Leonardo Araujo de Abreu
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia and Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carlos Logullo
- Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Brazil.
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Waltero C, de Abreu LA, Alonso T, Nunes-da-Fonseca R, da Silva Vaz I, Logullo C. TOR as a Regulatory Target in Rhipicephalus microplus Embryogenesis. Front Physiol 2019; 10:965. [PMID: 31417424 PMCID: PMC6684781 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryogenesis is a metabolically intensive process carried out under tightly controlled conditions. The insulin signaling pathway regulates glucose homeostasis and is essential for reproduction in metazoan model species. Three key targets are part of this signaling pathway: protein kinase B (PKB, or AKT), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), and target of rapamycin (TOR). While the role of AKT and GSK-3 has been investigated during tick embryonic development, the role of TOR remains unknown. In this study, TOR and two other downstream effectors, namely S6 kinase (S6K) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), were investigated in in vitro studies using the tick embryonic cell line BME26. First, we show that exogenous insulin can stimulate TOR transcription. Second, TOR chemical inhibition led to a decrease in BME26 cell viability, loss of membrane integrity, and downregulation of S6K and 4E-BP1 transcription. Conversely, treating BME26 cells with chemical inhibitors of AKT or GSK-3 did not affect S6K and 4E-BP1 transcription, showing that TOR is specifically required to activate its downstream targets. To address the role of TOR in tick reproduction, in vivo studies were performed. Analysis of relative transcription during different stages of tick embryonic development showed different levels of transcription for TOR, and a maternal deposition of S6K and 4E-BP1 transcripts. Injection of TOR double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into partially fed females led to a slight delay in oviposition, an atypical egg external morphology, decreased vitellin content in eggs, and decreased larval hatching. Taken together, our data show that the TOR signaling pathway is important for tick reproduction, that TOR acts as a regulatory target in Rhipicephalus microplus embryogenesis and represents a promising target for the development of compounds for tick control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Waltero
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda and Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Araujo de Abreu
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda and Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thayná Alonso
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda and Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nunes-da-Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda and Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Centro de Biotecnologia, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carlos Logullo
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda and Laboratório Integrado de Ciências Morfofuncionais, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade NUPEM, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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