Alternative splicing originates different domain structure organization of Lutzomyia longipalpis chitinases.
Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018;
113:96-101. [PMID:
29236932 PMCID:
PMC5722264 DOI:
10.1590/0074-02760170179]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The insect chitinase gene family is composed by more than 10 paralogs, which
can codify proteins with different domain structures. In Lutzomyia
longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in
Brazil, a chitinase cDNA from adult female insects was previously
characterized. The predicted protein contains one catalytic domain and one
chitin-binding domain (CBD). The expression of this gene coincided with the
end of blood digestion indicating a putative role in peritrophic matrix
degradation.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the occurrence of alternative splicing in chitinases of
L. longipalpis.
METHODS
We sequenced the LlChit1 gene from a genomic clone and the
three spliced forms obtained by reverse transcription polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR) using larvae cDNA.
FINDINGS
We showed that LlChit1 from L. longipalpis
immature forms undergoes alternative splicing. The spliced form
corresponding to the adult cDNA was named LlChit1A and the two larvae
specific transcripts were named LlChit1B and LlChit1C. The B and C forms
possess stop codons interrupting the translation of the CBD. The A form is
present in adult females post blood meal, L4 larvae and pre-pupae, while the
other two forms are present only in L4 larvae and disappear just before
pupation. Two bands of the expected size were identified by Western blot
only in L4 larvae.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS
We show for the first time alternative splicing generating chitinases with
different domain structures increasing our understanding on the finely
regulated digestion physiology and shedding light on a potential target for
controlling L. longipalpis larval development.
Collapse