Abstract
BackgroundThe ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters belong to a large superfamily of proteins that have important physiological functions in all living organisms. Most are integral membrane proteins that transport a broad spectrum of substrates across lipid membranes. In insects, ABC transporters are of special interest because of their role in insecticide resistance.ResultsWe have identified 73 ABC transporter genes in the genome of T. castaneum, which group into eight subfamilies (ABCA-H). This coleopteran ABC family is significantly larger than those reported for insects in other taxonomic groups. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this increase is due to gene expansion within a single clade of subfamily ABCC. We performed an RNA interference (RNAi) screen to study the function of ABC transporters during development. In ten cases, injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into larvae caused developmental phenotypes, which included growth arrest and localized melanization, eye pigmentation defects, abnormal cuticle formation, egg-laying and egg-hatching defects, and mortality due to abortive molting and desiccation. Some of the ABC transporters we studied in closer detail to examine their role in lipid, ecdysteroid and eye pigment transport.ConclusionsThe results from our study provide new insights into the physiological function of ABC transporters in T. castaneum, and may help to establish new target sites for insect control.
Highlights
The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters belong to a large superfamily of proteins that have important physiological functions in all living organisms
A total of 73 putative ABC transporters genes were found on eight of T. castaneum’s 10 linkage groups. This is five more than that reported in a previous study, where the T. castaneum genome was analyzed in the scope of the identification of genes encoding ABC transporters from B. mori [20]
Because little is known about ABC transporter functions in insects, we examined these proteins in T. castaneum, a well-established and powerful genomic insect model that is highly susceptible to systemic RNA interference (RNAi) [22]
Summary
The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters belong to a large superfamily of proteins that have important physiological functions in all living organisms. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters constitute one of the largest protein superfamilies of integral membrane proteins They are ubiquitously found in all kingdoms of life, where they typically function in the ATP-dependent transport of various substrates across biological membranes. Examples include Ste from the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is involved in the export of the a-factor necessary for mating [7], Cer from Arabidopsis thaliana, which functions in the export of cuticular lipids [8], half-molecule ABC transporters of the HMT-1 subfamily from Caenorhabditis elegans, which convey tolerance to heavy metal ions [9], or the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) from humans, which delivers peptides to the major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) for antigen presentation [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
