Hot Paper of the Week - Areej Al-Dailami
This week the UTM Biology department is celebrating PhD student, Areej Al-Dailami, who had her paper published in the journal General and Comparative Endocrinology! Please see below for details about the paper.
PI: Prof. Angela Lange
Title: RhoprCAPA-2 acts as a gonadotropin regulating reproduction in adult female, Rhodnius prolixus
Abstract:
Our study investigates the role of RhoprCAPA-2, identified as an anti-diuretic hormone, in the reproductive physiology of Rhodnius prolixus, a blood-feeding insect and vector for Chagas disease. Double-label immunohistochemistry reveals co-localization of RhoprCAPA-2-like and the glycoprotein hormone (GPA2/GPB5) subunit GPB5-like immunoreactivity in neurosecretory cells in the mesothoracic ganglionic mass and in their neurohemal sites, suggesting these peptides can be co-released to regulate physiological processes. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of RhoprCAPA-2 receptor (CAPAR) transcript decreases egg production and reduces hatching rate and survival rate in female R. prolixus. Downregulation of CAPAR transcript decreases vitellogenin transcript expression in the fat body and deceases its receptor transcript expression level in the ovaries; accompanied by a reduction in vitellogenin content in the fat body and hemolymph. Incubation of fat body and ovaries in vitro with RhoprCAPA-2 increases vitellogenin transcript expression in the fat body and in the fat body culture medium, also increases vitellogenin receptor transcript expression in the ovaries. These findings implicate the CAPA signaling pathway in reproduction, with RhoprCAPA-2 acting as a gonadotropin in adult female R. prolixus.
Congratulations, Areej!
