Molecular studies of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Triatoma infestans thoracic muscles

STROPPA M, SORIA N., CARRIAZO C., PEREIRA R. Y GEREZ DE BURGOS N.

Rosario (Santa Fé- Argentina)

Congreso; XLII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; 2006

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Triatoma infestans, Chagas disease vector, acquire wings and the ability to fly after the last moltfrom fifth instar nymph to adult. The abilityto fly is important for dispersion. In previous studies, in our laboratory, it was demostrated that glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GPDH), involved at glycerophosphate shuttle, increase its activity 30-fold in adult thoracic muscles.. Adult muscles should have higher glycolitic and respiratory capacity to support fly activity. Electrophoretic studies from thoracic muscles showed two GPDH isoenzymes. Nymphs predominant isoform has less mobility. The aim of this work is to begin GPDH molecular studies. Using cDNA pools with degenerated "primers", we amplified a 200 bp RT-PCR product from 1 to 3 days old T. infestans adults thoracic muscles . Upon sequencing and database alignments the fragment was shown to be part of GPDH cDNA. Based on the sequence obtained, specific "primers" were designed for RACE experiment. We successfully amplified the 5´ and 3´ end of the GPDH cDNA. Sequencing results allow identity, homology and conserved domains comparative studies with other species.