Studies and functions of indolamine N-acetyltransferase in the brain, midgut and reproduction glands in insects

从美洲原蝇（Priplaneta americana）和柞蚕（Antheraea pernyi）中克隆了编码n -乙酰转移酶的cdna。Northern分析和实时PCR分析表明，转录活性具有昼夜周期性。免疫细胞化学研究表明，NAT与家蚕和白家蚕的生物钟元件密切相关。NAT在时钟系统中似乎是一个重要的输出调节器。还证明了NAT作为调节中肠细胞周转率的开关，并调节卵巢中卵母细胞的成熟。褪黑素是一种奈特代谢产物，它影响蟋蟀运动的昼夜节律和昆虫脂肪积累的同步。

cDNAs encoding N-acetyltransferase (NAT) were cloned from Priplaneta americana and Antheraea pernyi. Northern analyses and real time PCR analyses showed that transcriptional activity has day / night periodicity. Immunocytochemical investigations suggest that NAT is closely associated with the circadian clock elements in Bombyx mori and A. pernyi. It seems likely that NAT constitutes an important output regulator in the clock system. Also demonstrated are that NAT functions as a switch regulating cell turn-over rate in the midgut and that it regulates the maturation of oocytes in the ovary. One of the NAT-metabolites, melatonin affected the synchronization of circadian rhythm of locomotion in a cricket and fat accumulation in a bug.