Nitrogen Metabolism in Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes

描述（由申请人提供）：我们已经报道了埃及伊蚊雌蚊拥有一个非凡的生物系统，可以利用这种生物体中以前未知的代谢途径，在血粉消化释放的有毒氨浓度中存活下来。具体来说，我们发现Ae。埃及伊蚊可以通过与固氮植物和细菌相同的代谢途径来解毒氨，这与研究过的所有其他昆虫不同。蚊子也可以像脊椎动物一样利用谷氨酰胺中的氮产生尿酸，更令人惊讶的是，蚊子将尿酸水解成尿素的代谢途径与一些鱼类和两栖动物相同。由于这些多种代谢途径的协调运作可以防止蚊子在吸血后组织中产生致命的氨浓度，这促使我们了解这些代谢途径是如何相互联系和调节的。因此，本次申请的主要目的是阐明氮废物的代谢调控，以及分析蚊子体内参与氨代谢的C和N分子的通量。这些研究将使用RNA干扰和质谱技术的组合进行。利用生物学方法控制蚊子种群的尝试取决于对蚊子生物学和新陈代谢的透彻理解。因此，如果我们提出的实验成功进行，它们将开辟新的和令人兴奋的发现，可以应用于设计和实施更好的蚊子控制策略。将追求以下具体目标：1-确定涉及调节蚊子体内氮废物的机制。2-研究参与蚊子氨代谢的C和N分子的通量。根据我们的初步数据，Ae对氮废物的代谢调控似乎受到严格调控。蚊。因此，我们的目标是了解这种调节机制如何控制成年雌蚊的氨代谢。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We have reported that Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes possess a remarkable biological system to survive toxic ammonia concentrations released by blood meal digestion using previously unknown metabolic pathways present in this organism. Specifically, we have found that Ae. aegypti can detoxify ammonia by the same metabolic pathways that nitrogen fixing plants and bacteria use, unlike all other insects that have been studied. Mosquitoes can also use the nitrogen from the amide group of glutamine to produce uric acid as vertebrates do, and more surprisingly, mosquitoes hydrolyze uric acid into urea through the same metabolic pathway that some fish and amphibians use. Since the coordinated operation of these multiple metabolic pathways prevents a lethal ammonia concentration in the mosquito tissues after a blood meal, it impels us to know how these metabolic pathways are interconnected and regulated. Therefore, the main purpose of the grant application is to elucidate the metabolic regulation of nitrogen waste, as well as to analyze the flux of C and N molecules involved in ammonia metabolism in mosquitoes. These studies will be performed using a combination of RNA interference and mass spectrometry techniques. Attempts to control mosquito populations using biorational approaches depend on a thorough understanding of mosquito biology and metabolism. So, if the experiments that we propose are conducted successfully, they will open up new and exciting discoveries that could be applied for the design and implementation of better strategies for mosquito control. The following specific aims will be pursued: 1- Identify the mechanisms involved in the regulation of nitrogen waste in mosquitoes. 2- Investigate the flux of C and N molecules involved in ammonia metabolism in mosquitoes. According to our preliminary data, the metabolic regulation of nitrogen waste appears to be tightly- regulated in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Therefore, our objective is to understand how this regulatory mechanism controls the ammonia metabolism in adult female mosquitoes.