Developmental roles of tyrosine metabolism enzymes in the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus.

ABSTRACT: The phenylalanine/tyrosine degradation pathway is frequently described as a catabolic pathway that funnels aromatic amino acids into citric acid cycle intermediates. Previously, we demonstrated that the accumulation of tyrosine generated during the hydrolysis of blood meal proteins in Rhodnius prolixus is potentially toxic, a harmful outcome that is prevented by the action of the first two enzymes in the tyrosine degradation pathway. In this work, we further evaluated the relevance of all other enzymes involved in phenylalanine/tyrosine metabolism in the physiology of this insect. The knockdown of most of these enzymes produced a wide spectrum of distinct phenotypes associated with reproduction, development and nymph survival, demonstrating a highly pleiotropic role of tyrosine meta

SUBMITTER: Sterkel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5443934 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature