Molecular characterisation of trypsin-like protease variants in female Anopheles gambiae reproductive pathway

2^nd International Summit on Integrative Biology

August 04-05, 2014 Hilton-Chicago/Northbrook, Chicago, USA

Ernest Tambo, Daniel A chinko, Paul Mireji, Daniel Masiga and Flaminia Catteruccia

Accepted Abstracts: J Comput Sci Syst Biol

Abstract :

Background: Understanding the functions of the proteins responsible for reproduction are essential developments of transmission blocking agents. In Anopheles gambiae mosquito vector of malaria, mating is mediated by transfer of a mating plug from males to females. Pre and post-mating molecular properties of reproductive associated specific proteins in the male (transglutaminase and Plugin) and female Trypsin-Like Serine Proteases (TLSP) (AGAP005194 and AGAP005195) specifically expressed in the male accessory glands (MAGs) and female atria functional protein variationswere characterized respectively. Methods: Novel domains were identified using the Pfam search on CLC workbench V5.5 after which the localization of these proteins was carried out through immune-detection techniques using antibodies specific. RNA extraction and RT-PCR was performed on AGAP005195 cDNA amplified exonic band after which TA cloning was performed to characterize the different variants associated with this gene and finally western blot analysis. Results: The domains identified in this study include those of plugin (Histidine Kinase A) and AGAP005195 (Response Regulator). Both TLSPs, AGAP005195 proteins showed specificity to the plug with observed secretion only in post-mated females. Three and two AGAP005195 variants were observed in the atria and spermatheca respectively and of these variants only one in the atria demonstrated a protein identity. This study showed that AGAP005195 and Plugin interact in a specific manner to drive post-mating reactions in the female. Conclusion: Functional and genetic analyses characterized TLSP variants in An.gambiae and provide basis for exploiting the interactions for potential interventions in vector control.