USDA-ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, 21881 North Cardon Lane, Maricopa, AZ 85138, USA.
University of Adelaide, School of Medical Sciences, Frome Rd., Medical School South, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2014 Feb;45:125-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.12.002. Epub 2013 Dec 11.
Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane channel proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transfer of water or other small solutes across biological membranes involved in numerous essential physiological processes. In arthropods, AQPs belong to several subfamilies, which contribute to osmoregulation, respiration, cryoprotection, anhydrobiosis, and excretion. We cloned and characterized five novel AQPs from the western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus, a polyphagous insect pest of food and fiber crops throughout western North America. The L. hesperus AQPs (LhAQP1-5) belong to different phylogenetic subfamilies, have unique transcription profiles and cellular localizations, and all transport water (but not glycerol) when heterologously expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Our results demonstrate that multiple AQPs with possible compensatory functions are produced in L. hesperus that likely play important roles in maintaining water homeostasis in this important insect pest.
水通道蛋白（AQP）是整合膜通道蛋白，可促进水或其他小溶质在参与许多重要生理过程的生物膜中双向传递。在节肢动物中，AQP 属于几个亚家族，有助于渗透调节、呼吸、抗冻保护、脱水休眠和排泄。我们从西部玷污叶蝉（Lygus hesperus）克隆并鉴定了五个新型 AQP，西部玷污叶蝉是北美西部食物和纤维作物的一种多食性害虫。L. hesperus AQP（LhAQP1-5）属于不同的系统发育亚家族，具有独特的转录谱和细胞定位，并且在非洲爪蟾卵母细胞中异源表达时均能转运水（但不能转运甘油）。我们的研究结果表明，在 L. hesperus 中产生了多种可能具有代偿功能的 AQP，这些 AQP 在维持这种重要害虫的水稳态中可能发挥重要作用。
