Laboratório de Bioinformática para Bioprospecção e Mineração de Dados Ômicos, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2024 Sep;117(1):e22149. doi: 10.1002/arch.22149.
Osmoregulation, the physiological regulation of water and ion balance, is vital for the survival of both aquatic and terrestrial insects. In freshwater aquatic insects, such as those within the Lampyridae family, this function is important due to the natural variation of aquatic habitats. Aquaporins play a key role in this process by facilitating the rapid transport of water molecules across cell membranes, maintaining cellular water balance, and adapting to changes in external salinity. In this study, I investigate the genetic diversity and expression levels of aquaporins in Elateroidea, particularly focusing on the Lampyridae family, using transcriptomic data and in silico analyses. The results reveal the diversity of aquaporins and compare gene expression patterns between freshwater aquatic Lampyridae and terrestrial Elateroidea species, such as Lycidae, Phengodidae, and Elateridae. Phylogenetic analyses identify seven distinct clades of aquaporins and uncovered gene duplication events related to the diversification of Elateridae and Lampyridae. A comparative abundance analysis indicated higher aquaporin expression in aquatic fireflies, aligning with the need for efficient osmoregulation in aquatic environments. Additionally, stage-specific expression patterns in Aspisoma lineatum (Neotropical firefly) and Aquatica lateralis (Paleartic firefly) suggest species-specific strategies for coping with osmotic challenges during development. This study provides insights into the evolutionary adaptations of aquaporins in Elateroidea, highlighting their importance in both aquatic and terrestrial insect physiology.
渗透调节是水和离子平衡的生理调节，对水生和陆生昆虫的生存至关重要。在淡水水生昆虫中，例如萤科昆虫，由于水生栖息地的自然变化，这种功能尤为重要。水通道蛋白在这个过程中起着关键作用，它们可以促进水分子在细胞膜上的快速运输，维持细胞的水分平衡，并适应外部盐度的变化。在这项研究中，我使用转录组数据和计算机分析，研究了 Elateroidea （特别是萤科）中的水通道蛋白的遗传多样性和表达水平。结果揭示了水通道蛋白的多样性，并比较了淡水水生萤科和陆地 Elateroidea 物种（例如露尾甲科、叩甲科和拟步甲科）之间的基因表达模式。系统发育分析确定了 7 个不同的水通道蛋白簇，并揭示了与 Elateridae 和 Lampyridae 多样化相关的基因复制事件。一个比较丰度分析表明，水生萤火虫中的水通道蛋白表达更高，这与水生环境中高效渗透调节的需求一致。此外，在 Aspisoma lineatum（新热带萤火虫）和 Aquatica lateralis（古北界萤火虫）中的阶段特异性表达模式表明，这些物种在发育过程中具有应对渗透挑战的特定策略。这项研究提供了 Elateroidea 中水通道蛋白进化适应的见解，强调了它们在水生和陆生昆虫生理学中的重要性。
