Phenylalanine Metabolism Regulates Reproduction and Parasite Melanization in the Malaria Mosquito

The blood meal of the female malaria mosquito is a pre-requisite to egg production and also represents the transmission route for the malaria parasite. The proper and rapid assimilation of proteins and nutrients in the blood meal creates a significant metabolic challenge for the mosquito. To better understand this process we generated a global profile of metabolite changes in response to blood meal of Anopheles gambiae, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). To disrupt a key pathway of amino acid metabolism we silenced the gene phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) involved in the conversion of the amino acid phenylalanine into tyrosine. We observed increased levels of phenylalanine and the potentially toxic metabolites phenylpyruvate and phenyllactate as well as a reduction in the amount of tyrosine available for melanin synthesis. This in turn resulted in a significant impairment of the melanotic encapsulation response against the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Furthermore silencing of PAH resulted in a significant impairment of mosquito fertility associated with reduction of laid eggs, retarded vitellogenesis and impaired melanisation of the chorion. Carbidopa, an inhibitor of the downstream enzyme DOPA decarboxylase that coverts DOPA into dopamine, produced similar effects on egg melanization and hatching rate suggesting that egg chorion maturation is mainly regulated via dopamine. This study sheds new light on the role of amino acid metabolism in regulating reproduction and immunity.     

Involvement of the Saiga Liver in Carbohydrate Metabolism during Ontogeny

Histochemical investigation of the saiga liver during ontogeny was carried out. The dynamics of accumulation, consumption, and localization of glycogen as well as neutral and acid glycoproteins were studied. Maximum accumulation of glycogen and neutral glycoproteins was observed during late fetal development, while maximum consumption was specific for newborns. Acid glycoproteins proved to become involved in carbohydrate metabolism during postnatal development. Localization of glycogen and glycoproteins was described.     

Temporal Organization in Avian Reproduction

Recent studies have demonstrated that biological rhythms haveimportant roles in avian reproduction. In the photoperiodicstimulation of the reproductive complex, there are two systemsinvolved in the interpretation of day length. One system isentrained by the photoperiod, probably by dawn. This entrainedsystem in turn entrains two light-sensitive phases which occurlater in the day. If the photoperi od is long enough, it ispresent during the sensitive phases when it can induce the productionof luteinzing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. Theinterrenal gland appears to be a part of the entraining systeminasmuch as injections of corticosterone can set a sensitivephase when light can induce gonadal development. The annual cycle of photosensitivity and photorefractorinessappeals to be controlled by the temporal relations between thedaily rhythms of corticosterone and prolactin which change seasonally.When the hormonal relations of photosensitive and photorefractorybirds are simulated by injections of the hormones, the appropriateconditions (photosensitivity or photorefractonness) can be produced.Seasonal changes in the hormonal relations are not direct reflectionsof changes in the photoperiod; they depend on more complex physiologicalexperiences. The systems involved in egg laying and parental behavior mayalso have a temporal basis of biological rhythms. For example,the intensity of the pigeon cropsac response depends on thetime of daily injections of prolactin relative to those of corticosterone.It is apparent that the daily rhythm constitutes the basic structuialunit in the temporal organizationtion of avian reproduction.     

Growth and Carbohydrate Metabolism of Sulfobacilli

The moderately thermophilic acidophilic bacteria Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans, strain 1269, S. thermosulfidooxidanssubsp. asporogenes, strain 41, and the thermotolerant strain S. thermosulfidooxidanssubsp. thermotolerans K1 prefer mixotrophic growth conditions (the concomitant presence of ferrous iron, thiosulfate, and organic compounds in the medium). In heterotrophic and autotrophic growth conditions, these sulfobacilli can grow over only a few culture transfers. In cell-free extracts of these sulfobacilli, key enzymes of the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas, pentose-phosphate, and Entner–Doudoroff pathways were found. The role of a particular pathway depended on the cultivation conditions. All of the enzymes assayed were most active under mixotrophic conditions in the presence of Fe²⁺and glucose, suggesting the operation of all of the three major pathways of carbohydrate metabolism under these conditions. However, the operation of the Entner–Doudoroff pathway in strain 41 was restricted under mixotrophic conditions. After the first culture transfer from mixotrophic to heterotrophic conditions, the utilization of glucose occurred only via the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas and Entner–Doudoroff pathways. After the first culture transfer from mixotrophic to autotrophic conditions, the activity of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes decreased in all of the strains studied; in strain K1, only the glycolytic pathway remained operative. The high activity of fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, remaining in strain 41 cells under these conditions, suggests the involvement of this enzyme in the reactions of the Calvin cycle or of gluconeogenesis.     

Carbohydrate Metabolism in the Narcissus Leaf

Carbohydrate contents of both the photosynthetic and the storageorgans of Narcissus tazetta L. were determined at four stagesin their development under both ‘natural’ growingconditions and under conditions of varying light intensities. Starch was abundantly stored in all the storage organs, particularlyin the bases of the photosynthetic organs under high light intensityand also at the second dormant stage. However, its level remainedrelatively stable in the green part of the foliage leaf andthe scape at different stages and appeared not to be affectedby light except at very high intensity. It was found in boththe bundle sheaths and guard cells. Sucrose, which is the first sugar of photosynthesis, was continuouslyexported from the green parts of the blade and the scape totheir bases where it was also stored. In the dark the sucroselevel became low in the green blade and the green scape butit rose with increase of light intensity. The hexose level was very low at the dormant stage in all organsexamined but rose as they matured and exceeded that of sucrosein the green organs except in high light intensity. Hexose isformed presumably as a result of sucrose hydrolysis and is constantlylost, presumably through respiration. At senescence sugar disappeared almost completely from all theorgans, while nearly 10 per cent of residual dry weight of starchremained in the dead tissues. The interrelationship betweenthe carbohydrates and their movement in the leaf is discussed.     

Site of Catabolite Inhibition of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Glucose produces catabolite inhibition during its transport across the cell membrane. Glucose generated intracellularly does not produce catabolite inhibition but does produce catabolite repression.     

Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Thiobacillus species

A study was made of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in representative thiobacilli grown with and without glucose. The data show that Thiobacillus perometabolis possesses an inducible Entner-Doudoroff pathway and is thus similar to T. intermedius and T. ferrooxidans. T. novellus lacks this pathway. Instead, a non-cyclic pentose phosphate pathway along with the Krebs cycle is apparently the major route of glucose dissimilation in this organism. Glucose does not support or stimulate the growth of strains of T. neapolitanus, T. thioparus, and T. thiooxidans examined, nor does its presence in the growth medium greatly influence their enzymatic constitution. These obligately chemolithotrophic thiobacilli do not possess the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Their nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity predominates over their nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-linked activity; the converse is true for the other thiobacilli. The data suggest that NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity in thiobacilli is involved in biosynthetic reactions.     

Carbohydrate Metabolism Mutants of a Bacillus Species

Mutants which could not utilize d-gluconate, l-arabinose, sorbitol, pyruvate or l-glutamate as a sole carbon source and which required shikimic acid for their growth were isolated. Characterization of these mutants by the patterns of carbohydrate utilization revealed that various kinds of carbohydrate metabolism mutants including those of the non-oxidative limb of the pentose phosphate pathway were isolated.

Ability of inosine formation of these mutants and transformants from them was investigated. Consequently, slightly improved strains were found among transformants in comparison with the parent strain.