Biomaterial Database

Tyrosine hydroxylase is required for cuticle sclerotization and pigmentation in Tribolium castaneum. 2010

Maureen J Gorman, and Yasuyuki Arakane

Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, 141 Chalmers, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. mgorman@ksu.edu

Newly synthesized insect cuticle is soft and pale but becomes stronger (sclerotized) and often darker (pigmented) over several hours or days. The first step in the sclerotization and pigmentation pathways is the hydroxylation of tyrosine to produce 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is known to catalyze this reaction during pigmentation, but a role for TH in sclerotization has not been documented. The goal of this study was to determine whether TH is required for cuticle sclerotization in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. We used quantitative RT-PCR to verify that TH expression occurs at the time of cuticle tanning and immunohistochemistry to confirm that TH is expressed in the epithelial cells underlying sclerotized cuticle. In addition, we found that a reduction in TH function (mediated by RNA interference) resulted in a decrease in cuticle pigmentation and a decrease in the hardness of both pigmented and colorless cuticle. These results demonstrate a requirement for TH in sclerotization as well as brown pigmentation of insect cuticle.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D010858	Pigmentation	Coloration or discoloration of a part by a pigment.	Pigmentations
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014231	Tribolium	A genus of small beetles of the family Tenebrionidae; T. confusum is the "confused flour beetle".	Triboliums
D014446	Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase	An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of L-tyrosine, tetrahydrobiopterin, and oxygen to 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, dihydrobiopterin, and water. EC 1.14.16.2.	Tyrosine Hydroxylase,3-Monooxygenase, Tyrosine,Hydroxylase, Tyrosine,Tyrosine 3 Monooxygenase
D018076	DNA, Complementary	Single-stranded complementary DNA synthesized from an RNA template by the action of RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. cDNA (i.e., complementary DNA, not circular DNA, not C-DNA) is used in a variety of molecular cloning experiments as well as serving as a specific hybridization probe.	Complementary DNA,cDNA,cDNA Probes,Probes, cDNA
D019476	Insect Proteins	Proteins found in any species of insect.	Insect Protein,Protein, Insect,Proteins, Insect
D034622	RNA Interference	A gene silencing phenomenon whereby specific dsRNAs (RNA, DOUBLE-STRANDED) trigger the degradation of homologous mRNA (RNA, MESSENGER). The specific dsRNAs are processed into SMALL INTERFERING RNA (siRNA) which serves as a guide for cleavage of the homologous mRNA in the RNA-INDUCED SILENCING COMPLEX. DNA METHYLATION may also be triggered during this process.	Gene Silencing, Post-Transcriptional,Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing,Co-Suppression,Cosuppression,Posttranscriptional Gene Silencing,RNA Silencing,RNAi,Co Suppression,Gene Silencing, Post Transcriptional,Gene Silencing, Posttranscriptional,Gene Silencings, Posttranscriptional,Interference, RNA,Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing,Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencings,Silencing, Post-Transcriptional Gene