Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and flight performance by a hypertrehalosaemic hormone in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 367 - 377
• Main Authors: Kaufmann, Christian, Brown, Mark R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2008
• Subjects: Adipokinetic hormone; adipokinetic hormone receptors; Animals; Anopheles - drug effects; Anopheles - metabolism; Anopheles gambiae; carbohydrate content; carbohydrate metabolism; Carbohydrate Metabolism - physiology; Diptera; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flight; Flight, Animal - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation; glycogen; hormonal regulation; hormone receptors; hypertrehalosemic hormone; insect flight; Insect Hormones - metabolism; Insect Hormones - pharmacology; Metabolism; neurohormones; Neuropeptide; neuropeptides; nutrient reserves; RNA interference; trehalose; Adipokinetic hormone; Metabolism; Neuropeptide; Flight; Diptera
• ISSN: 0022-1910; 1879-1611
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2007.10.007

The role of adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and flight performance was evaluated for females of the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. Injection of various dosages of synthetic Anoga-AKH-I increased carbohydrate levels in the haemolymph and reduced glycogen reserves in sugar-fed females but did not affect lipid levels. Anoga-AKH-I enhanced the flight performance of both intact and decapitated sugar-fed females, during a 4 h flight period. Anoga-AKH-II had no effect on carbohydrate or lipid levels or flight performance, thus its function remains unknown. Targeted RNA-interference lowered Anoga-AKH receptor expression in sugar-fed females, consequently injections of Anoga-AKH-I failed to mobilize glycogen reserves. Taken together, these results show that a primary role for the neurohormone, Anoga-AKH-I, is to elevate trehalose levels in the haemolymph of female mosquitoes.