Molecular Characterization and Gene Expression Analysis of Aquaporin in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis

Abstract

Aquaporins (AQPs) are important functional proteins and are widely present in the cell membrane of almost all organisms, mediating transmembrane transport of liquid and other solutes. Much is known about the molecular characterization of AQPs in other tick species; however, nothing is known about them in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis. In this study, we first sequenced the transcript variants of AQPs in H. qinghaiensis (HqAQPs), analyzed the biological structure features of AQPs, and investigated the pattern of gene expression of the AQP gene of H. qinghaiensis in different tick tissues and stages to predict their biological functions. In conclusion, four AQP transcript variants (i.e., HqAQP1-1, HqAQP1-2, HqAQP1-3, and HqAQP1-4) of H. qinghaiensis were found, and the sequences were comparable with its orthologs from the reported tick species. Gene expression of AQPs in different tick tissues and stages showed the higher expression level in salivary glands and gut of adult female, as well as in the female and nymph than in Malpighian tubules, ovary, male, larvae, and egg. Further studies will be performed to evaluate the function of HqAQPs against H. qinghaiensis infestation on animals.

Function and evolution of aquaporin IsAQP1 in the Lyme disease vector Ixodes scapularis

“…2009). IsAQP1 additionally showed low expression in the Malpighian tubules (Figure 4B), but very little expression in gut and ovary—two tissues commonly reported to have high AQP expression in ticks (Niu et al . 2022, Ball et al .…”

“…IsAQP1 expression was especially elevated in the salivary glands of un-engorged females (Figure 4C), i.e., expression was highest ahead of an anticipated blood meal. High AQP expression in salivary glands has been noted in other tick species including Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Niu et al . 2022), Ixodes ricinus (Campbell et al .…”

“…IsAQP1 expression was especially elevated in the salivary glands of un-engorged females (Figure 4C), i.e., expression was highest ahead of an anticipated blood meal. High AQP expression in salivary glands has been noted in other tick species including Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Niu et al 2022), Ixodes ricinus (Campbell et al 2010), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ball et al 2009). IsAQP1 additionally showed low expression in the Malpighian tubules (Figure 4B), but very little expression in gut and ovary-two tissues commonly reported to have high AQP expression in ticks (Niu et al 2022, Ball et al 2009, Holmes et al 2008, Campbell et al 2010.…”

“…Sequences were identified via arthropod-specific searches for ‘aquaporin,’ BLAST searches using arthropod aquaporin sequences as query, and from previous studies (Stavang et al . 2015, Niu et al . 2022).…”

“…We obtained AQP sequences from public sources (e.g., GeneBank, FlyBase, VectorBase, transcriptome shotgun assemblies, whole genome shotgun contigs). Sequences were identified via arthropod-specific searches for 'aquaporin,' BLAST searches using arthropod aquaporin sequences as query, and from previous studies (Stavang et al 2015, Niu et al 2022. Scorpion transcriptome contigs were provided by Dr. Thorsten Burmester (Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Hamburg, Germany; Roeding et al, 2009).…”