Inorganic polyphosphate's role in energy production and mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in tick mitochondria.

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a biopolymer composed of phosphoanhydride-linked orthophosphate molecules. PolyP is engaged in a variety of cellular functions, including mitochondrial metabolism. Here, we examined the effects of polyP on electron transport chain enzymes and F1 Fo ATP synthase in tick embryos during embryonic development. The study found that polyPs containing medium and long chains (polyP15 and polyP65 ) enhanced the activity of complex I, complex II, complex III, and F1 Fo ATP synthase, while short polyP chains (polyP3 ) had no effect. The study also examined the activity of exopolyphosphatases (PPX) in various energy-demand situations. PPX activity was stimulated when ADP concentrations are high, characterizing a low-energy context. When complexes I-III and F1 Fo ATP synthase inhibitors were added in energized mitochondria, PPX activity decreased, whereas the mitochondrial uncoupler FCCP had no impact on PPX activity. Additionally, the study investigated the effect of polyP on mitochondrial swelling, finding that polyP causes mitochondrial swelling by increasing calcium effects on the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. The findings presented here to increase our understanding of the function of polyP in mitochondrial metabolism and its relationship to mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening in an arthropod model.

The dynamics of energy metabolism in the tick embryo / A dinâmica do metabolismo energético em embriões de carrapato

Abstract The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite capable of transmitting a large number of pathogens, causing considerable losses in the cattle industry, with substantial damage to livestock. Over the years, important stages of its life cycle, such as the embryo, have been largely ignored by researchers. Tick embryogenesis has been typically described as an energy-consuming process, sustaining cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. During the embryonic stage of arthropods, there is mobilization of metabolites of maternal origin for the development of organs and tissues of the embryo. Glycogen resynthesis in late embryogenesis is considered as an effective indicator of embryonic integrity. In the cattle tick R.(B. (B.) microplus, glycogen resynthesis is sustained by protein degradation through the gluconeogenesis pathway at the end of the embryonic period. Despite recent advancements in research on tick energy metabolism at the molecular level, the dynamics of nutrient utilization during R. (B.) microplus embryogenesis is still poorly understood. The present review aims to describe the regulatory mechanisms of carbohydrate metabolism during maternal-zygotic transition and identify possible new targets for the development of novel drugs and other control measures against R. (B.) microplus infestations.

Resumo O carrapato bovino Rhipicephalus (B.) microplus é um ectoparasita capaz de transmitir diversos patógenos, sendo responsável por grandes perdas na pecuária pelos danos causados ao gado. Atualmente, muitos estudos têm negligenciado fases importantes do ciclo de vida deste parasita, como a fase embrionária. A embriogênese é classicamente descrita como um processo que demanda um consumo de energia, possibilitando a proliferação celular, diferenciação e crescimento. Além disso, em artrópodes, o estágio da embriogênese é caracterizado pela mobilização de metabolitos de origem materna para o desenvolvimento de novos tecidos e órgãos. A ressíntese de glicogênio no final da embriogênese tem sido descrita em diversas espécies de artrópodes, sendo considerada um indicador de integridade do embrião. No caso do R. (B.) microplus a ressíntese de glicogênio é sustentada pela degradação de proteínas durante a gliconeogênese, no terço final da embriogênese. Apesar dos recentes avanços, no estudo molecular e do metabolismo energético, os mecanismos envolvidos na dinâmica da utilização de diferentes substratos energéticos durante a embriogênese do carrapato R. (B.) microplus ainda é pouco entendido. Diante deste panorama, estudos que descrevam a regulação destes mecanismos e da associação do metabolismo de carboidratos com a transição materno zigótica, pode auxiliar na busca de novos alvos para o desenvolvimento de novos acaricidas e outras intervenções para o controle infestações de R. (B.) microplus.

The dynamics of energy metabolism in the tick embryo.

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite capable of transmitting a large number of pathogens, causing considerable losses in the cattle industry, with substantial damage to livestock. Over the years, important stages of its life cycle, such as the embryo, have been largely ignored by researchers. Tick embryogenesis has been typically described as an energy-consuming process, sustaining cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. During the embryonic stage of arthropods, there is mobilization of metabolites of maternal origin for the development of organs and tissues of the embryo. Glycogen resynthesis in late embryogenesis is considered as an effective indicator of embryonic integrity. In the cattle tick R.(B. (B.) microplus, glycogen resynthesis is sustained by protein degradation through the gluconeogenesis pathway at the end of the embryonic period. Despite recent advancements in research on tick energy metabolism at the molecular level, the dynamics of nutrient utilization during R. (B.) microplus embryogenesis is still poorly understood. The present review aims to describe the regulatory mechanisms of carbohydrate metabolism during maternal-zygotic transition and identify possible new targets for the development of novel drugs and other control measures against R. (B.) microplus infestations.

Evolution of axis formation: mRNA localization, regulatory circuits and posterior specification in non-model arthropods.

Drosophila melanogaster has been used as an arthropod model to understand the establishment of embryonic axes. However, the long germ type of embryogenesis in Drosophila is highly divergent from the ancestral, short germ mode seen in most other arthropods. Therefore, broader sampling of other arthropod taxa is required to understand the evolution of axial patterning mechanisms within this phylum. Here we describe recent progress toward this end. First, we describe differing strategies for providing patterning information along the anterior-posterior axis of arthropod embryos. Second, we discuss the recent findings on dorso-ventral axis of beetles and spiders that highlight the importance of regulatory interactions at the zygotic level. Third, recent discoveries of the roles of Wnt signalling, the Notch/Delta pathway and caudal in establishing and patterning the posterior embryonic region in spiders and beetles are described. In the end, we try to integrate these new findings with non-model arthropods in a common framework and discuss the major gaps of knowledge that should be addressed by future studies.