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MSc Exit Seminar – Zina Hamoudi (Orchard/Lange labs)
September 25, 2015 @ 1:10 pm - 1:40 pm
MSc Exit Seminar
Friday September 25th, 1:10 pm – Room CT 2150, University of Toronto at Mississauga
Zina Hamoudi (Orchard/Lange labs)
“Isolation and Characterization of the Corazonin Receptor and Possible Physiological Roles of Corazonin in the Kissing Bug, Rhodnius prolixus“
Abstract
Neuropeptides control many physiological and endocrinological processes in animals, acting as neuroactive chemicals within the central and peripheral nervous systems. Corazonin (CRZ) is one such neuropeptide that has a variety of physiological roles associated with control of heartbeat, ecdysis behaviour initiation, and cuticle colouration. These physiological effects are mediated by the CRZ receptor (CRZR) which is a G protein-coupled receptor. In order to understand the role of the CRZ- signalling pathway in Rhodnius prolixus, the cDNA sequence encoding the RhoprCRZR has been isolated and cloned. The specificity of the RhoprCRZR was examined using CHOK1-aeq cells. Spatial expression pattern using quantitative PCR revealed receptor expression in the central nervous system, dorsal vessel, abdominal dorsal epidermis, and prothoracic glands. Receptor knockdown using dsRNA showed that CRZ maintains a higher heartbeat frequency in intact insects. Preliminary results using the knockdown have yet to show any effect on ecdysis or cuticle colouration.