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Comparative Study
. 2011:11:153.
doi: 10.1673/031.011.15301.

New data on the presence of hemocyanin in Plecoptera: recomposing a puzzle

Valentina Amore  1 , Brunella Gaetani, Maria Angeles Puig, Romolo Fochetti
Affiliations
Comparative Study

New data on the presence of hemocyanin in Plecoptera: recomposing a puzzle

Valentina Amore et al. J Insect Sci. 2011.

Abstract

The specific role of hemocyanin in Plecoptera (stoneflies) is still not completely understood, since none of the hypotheses advanced have proven fully convincing. Previous data show that mRNA hemocyanin sequences are not present in all Plecoptera, and that hemocyanin does not seem to be uniformly distributed within the order. All species possess hexamerins, which are multifunction proteins that probably originated from hemocyanin. In order to obtain an increasingly detailed picture on the presence and distribution of hemocyanin across the order, this study presents new data regarding nymphs and adults of selected Plecoptera species. Results confirm that the hemocyanin expression differs among nymphs in the studied stonefly species. Even though previous studies have found hemocyanin in adults of two stonefly species it was not detected in the present study, even in species where nymphs show hemocyanin, suggesting that the physiological need of this protein can change during life cycle. The phylogenetic pattern obtained using hemocyanin sequences matches the accepted scheme of traditional phylogeny based on morphology, anatomy, and biology. It is remarkable to note that the hemocyanin conserved region acts like a phylogenetic molecular marker within Plecoptera.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Multiple sequence alignment (BLOSUM62) of hemocyanins conserved amino acid sequences (hc) and correspondent hexamerins sequences (hx). His (yellow) and Phe (green) residues involved in the oxygen—binding site are indicated. The residues involved in the trimer (blue) and dimer (red) contacts are also shown. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
ML analysis of the Plecoptera hemocyanin superfamily (HcSF): hemocyanins (hc) and hexamerins (hx). The numbers represent the bootstrap support. The bar equals 0.1 substitutions per site. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Bayesian analysis of the Plecoptera hemocyanin superfamily (HcSF): hemocyanins (hc) and hexamerins (hx). The numbers represent the bootstrap support. The bar equals 0.1 substitutions per site. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
ML analysis of Arthropoda hemocyanin superfamily (HcSF): PPO, prophenoloxidases; hc, hemocyanins; hx, hexamerins; CCI and PHc cryptocyanins. The numbers represent the bootstrap support. The bar equals 0.1 substitutions per site. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Bayesian analysis of the Arthropoda hemocyanin superfamily (HcSF). PPO, prophenoloxidases; hc, hemocyanins; hx, hexamerins; CCI and PHc cryptocyanins. The numbers represent the bootstrap support. The bar equals 0.1 substitutions per site. High quality figures are available online.
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References

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