Regulation of Chloride Permeability by Endogenously Produced Tyramine in the Drosophila Malpighian Tubule

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

11 p.

Publication Date

3-2003

Publisher

American Physiological Society

Source Publication

American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology

Source ISSN

1522-1563

Abstract

The Malpighian (renal) tubule of Drosophila melanogaster is a useful model for studying epithelial transport. The purpose of this study was to identify factors responsible for modulating transepithelial chloride conductance in isolated tubules. I have found that tyrosine and several of its metabolites cause an increase in chloride conductance. The most potent of these agonists is tyramine, which is active at low nanomolar concentrations; the pharmacology of this response matches that of the previously published cloned insect tyramine receptor. In addition, the tubule appears capable of synthesizing tyramine from applied tyrosine, as shown by direct measurement of tyrosine decarboxylase activity. Immunohistochemical staining of tubules with an antibody against tyramine indicates that the principal cells are the sites of tyramine production, whereas previous characterization of the regulation of chloride conductance suggests that tyramine acts on the stellate cells. This is the first demonstration of a physiological role for an insect tyramine receptor.

Comments

American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, Vol. 284, No. 3 (March 1, 2003): C718-C728. DOI.

Edward Blumenthal was affiliated with the University of Virginia - Charlottesville at the time of publication.

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