Evolutionary genomics analysis reveals gene expansion and functional diversity of arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferases in the Culicinae subfamily of mosquitoes. (23rd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Yu; Chen, Huaqing; Lin, Zhinan; Zhang, Lei; Upadhyay, Archana; Liao, Chenghong; Merkler, David J.; Han, Qian
• Is Part Of: Insect science. Volume 30:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 569
• Page End: 581
• Publication Date: 2022-08-23
• Subjects: arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase -- functional diversity -- gene duplication -- molecular evolution -- mosquito -- N‐acyltransferase; Insects -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.705
• DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9609

Abstract

Abstract: Arylalkylamine N ‐acetyltransferase (aaNAT), considered a potential new insecticide target, catalyzes the acetylation of arylalkylamine substrates such as serotonin and dopamine and, hence, mediates diverse functions in insects. However, the origin of insect aaNATs (iaaNATs) and the evolutionary process that generates multiple aaNATs in mosquitoes remain largely unknown. Here, we have analyzed the genomes of 33 species to explore and expand our understanding of the molecular evolution of this gene family in detail. We show that aaNAT orthologs are present in Bacteria, Cephalochordata, Chondrichthyes, Cnidaria, Crustacea, Mammalia, Placozoa, and Teleoste, as well as those from a number of insects, but are absent in some species of Annelida, Echinozoa, and Mollusca as well as Arachnida. Particularly, more than 10 aaNATs were detected in the Culicinae subfamily of mosquitoes. Molecular evolutionary analysis of aaNAT/aaNAT‐like genes in mosquitoes reveals that tandem duplication events led to gene expansion in the Culicinae subfamily of mosquitoes more than 190 million years ago. Further selection analysis demonstrates that mosquito aaNATs evolved under strongly positive pressures that generated functional diversity following gene duplication events. Overall, this study may provide novel insights into the molecular evolution of the aaNAT family in mosquitoes. Graphical Abstract: Arylalkylamine N ‐acyltransferase plays diverse roles in insects. The gene expansion occurred by tandem duplication events has been found in Culicinae subfamily mosquitoes, which leads to further functional diversity during the evolution.