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The present set of studies examines the roles of two ion-motive enzymes, vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (VA) and Na+/K+ ATPase (NKA), in energizing transepithelial ion transport across the larval caecum and midgut epithelia of Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti. Even though both VA and NKA are expressed in insect epithelia, VA was considered the more important enzyme until the early 2000 because the ion transport was unaffected by the NKA inhibitor ouabain in many insect epithelia, a phenomenon termed the ‘ouabain paradox’. This paradox was resolved by the discovery of an organic anion transporter (OATP) that is colocalized with NKA and prevents the actions of ouabain on NKA. Since the resolution of the ouabain paradox, this is the first set of studies that investigates the role of NKA in energizing ion transport across the caeca and midgut of insects. First, I show that both VA and NKA are expressed in the caecum and the midgut. Moreover, the ATPase enzyme activities of VA and NKA are quantitatively similar within each region of the gut that was studied, suggesting that both ATPases may be important for establishing favourable electrochemical gradients for transport of ions across the gut. I used ATPase inhibitors to demonstrate that cation transport is dependent on the actions of both VA and NKA. Furthermore, this is the first set of studies that provides an insight into the ion transport mechanisms of the gastric caecum, an organ that is understudied in insects. In Aedes aegypti, I show that 5-hydroxytryptamine regulates the VA-rich cells of the gastric caecum, and therefore the rates of ion transport of these cells. Additionally, I also show that rearing salinity conditions for Aedes aegypti larvae alters the expression patterns of VA and NKA in the gastric caecum. In freshwater, increased activity of VA and NKA energizes transport of ions into the lumen of the caecum that likely maintains fluid volumes and ionic composition at levels appropriate for digestion and absorption. Overall, these studies provide novel information for caeca and midgut-specific actions of VA and NKA in insects, and present a number of new avenues for future research. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis focuses on investigating the roles of two enzymes, vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (VA) and Na+/K+ ATPase (NKA), which utilize energy to transport electrically charged atoms (ions) across the cells of the insect gut. Although VA was considered the more important of the two enzymes until the early 2000s, I have demonstrated that NKA also plays a role in maintaining insect gut function in fruit flies and mosquito larvae. Furthermore, the activities of both enzymes are dependent on the salinity of the medium in which mosquito larvae are reared, suggesting that they play a role in maintaining the ionic composition of the gut fluids in freshwater larvae. Additionally, I have also demonstrated that a neurochemical, serotonin, can modulate the activity of gut cells in mosquito larvae. Overall, this thesis provides novel information on the actions of VA and NKA in the insect gut, and presents a number of new avenues for future research.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

A (Na+,K+)-ATPase é uma proteína integral da membrana plasmática que está sujeita a uma complexa regulação. Na fauna dos manguezais, dentre os crustáceos se destaca o caranguejo Cardisoma guanhumi (Latreille, 1825), um crustáceo decápode que desempenha um papel significativo na dinâmica deste ecossistema, considerado relevante recurso pesqueiro. Este estudo fornece o efeito das poliaminas, das enzimas do estresse oxidativo, da toxidade do amônio, e também investiga atividade K+-fosfatase e atividade (Na+,K+)-ATPase por estimulação sinérgica de K+/ NH4+ e NH4+/K+ na fração microsomal de brânquias do guaiamum. A atividade K+-fosfatase e a atividade (Na+,K+)-ATPase foram determinadas continuamente, a 25°C, em um espectrofotômetro Shimadzu U1800 equipado com células termostatizadas. Todos os experimentos foram feitos em duplicata utilizando-se pelo menos três preparações diferentes (N 3). A atividade PNFFase insensível à ouabaína representa 40% da atividade PNFFase total, e valor do KI foi de 370,0 18,5mol L-1. A atividade específica máxima estimada foi de 29,30 ± 1,46 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 e o KM = 2,90 ± 0,14 mmol L-1. Por outro lado, a utilização do substrato fisiológico (ATP) permitiu a determinação de parâmetros cinéticos da atividade (Na+,K+)-ATPase em relação aos moduladores ATP, potássio, sódio, magnésio, amônio e, ouabaína. A atividade ATPase total na fração microsomal do tecido branquial de C. guanhumi recém-capturado (16 S) foi aproximadamente 166 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 e uma atividade ATPase insensível à ouabaína de 26,55 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1, enquanto que aclimatado a 22 S a atividade ATPase total foi de 303,28 ± 15,16 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 e a atividade insensível à ouabaína de 68,60 ± 3,43 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1. A (Na+,K+)-ATPase presente nessas duas preparações, não apresentam uma estimulação sinergística por K+ e NH4+. Houve alterações na afinidade da enzima para o ATP nas três diferentes concentrações de NH4Cl (120 mg/L; 240 mg/L; 360 mg/L) em comparação com o controle sem NH4Cl (KM= 0,1 ± 0,005 mmol L-1).Não foram observados efeitos significativos utilizando aminas biogênicas. Nossas análises mostraram também que as enzimas do estresse oxidativo estão atuando nestas diferentes preparações para combater os oxirradicais. Análise por Western blotting com anticorpo monoclonal revelou a presença de uma banda correspondente a subunidade da (Na+,K+)-ATPase com massa molecular 110 kDa. A imunolocalização mostrou que a subunidade da (Na+,K+)-ATPase encontra-se predominantemente distribuída por todo o citoplasma das células pilares branquiais, incluindo a região apical abaixo da cutícula. Identificamos o gene constitutivo da sequência parcial de nucleotídeos do cDNA da proteína ribosomal L10 (PRL10) das brânquias deCardisoma guanhumi. O estudo demonstrou que a (Na+,K+)-ATPase constitui um importante regulador da osmorregulação nesta espécie, contribuindo para um melhor entendimento dos papéis exercidos por essa enzima nos processos de osmorregulação e excreção de amônia nos crustáceos. / The (Na+,K+)-ATPase is an integral plasma membrane protein that is subject to complex regulation. In the mangrove fauna, the crustaceans include Cardisoma guanhumi crab (Latreille, 1825), a decapod crustacean that plays a significant role in the dynamics of this ecosystem, considered a relevant fishing resource. This study provides the effect of polyamines, oxidative stress enzymes, ammonium toxicity, and also investigates K+-phosphatase activity and (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity by synergistic K+/NH4+ and NH4+/ K+ stimulation in the microsomal fraction of guaiamum gills. The K+-phosphatase activity and (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity were determined continuously at 25°C on a Shimadzu U1800 spectrophotometer equipped with thermostated cells. All experiments were done in duplicate using at least three different preparations (N 3). The PNFFase activity insensitive to ouabain represents 40% of the total PNFFase activity, and KI value was 370,0 18,5mol L-1. The maximum specific activity estimated was 29.30 ± 1.46 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 and KM = 2.90 ± 0.14 mmol L-1. On the other hand, the use of the physiological substrate (ATP) allowed the determination of kinetic parameters of the activity (Na+,K+)-ATPase in relation to the modulators ATP, potassium, sodium, magnesium, ammonium and ouabain.The total ATPase activity in the microsomal fraction of freshly caught C. guanhumi (16 S) gill tissue was approximately 166 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 and a 26.55 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 ouabain ATPase activity, while acclimated at 22 S the total ATPase activity was 303.28 ± 15.16 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1 and the ouabain insensitive activity of 68.60 ± 3.43 nmol Pi min-1 mg-1. The (Na+,K+)-ATPase present in these two preparations, do not present a synergistic stimulation by K+ and NH4+. There were changes in the enzyme affinity for ATP at the three different concentrations of NH4Cl (120 mg / L, 240 mg / L, 360 mg / L) compared to the control without NH4Cl (KM = 0.1 ± 0.005 mmol L-1). No significant effects were observed using biogenic amines. No significant effects were observed using biogenic amines. Our analyzes have also shown that oxidative stress enzymes are acting in these different preparations to combat oxirradicals. Analysis by Western blotting with monoclonal antibody revealed the presence of a band corresponding to sub subunit of (Na+,K+)-ATPase with molecular mass 110 kDa. Immunolocalization showed that the (Na+,K+)-ATPase sub subunit is predominantly distributed throughout the cytoplasm of the gill pillars, including the apical region below the cuticle. We identified the constitutive gene of the nucleotide partial sequence of the cDNA of ribosomal protein L10 (PRL10) of the gills of Cardisoma guanhumi. The study demonstrated that (Na+,K+)-ATPase is an important regulator of osmoregulation in this species, contributing to a better understanding of the roles played by this enzyme in the processes of osmoregulation and excretion of ammonia in crustaceans.