Meeting Abstract

P1.183  Friday, Jan. 4  Immunocytochemical localization of the amino acid co-transporter KAAT1 and neuromodulators in the midgut of larval Manduca sexta. SANDERLIN, A.G.*; ROSE, E.K.; YEOH, A.J.; GILLEN, C.M.; ITAGAKI, H.; Kenyon College; Kenyon College; Kenyon College; Kenyon College; Kenyon College itagaki@kenyon.edu

As part of our continuing investigations into the midgut of larval Manduca sexta, we have been investigating the expression of different midgut genes, including the potassium amino acid co-transport protein (KAAT1), using qPCR (Yeoh, et al., 2012). More recently, we have developed several antibodies to KAAT1 with the goal of localizing and quantifying this important transport protein in the midgut. Initial studies using immunocytochemistry show localization primarily in the luminal surface of the midgut cells in the later instars, as expected. We are now in the process of looking across the instars and across different regions of the midgut to see if there are differences in KAAT1 expression over development. In parallel, we have been looking at the expression of several neuromodulators (SCPb, serotonin, FMRFamide, allatropin) in the midguts of Manduca of different instars to ascertain their distribution across different regions and across development. (Supported by NSF-UBM #0827208)