Searching for natriuretic peptide receptors in insects

Natriuretic peptide receptors are very important in mammals for controlling water homeostasis in the body. It is likely that these receptors played a key role in evolution. Until now, there has been little information on natriuretic peptide receptors in insects. We use Manduca sexta as a research model. We have found several guanylyl cyclase receptors similar to the natriuretic peptide receptor, distributed in different tissues of Manduca. We have completed mRNA sequences for several large (>1,000 AA) proteins and cloned them into pcDNA5. Then we will screen different hormones to determine which stimulate the cell after transfection. We will present results showing the biological function of one receptor which is abundantly expressed in the Malpighian tubule of Manduca.