Localization of octopamine and tyramine receptor transcripts in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana

Biogenic amines share a diverse set of physiological functions in both vertebrates and invertebrates.  Octopamine and tyramine are biogenic amines commonly found in insects.  These biogenic amines have been found to have numerous physiological functions in insects.  These physiological functions are realized when the either octopamine or tyramine activates its cognate receptor.  Octopamine is known to activate specific G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs).  Tyramine also activates specific GPCRs and recently has been shown to activate ligand-gated chloride channels.  An octopamine receptor and a tyramine receptor have recently been identified in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana.  Localization of the American cockroach’s tyramine receptor has been reported; however, little is known about the localization of the American cockroach’s octopamine receptor.  The presented research will focus on the level of transcript of both an octopamine receptor and a tyramine receptor from the American cockroach.  Octopamine and tyramine transcripts will be compared to one another using RT-PCR.