Characterization of Glutamate-Gated Chloride Channel in Tribolium castaneum

The glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) play essential roles in signal transduction by regulating fast inhibitory synaptic transmission the nervous system of invertebrates. While there is only one GluCl subunit insect, diversity insect GluCls broadened alternative splicing. In present study, three TcGluCl variant genes were cloned from red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum. Analysis characteristics TcGluCls including sequence features, genomic structures, and splicing revealed that had typical structural features showed high homologies with other orders. TcGluCl-encoding gene consists nine exons variants (TcGluCl-3a, TcGluCl-3b, TcGluCl-3c) generated exon 3, which was a highly conserved site GluCls. Homology modeling TcGluCl-3a 3 coding protein located at N-terminal extracellular domain, no steric clashes encountered between region ivermectin/glutamate binding pocket, indicated might have impact on to glutamate insecticide. addition head tissue, TcGluCl-3c also expressions ovary testis T. castaneum, whereas TcGluCl-3b expression midgut, suggesting diverse physiological functions total highest levels early stage larvae. TcGluCl, significantly increased late-stage larvae pupae be involved growth development These results are helpful further understand molecular provide foundations for studying specific function variant.