A microarray-based analysis of transcriptional compartmentalization in the alimentary canal of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae

The alimentary canal of the larval mosquito displays a considerable degree of physiological compartmentalization among its different anatomical sub-divisions (gastric caeca, anterior midgut, posterior midgut and hindgut). We performed a comparative microarray analysis in order to identify transcripts which are particularly enriched in each gut section. Based on the available annotation of the selected transcripts, we suggest that the metabolism and absorption of proteins and carbohydrates takes place mainly in the gastric caeca and posterior midgut, whereas the anterior midgut specializes in the metabolism and absorption of lipids. Transcripts encoding antimicrobial peptides were found to be enriched in the gastric caeca, and a high enrichment of transcripts associated with enzymes involved in xenobiotic detoxification was found in the anterior midgut. Furthermore, our data support the notion that the region encompassing the hindgut and Malpighian tubes plays important roles in avoiding the excretion of nutrients, as well as in xenobiotic detoxification.