A GPCR-focused investigation of the R. microplus transcriptome

Authors: MUNOZ, SERGIO - University Of Texas - El Paso; OGREY, ALEXANDRIA - University Of Texas - El Paso; Guerrero, Felicito; LEUNG, MING-YING - University Of Texas - El Paso

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Rhipicephalus microplus, also known as the southern cattle tick, has been found in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world, including Mexico. It is a vector for parasites responsible for cattle diseases that can lead to decreased weight, anemia, loss of milk/meat production, and death. The cattle tick was eradicated from the United States in the early 20th century; however, the ease for tick-carrying animals to cross the border, the cattle tick's growing resistance to acaricides, and its interaction with other invasive species, are becoming causes for concern that reinfestation of the United States might occur. The objective of the project is to develop a bioinformatics pipeline for identifying possible G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), utilizing sequence length and number of helices. A series of Python scripts were written to analyze the cDNA sequences reverse-transcribed from the transcriptome of the synganglion of the cattle tick. Using these scripts, possible protein coding regions are obtained from the cDNA, and are input into the Transmembrane Hidden Markov Model web server. The protein sequences identified by the scripts as potential GPCRs were run through a standalone version of Pfam, which classified the submitted proteins by comparing them to the Pfam library of Hidden Markov Models. This output resulted in 236 probable Full Length GPCRs.