Potassium Transport by Insect Midgut
{'Code': '08060200', 'Directorate': {'LongName': 'Direct For Biological Sciences'}, 'Division': {'LongName': 'Division of Cellular Biosciences'}}
{'SignBlockName': 'Bruce L. Umminger'}
This research is directed at understanding the nature of three transport processes of the intestine of lepidopteran insects for potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate, and the role of these processes in the ionic and acid-base balance of the whole animal. An important goal is to identify the processes by which the animal resists the potassium load presented by the plant diet and the mechanisms of alkalinization of the contents in the anterior parts and recovery of base in the posterior parts of the gut. The complexity of the tissue necessitates separation of the basal and apical membranes and study of their transport mechanisms in isolation. The immediate goals of this project are, first, to isolate the basal membrane components responsible for potassium entry by one of the following methods: incorporation into lipid bilayers, study in membrane vesicles, or patch-clamping of dissociated cells in primary culture. Second, using similar techniques, possible chloride/bicarbonate exchange will be investigated in apical membranes of both columnar cells and goblet cells. Third, the relationships between electrochemical driving forces and transport rates for both chloride and hydrogen ions in isolated gut will be measured using ion-specific intracellular electrodes. The effect of dietary potassium on acid-base, potassium, and chloride balances will also be measured in the intact animal. The results of these studies will provide information on the basic mechanisms by which insects regulate the ionic composition and acid-base balance of their body fluids. It will help to explain how butterfly and moth larvae are able to resist the load of potassium provided by their diet of plant leaves. New knowledge of the physiology of these transport systems may, in the future, suggest new approaches for the control of these insects.
[{'FirstName': 'Alan', 'LastName': 'Koch', 'EmailAddress': 'koch@wsu.edu', 'StartDate': '09/01/1988', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Co-Principal Investigator'}, {'FirstName': 'David', 'LastName': 'Moffett', 'EmailAddress': 'dmoffett@wsu.edu', 'StartDate': '09/01/1988', 'EndDate': None, 'RoleCode': 'Principal Investigator'}]
{'Name': 'Washington State University', 'CityName': 'PULLMAN', 'ZipCode': '991641060', 'PhoneNumber': '5093359661', 'StreetAddress': '280 Lighty', 'CountryName': 'United States', 'StateName': 'Washington', 'StateCode': 'WA'}
[{'Code': '1117', 'Text': 'CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY'}, {'Code': '1141', 'Text': 'PHYSIOLOG & STRUCTURAL SYS'}]
{'url': 'https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/download?DownloadFileName=1988&All=true', 'xml': '8811354.xml'}