Identification and evaluation expression level of arrestin 1 gene during the development stage of Anopheles stephensi

Olfaction and visual play are an important role in many insect behaviors, including host-seeking behavior, and blood-feeding. Identification of molecular mechanism of these kinds of behaviors is a crucial issue that should be considered to find new methods in controlling vector-born diseases. Previous studies on arrestin 1 from Anopheles gambiae (main malaria vector in Iran, Indian subcontinent and China) have shown that this gene plays a prominent role in the visual process of this mosquito. Despite its importance, this gene and its protein have not yet been identified and characterized in Anopheles stephensi (main malaria vector in Iran, Indian subcontinent and China). In this study, we used Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) technique to identify total cDNA of this gene, applied real time PCR to evaluate expression level of this gene in different stages of mosquito development, and characterized it using bioinformatics tools. The result showed that arrestin 1 from Anopheles stephensi (arr1As) gene and its protein are remarkably similar to that of the arrestin 1 gene from Anopheles gambiae (arr1Ag) and is expressed during all stages of mosquito development in Anopheles stephensi except for the embryo stage. Although it needs to further test the determining function of arrestin 1, based on the similarity of sequences (cDNA and amino acid) and expression pattern of this gene between Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles gambiae, it seems that it has the same function in Anopheles stephensi.