Haem and iron homeostasis in most eukaryotic cells is based on a balanced flux between haem biosynthesis and haem oxygenase-mediated degradation. Unlike most eukaryotes, ticks possess an incomplete haem biosynthetic pathway and, together with other (non-haematophagous) mites, lack a gene encoding haem oxygenase. We demonstrated, by membrane feeding, that ticks do not acquire bioavailable iron from haemoglobin-derived haem. However, ticks require dietary haemoglobin as an exogenous source of haem since, feeding with haemoglobin-depleted serum led to aborted embryogenesis. Supplementation of serum with haemoglobin fully restored egg fertility. Surprisingly, haemoglobin could be completely substituted by serum proteins for the provision of amino-acids in vitellogenesis. Acquired haem is distributed by haemolymph carrier protein(s) and sequestered by vitellins in the developing oocytes. This work extends, substantially, current knowledge of haem auxotrophy in ticks and underscores the importance of haem and iron metabolism as rational targets for anti-tick interventions.

Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Microbiology Czech Academy of Sciences Trebon Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular Brasil Brazil

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