The tryptophan oxidation pathway in mosquitoes with emphasis on xanthurenic acid biosynthesis

Oxidation of tryptophan to kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) is the major catabolic pathway in mosquitoes. However, 3-HK is oxidized easily under physiological conditions, resulting in the production of reactive radical species. To overcome this problem, mosquitoes have developed an efficient mechanism to prevent 3-HK from accumulating by converting this chemically reactive compound to the chemically stable xanthurenic acid. Interestingly, 3-HK is a precursor for the production of compound eye pigments during the pupal and early adult stages; consequently, mosquitoes need to preserve and transport 3-HK for compound eye pigmentation in pupae and adults. This review summarizes the tryptophan oxidation pathway, compares and contrasts the mosquito tryptophan oxidation pathway with other model species, and discusses possible driving forces leading to the functional adaptation and evolution of enzymes involved in the mosquito tryptophan oxidation pathway.