Abstract
Amylases are an important family of enzymes involved in insect carbohydrate metabolism that are required for the survival of insect larvae. For this reason, enzymes from starch-dependent insects are targets for insecticidal control. PF2 (Olneya tesota) is a lectin that is toxic to Zabrotes subfasciatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) larvae. In this study, we evaluated recognition of the PF2 lectin to α-amylases from Z. subfasciatus midgut and the effect of PF2 on α-amylase activity. PF2 caused a decrease of total amylase activity in vitro. Subsequently, several α-amylase isoforms were isolated from insect midgut tissues using ion exchange chromatography. Three enzyme isoforms were verified by an in-gel assay for amylase activity; however, only one isoform was recognized by antiamylase serum and PF2. The identity of this Z. subfasciatus α-amylase was confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The findings strongly suggest that a glycosylated α-amylase isoform from larval Z. subfasciatus midgut interacts with PF2, which interferes with starch digestion.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | A68 |
| Journal | Journal of Insect Science |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.
Keywords
- Amylase
- Insecticidal effect
- Lectin
- PF2
- Zabrotes subfasciatus