Open AccessDetection of peptidoglycan and β‐glucan with silkworm larvae plasma test
Author(s) -
Tsuchiya Masakazu,
Asahi Nobuo,
Suzuoki Fukiko,
Ashida Masaaki,
Matsuura Shuji
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1996.tb00063.x
Subject(s) - peptidoglycan , biology , biochemistry , glucan , hemolymph , cell wall , oxidase test , polysaccharide , bombyx mori , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , gene
A method to detect peptidoglycan and (1 → 3)‐β‐ d ‐glucan with silkworm larvae plasma (SLP) derived from the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori was developed. SLP contains all of the factors of the pro‐phenol oxidase cascade, an important self‐defense mechanism of insects. Peptidoglycan or (1 → 3)‐β‐ d ‐glucan initiates the cascade, in which pro‐phenol oxidase is finally activated to phenol oxidase. The phenol oxidase activity was colorimetrically or visually detected with 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine as a substrate. SLP displayed high reactivity with peptidoglycan and polysaccharides containing 1,3‐β‐glucosidic linkages, but not with endotoxins. SLP is useful for the detection of microbial contamination because peptidoglycan and (1 → 3)‐β‐ d ‐glucan are cell wall components of bacteria and fungi, respectively.