Metabolic Activity Related to the Potassium Pump in the Midgut of Bombyx Mori Larvae

The transepithelial electrical potential difference across the isolated midgut of Bombyx mori larvae is dependent on the presence of potassium and is unaffected by the addition of hexoses to perfusion media, whereas it is enhanced by alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and the corresponding 2- oxoacids, glutamine and malate. The midgut enzyme profile indicates that the substrates for the tricarboxylic acid cycle are supplied mainly by amino acid metabolism via transaminases. Accordingly, aminoxyacetate drastically reduces the intestinal transepithelial electrical potential difference stimulated by amino acids. Measurement of the free amino acid concentration in the lumen content, intestinal cells and haemolymph shows that glutamic acid, asparagine and glutamine are accumulated in the cell, whilst the haemolymph is enriched with basic amino acids and with glycine, alanine, serine and tyrosine, the major components of the silk fibroin. Therefore, amino acid metabolism directly related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle seems to be the primary source of energy for the potassium pump activity in B. mori midgut.