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Role of specific activators of intestinal amino acid transport in Bombyx mori larval growth and nutrition
Author(s) -
Leonardi M. Giovanna,
Casartelli Morena,
Fiandra Luisa,
Parenti Paolo,
Giordana Barbara
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.1071
Subject(s) - midgut , bombyx mori , biology , brush border , amino acid , leucine , larva , biochemistry , absorption (acoustics) , vesicle , membrane , botany , gene , physics , acoustics
Nutrient absorption and its modulation are critical for animal growth. In this paper, we demonstrate that leucine methyl ester (Leu‐OMe) can greatly increase the activity of the transport system responsible for the absorption of most essential amino acids in the larval midgut of the silkworm Bombyx mori . We investigated leucine uptake activation by Leu‐OMe in brush border membrane vesicles and in the apical membrane of epithelial cells in the midgut incubated in vitro. Moreover, the addition of this strong activator of amino acid absorption to diet significantly affected larval growth. Silkworms fed on artificial diet supplemented with Leu‐OMe reached maximum body weight 12–18 h before control larvae, and produced cocoon shells up to 20% heavier than those of controls. The activation of amino acid absorption plays an essential role in larval development so that larval growth and cocoon production similar to controls reared on an artificial diet with 25% of dry mulberry leaf powder were observed in silkworms fed on an artificial diet with only 5% of mulberry powder. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 48:190–198, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.