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Cathepsin B‐like proteinase is involved in the decomposition of the adult fat body of Helicoverpa armigera
Author(s) -
Yang XiaoMei,
Hou LiJing,
Dong DuJuan,
Shao HongLian,
Wang JinXing,
Zhao XiaoFan
Publication year - 2006
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.20115
Subject(s) - biology , medicine , endocrinology , vitellogenesis , cathepsin d , cathepsin b , oogenesis , metamorphosis , vitellogenin , embryogenesis , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , biochemistry , gene , oocyte , larva , botany
Cathepsin B–like proteinase (HCB, EC 3.4.22.1) is expressed in Helicoverpa armigera oocytes and adult fat bodies. Previous work has revealed that HCB plays a key role in the degradation of yolk proteins during embryogenesis. This study investigated the function and regulatory activation of HCB in adult fat bodies during aging and oogenesis. The HCB transcript was detected at all stages from larval to adult fat bodies with Northern blot analysis. Pro‐HCB was also detected in fat bodies at these stages with an immunoblot assay using a monoclonal antibody against HCB. However, mature HCB and its activity were only detected in fat bodies of pre‐adults and adults. This evidence suggested that HCB is regulated post‐translationally by activation of the pro‐enzyme during the pupa‐adult metamorphosis. The activation of HCB was coupled with the expression of hormone receptor 3 (HHR3), and was up‐regulated by the ecdysteroid agonist, RH‐2485, suggesting that HCB activation is related to the ecdysone regulatory system. The decomposition of the adult fat bodies during aging and oogenesis was found to occur via programmed cell death, in which HCB took part. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 62:1–10, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.