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Characterization of the proteases in the midgut of the xylophagous larvae of Oemona hirta (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Author(s) -
Shaw Brian David,
Christeller John Tane
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
insect science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1744-7917
pISSN - 1672-9609
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2009.01274.x
Subject(s) - proteases , biology , midgut , exopeptidase , protease , longhorn beetle , serine protease , biochemistry , aminopeptidase , trypsin , serine , chymotrypsin , masp1 , proteolysis , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology , larva , leucine , botany , amino acid
The protein digestive capability of the larvae of the longhorn beetle ( Oemona hirta , Coleoptera: Cerambycidae, Fabricius, 1775) was investigated. This species feeds only on wood where there is a high proportion of vascular tissue. The pH of the midgut, the major digestive organ, was alkaline and protein hydrolysis was maximal at alkaline pH. Use of specific synthetic peptide substrates showed that the major protease activities were the endopeptidases, trypsin and chymotrypsin‐like activity, and the exopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase and the pH curves corresponded to that with protein substrate. Studies using a range of serine protease inhibitors as well as specific inhibitors of metalloproteases, cysteine proteases and aspartate proteases confirmed a serine protease‐based digestive system similar to earlier reports of sapwood‐feeding Cerambycids. Control of these insect pests using protease inhibitors is discussed.