Link between L-3-cyanoalanine synthase activity and differential cyanide sensitivity of insects

L-3-Cyanoalanine synthase activity is clearly linked to differential cyanide tolerance of two insect species, the southern armyworm (more tolerant) and cabbage looper (less tolerant). Mitochondrial location of this enzyme explains the mitochondrial insensitivity to cyanide, and its induction becomes critical in the current explanation of differential insensitivity to cyanide.