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Differential protease activity augments polyphagy in Helicoverpa armigera
Y R Chikate1, V A Tamhane, R S Joshi
1Plant Molecular Biology Unit, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India.
Insect Molecular Biology
|February 26, 2013
Summary
Helicoverpa armigera adapts to diverse diets through dynamic regulation of serine proteases. These digestive enzymes show diet- and stage-specific expression, crucial for polyphagy in this agricultural pest.
Area of Science:
- Insect Physiology and Biochemistry
- Molecular Entomology
- Agricultural Entomology
Background:
- Polyphagous agricultural pests like Helicoverpa armigera are expanding host ranges, impacting crop productivity.
- Adaptation to diverse diets in insects relies on dynamic regulation of digestive and detoxifying enzymes.
- Serine proteases are key enzymes involved in insect digestion and adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role of serine proteases in the development and polyphagy of Helicoverpa armigera.
- To profile the expression patterns of trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like proteases in H. armigera across different life stages and host plants.
Main Methods:
- Profiling of eight trypsin-like and four chymotrypsin-like serine protease mRNAs from H. armigera.
- Analysis of protease expression in insects reared on nutritionally distinct host plants and across different life stages.
- Mass spectrometric analysis of protease profiles in the presence of inhibitors to assess differential activity.
Main Results:
- Diet- and stage-specific expression patterns were observed for serine proteases in H. armigera.
- Structural variations in expressed trypsins suggest potential for differential substrate specificity and inhibitor interactions.
- Protease activity profiles revealed insights into their differential functions, influenced by inhibitors.
Conclusions:
- Differential expression of serine proteases is a key mechanism underlying digestive physiology in Helicoverpa armigera.
- These findings highlight the importance of serine proteases in promoting polyphagy and adaptation to varied diets in this significant agricultural pest.
