Binding of Vigna unguiculata vicilins to the peritrophic membrane of Tenebrio molitor affects larval development |
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| Authors: | E V Paes A F Uchôa M S T Pinto C P Silva K V S Fernandes A E A Oliveira J Xavier‐Filho |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratório de Química e Fun??o de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, 28013‐602, Campos dos Goytacazes‐RJ, Brazil,;2. Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal‐RN, Brazil, and;3. Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040‐900, Florianópolis‐SC, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | We investigated the effects of vicilins (7S storage proteins) from Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (Fabaceae), cultivars EPACE‐10 genotype susceptible to the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius)] and IT81D‐1045 cowpea weevil‐resistant genotype], seeds on Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larval development. Toxicity of vicilins was investigated through the incorporation of these proteins in artificial diet offered to the larvae. Binding tests of vicilins to the peritrophic membranes (PM) were carried out by in vitro incubation of PM with solutions of vicilins. Bound proteins were desorbed from PM with 100 mm HCl. Desorbed vicilins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoprobing on Western blotting using an anti‐vicilin cv. EPACE‐10 antibody. The chitin content of the T. molitor PM was evaluated by the Von Wisselingh color test and presence of chitin in the larval PM was confirmed. Bioassays showed that both vicilins from EPACE‐10 and IT81D‐1045 genotypes were toxic to T. molitor larvae, and in vitro binding assays showed that these seed‐storage proteins were capable of binding to the larval PM. |
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| Keywords: | storage proteins 7S globulin chitin insect toxic proteins Tenebrionidae Coleoptera |
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