Digestive enzymes associated with the glycocalyx,microvillar membranes and secretory vesicles from midgut cells of Tenebrio molitor larvae

Acetylglucosaminidase, amylase, cellobiase and maltase are more active in anterior midgut cells, whereas aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase and trypsin are more active in posterior midgut cells of Tenebrio molitor larvae. Differential centrifugation of midgut homogenates prepared in saline (or mannitol) isotonic buffered solutions revealed that aminopeptidase is associated with membranes, which occur in subcellular fractions displaying many microvilli. Carboxypeptidase, trypsin and the carbohydrases are mostly found in the soluble fraction, although significant amounts sediment together with cell vesicles. Data on differential calcium precipitation of midgut homogenates and on partial ultrasound disruption of midgut tissue suggest that aminopeptidase is a microvillar enzyme and that the digestive enzymes recovered in the soluble fraction of cells are loosely bound to the cell glycocalyx. About 5% of the non-absorbable dye amaranth fed to T. molitor larvae remains in the midgut tissue after rinsing. Most dye was recovered in the soluble fraction of midgut cells. This provided further support for the hypothesis that the digestive enzymes found in the soluble fraction are actually extracellular and that the true intracellular enzymes are those associated with cell vesicles. The results suggest that the carbohydrases are secreted by exocytosis from the anterior midgut and carboxypeptidase and trypsin from the posterior midgut.     

Digestive enzymes in midgut cells,endo-and ectoperitrophic contents,and peritrophic membranes of Spodoptera frugiperda (lepidoptera) larvae

In the midgut of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae, subcellular fractionation data suggest that aminopeptidase and part of amylase, carboxypeptidase A, dipeptidase, and trypsin are bound to the microvillar membranes; that major amounts of soluble dipeptidase, cellobiase, and maltase are trapped in the cell glycocalyx; and finally that soluble carboxypeptidase, amylase, and trypsin occur in intracellular vesicles. Most luminal acetylglucosaminidase is soluble and restricted to the ectoperitrophic contents. Aminopeptidase occurs in minor amounts bound to membranes both in the ectoperitrophic contents and incorporated in the peritrophic membrane. Amylase, carboxypeptidase A, and trypsin are found in minor amounts in the ectoperitrophic contents (both soluble and membrane-bound) and in major amounts in the peritrophic membrane with contents. Part of the activities recovered in the last mentioned contents corresponds to enzyme molecules incorporated in the peritrophic membrane. The results suggest that initial digestion is carried out in major amounts by enzymes in the endoperitrophic space and, in minor amounts, by enzymes immobilized in the peritrophic membrane. Intermediate and final digestion occur at the ectoperitrophic space or at the surface of midgut cells. The results also lend support to the hypothesis that amylase and trypsin are derived from membrane-bound forms, are released in soluble form by a microapocrine mechanism, and are partly incorporated into the peritrophic membrane. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Distribution,properties, and functions of midgut carboxypeptidases and dipeptidases from Musca domestica larvae

Dipeptidase and carboxypeptidase A activities were determined in cells and luminal contents of the fore-, mid-, and hind-midgut of Musca domestica larvae. Dipeptidase activity was found mainly in hind-midgut cells, whereas carboxy-peptidase activity was recovered in major amounts in both cells and in luminal contents of hind-midguts. The subcellular distribution of dipeptidase and part of the carboxypeptidase A activities is similar to that of a plasma membrane enzyme marker (aminopeptidase), suggesting that these activities are bound to the microvillar membranes. Soluble carboxypeptidase A seems to occur both bound to secretory vesicles and trapped in the cell glycocalyx. Based on density-gradient ultracentrifugation and thermal inactivation, there seems to be only one molecular species of each of the following enzymes (soluble in water or solubilized in Triton X-100): membrane-bound dipeptidase (pH optimum 8.0; Km 3.7 mM GlyLeu, M_r 111,000), soluble carboxypeptidase (pH optimum 8.0; Km 1.22 mM N-carbobenzoxy-glycyl-L-phenylalanine (ZGlyPhe), M_r45,000) and membrane-bound carboxypeptidase (pH optimum 7.5, Km 2.3 mM ZGlyPhe, M_r58,000). The results suggest that protein digestion is accomplished sequentially by luminal trypsin and luminal carboxypeptidase, by membrane-bound carboxypeptidase and aminopeptidase, and finally by membrane-bound dipeptidase.     

Digestive physiology and characterization of digestive cathepsin L-like proteinase from the sugarcane weevil Sphenophorus levis

Sugarcane is an important crop that has recently become subject to attacks from the weevil Sphenophorus levis, which is not efficiently controlled with chemical insecticides. This demands the development of new control devices for which digestive physiology data are needed. In the present study, ion-exchange chromatography of S. levis whole midgut homogenates, together with enzyme assays with natural and synthetic substrates and specific inhibitors, demonstrated that a cysteine proteinase is a major proteinase, trypsin is a minor one and chymotrypsin is probably negligible. Amylase, maltase and the cysteine proteinase occur in the gut contents and decrease throughout the midgut; trypsin is constant in the entire midgut, whereas a membrane-bound aminopeptidase predominates in the posterior midgut. The cysteine proteinase was purified to homogeneity through ion-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme had a mass of 37 kDa and was able to hydrolyze Z-Phe-Arg-MCA and Z-Leu-Arg-MCA with k_cat/K_m values of 20.0 ± 1.1 μM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 30.0 ± 0.5 μM⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, but not Z-Arg-Arg-MCA. The combined results suggest that protein digestion starts in the anterior midgut under the action of a cathepsin L-like proteinase and ends on the surface of posterior midgut cells. All starch digestion takes place in anterior midgut. These data will be instrumental to developing S. levis-resistant sugarcane.     

Consumption of food and spatial organization of digestion in the cassava hornworm, Erinnyis ello

Fifth-instar Erinnyis ello larvae eat 2.1 times their own weight per day of Euphorbia pulcherrima leaves, with a coefficient of digestibility of 45% and an efficiency of food conversion into tissue of 25%. The food takes about 150 min to go through the gut. Midgut contents have a pH of 9.3–9.8, depending on the region. Cellulase is absent from the gut in E. ello. Significant gut hydrolase activities are found only in midgut. Amylase and trypsin occur in the midgut tissue and contents and in regurgitated material, whereas aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase and trehalase are found in major amounts in the midgut tissue, in minor amounts in the midgut contents and are absent from regurgitated material. The results support the hypothesis that digestion starts in the endoperitrophic space under the action of amylase and trypsin and is largely completed in the ectoperitrophic space through the catalytic action of several oligomer and dimer hydrolases. Involvement of a membrane-bound aminopeptidase in the terminal digestion of oligopeptides cannot, at present, be excluded. The finding that less than 7% of the total amylase and trypsin are excreted, after a time identical to the passage time of the food bolus, leads to the proposal for the existence of some mechanism by which those enzymes are recovered from the undigested food before it is excreted.     

Midgut amylase,lysozyme, aminopeptidase,and trehalase from larvae and adults of Musca domestica

Based on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, density-gradient ultracentrifugation and thermal inactivation, there is only one major molecular species of each of the following larval enzymes (soluble in water or solubilized in Triton X-100): membrane-bound aminopeptidase (pH optimum 8.5; K_m 0.21 mM L-leucine p-nitroanilide; M_r 322,000), amylase (pH optimum 6.5; K_m 0.14% starch; M_r 66,000), lysozyme (pH optimum 3.5; K_m 0.3 mg/ml; Mr 24,000); and membrane-bound trehalase (pH optimum 5.0; K_m 1.09 mM trehalose; M_r 94,000). Except for lysozyme, the properties of adult digestive enzymes are different from those described for larval enzymes. Larval aminopeptidase and trehalase were purified by electrophoresis and larval lysozyme (contaminated with amylase) by density-gradient ultracentrifugation, and were used to raise antibodies in a rabbit. Antibodies raised against larval aminopeptidase, trehalase, and amylase did not recognize the imaginal enzymes, whereas those against larval lysozyme recognize imaginal lysozyme. The data suggest that the genes coding for digestive enzymes (except for lysozyme) are different in larvae and imagoes.     

Digestive morphophysiology of Gryllodes sigillatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

The evolution of the digestive system in the Order Orthoptera is disclosed from the study of the morphophysiology of the digestive process in its major taxa. This paper deals with a cricket representing the less known suborder Ensifera. Most amylase and trypsin activities occur in crop and caeca, respectively. Maltase and aminopeptidase are found in soluble and membrane-bound forms in caeca, with aminopeptidase also occurring in ventriculus. Amaranth was orally fed to Gryllodes sigillatus adults or injected into their haemolymph. The experiments were performed with starving and feeding insects with identical results. Following feeding of the dye the luminal side of the most anterior ventriculus (and in lesser amounts the midgut caeca) became heavily stained. In injected insects, the haemal side of the most posterior ventriculus was stained. This suggested that the anterior ventriculus is the main site of water absorption (the caeca is a secondary one), whereas the posterior ventriculus secretes water into the gut. Thus, a putative counter-current flux of fluid from posterior to anterior ventriculus may propel digestive enzyme recycling. This was confirmed by the finding that digestive enzymes are excreted at a low rate. The fine structure of midgut caeca and ventriculus cells revealed that they have morphological features that may be related to their involvement in secretion (movement from cell to lumen) and absorption (movement from lumen to cell) of fluids. Furthermore, morphological data showed that both merocrine and apocrine secretory mechanisms occur in midgut cells. The results showed that cricket digestion differs from that in grasshopper in having: (1) more membrane-bound digestive enzymes; (2) protein digestion slightly displaced toward the ventriculus; (3) midgut fluxes, and hence digestive enzyme recycling, in both starved and fed insects.     

The digestive system of the “stick bug” Cladomorphus phyllinus (Phasmida,Phasmatidae): A morphological,physiological and biochemical analysis

This work presents a detailed morphofunctional study of the digestive system of a phasmid representative, Cladomorphus phyllinus. Cells from anterior midgut exhibit a merocrine secretion, whereas posterior midgut cells show a microapocrine secretion. A complex system of midgut tubules is observed in the posterior midgut which is probably related to the luminal alkalization of this region. Amaranth dye injection into the haemolymph and orally feeding insects with dye indicated that the anterior midgut is water-absorbing, whereas the Malpighian tubules are the main site of water secretion. Thus, a putative counter-current flux of fluid from posterior to anterior midgut may propel enzyme digestive recycling, confirmed by the low rate of enzyme excretion. The foregut and anterior midgut present an acidic pH (5.3 and 5.6, respectively), whereas the posterior midgut is highly alkaline (9.1) which may be related to the digestion of hemicelluloses. Most amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities occur in the foregut and anterior midgut. Maltase is found along the midgut associated with the microvillar glycocalix, while aminopeptidase occurs in the middle and posterior midgut in membrane bound forms. Both amylase and trypsin are secreted mainly by the anterior midgut through an exocytic process as revealed by immunocytochemical data.     

The flow and fate of digestive enzymes in the field cricket,Gryllus bimaculatus

The flow of enzymes, the ratio of bound to unbound enzymes, and their inactivation in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus was studied. The digestive enzymes are forced forward into the crop by caecal contraction and then they are mixed with freshly chewed food and saliva, forming a crop‐chyme. This chyme is blended by crop peristalsis, and periodic opening of the preproventricular valve (PPV) allows posterior movement into the proventriculus and further into the midgut. The contraction of the crop is modulated by Grybi‐AST and Grybi‐SK peptides, which are partially secreted by the caecal endocrine cells. Most of the aminopeptidase and the four disaccharidases examined are membrane bound (62–80%); the remaining (20–38%) as well all trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, and amylase are secreted free into the caecal lumen. Cricket trypsin loses only 30% of its activity in 4 h and very little thereafter. The presence of digestive products in the lumen appears to retard further trypsin autolysis. Cricket trypsin digests 42% of the chymotrypsin, 37% of the lipase, and 45% of the amylase in the caecal fluids over 24 h in vitro no significant difference. Without Ca ion amylase was almost completely digested. About 50% of the membrane bound and free aminopeptidase was digested in the caecal lumen, and about 30–38% of the bound and free maltase. This loss of digestive enzyme activity is possible, because enzyme secretion rates are high, the unbound enzymes are effectively recycled, and the time of nutrient passage is short.     

The physiological role of the peritrophic membrane and trehalase: Digestive enzymes in the midgut and excreta of starved larvae of Rhynchosciara

Amylase, cellulase, trehalase, aminopeptidase and trypsin were determined using the midgut and trehalose using the haemolymph of starved and of subsequently fed larvae of Rhynchosciara americana. Midgut trehalase activity decreases steadily during starvation and increases again on feeding, whereas haemolymph trehalose titres remain constant, suggesting that trehalase is a true digestive enzyme. The decrease in amylase, cellulase and trypsin activity in the midgut during starvation is of the same order as that recovered from the excreta. Since this finding is exactly what one would expect if enzyme production stops in response to starvation, this supports the hypothesis that synthesis that synthesis of these enzymes is controlled. The excretion rate of amylase, cellulase and trypsin is very low in comparison to their activity inside the peritrophic membrane and the travel time of the food bolus through the gut. It is proposed that the peritrophic membrane separates two extracellular sites for digestion as an adaptation to conserve secreted enzymes. This could be accomplished by the existence of an endo-ectoperitrophic circulation of the enzymes involved in the initial attack on the food and by restricting to the ectoperitrophic fluid the enzymes which participate only in intermediary digestion of food.     

Deoxyribose-5-P aldolase: subunit structure and composition of active site lysine region

Deoxyribose-5-P aldolase, a Class I aldolase, from Salmonella typhimurium has a molecular weight of 57,000 and is composed of two subunits of 28,500 molecular weight. Evidence from fingerprint analysis of tryptic digests and carboxypeptidase digestion suggests that the two subunits are identical. The COOH-terminal tyrosine residue which is removed by carboxypeptidase digestion appears to be necessary for catalytic activity but not for substrate binding. A tryptic peptide containing the “active site” lysyl residue modified by acetaldehyde has been purified and the following amino acid composition determined: (Ala₃, Gly₃, Thr₃, Asx₂, Ser, Ile, Phe, 1N-Lys)-Lys.     

Detection and characterization of a new beta-conglycinin from soybean seeds

A new protein has been isolated from the reserve proteins of the seeds of soybean (Glycine max) which is particularly deficient in methionine and cysteine. The protein dissociated in sodium dodecyl sulfate into a single polypeptide, M_r 48,000. The amino acid composition, N-terminal leucine and mobility on gel electrophoresis of this polypeptide all were indistinguishable from the β-subunit of β-conglycinin. In its nondissociated form, the protein behaved as a trimer of M_r, 137,000 ± 4000. Its sedimentation coefficient at ionic strength 0.5 was 7.5 S and it possessed antigenic determinants in common with β-conglycinin. This protein therefore has the properties of a new isomer of β-conglycinin—a homogeneous trimer of β subunits.     

Physiological conditions in the midgut in relation to starch digestion and the salivary amylase of the bug Lygus disponsi

Some physiological conditions in the midgut in relation to starch digestion, the nature of the salivary amylase, and the digestion of soluble starch in the midgut were investigated in Lygus disponsi in order to provide evidence for the supposition that Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, and glutamine have a considerable significance for the digestion of soluble starch in the midgut. The activating effect of Cl⁻ and NO₃⁻ on the salivary amylase manifested itself during the whole reaction period and was generally more striking in the earlier stage of the period. It remained still considerable at 20∼30°C, the optimum temperature range for the growth of the bug. The pH-value of midgut content decreased slightly from the first to the third part of midgut, being 5·0 on average, and was appreciably affected by the diet having a large buffer capacity. Even when the bug had fed on plant sap it increased from 5·0 to 5·8. In the midgut of the bug fed with food containing no Cl⁻, no or little, if any, Cl⁻ was detected, which indicates either that this ion was actually absent or that its concentration was diluted largely by the food sap taken in the midgut. It was confirmed that Cl⁻ could be taken in the midgut from the food containing Cl⁻. Starch digestion began already in the first midgut and was usually completed in the second. The digestion of soluble starch in the midgut was accelerated somewhat in the presence of NaCl and KNO₃. On the basis of these facts, it was inferred that, in vivo, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, and glutamine, especially NO₃⁻, might play an important rôle in the soluble-starch digestion of this bug.     

Enzyme induction in soybean infected by Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea

Laminin, the glycoprotein of basement membranes, consists of two subunits of 200,000 (α) and 400,000 (β) M_r on gel electrophoresis after reduction. We evaluated the relative proteolytic susceptibility of the two subunits using a variety of serine proteases. Human α-thrombin degraded the β subunit without altering the density or size of the α subunit. Chymotrypsin, plasmin, and cathepsin G all degraded both the β and α subunits producing limited digestion products. Chymotrypsin and cathepsin G both produced two major fragments of 160,000 and 130,000 M_r whereas plasmin produced two fragments of 180,000 and 140,000 M_r. Time course digestion studies demonstrated that the 400-kd β subunit was digested much more rapidly than the α subunit, and suggested that the major fragments (greater than 100,000 M_r) produced by chymotrypsin, plasmin, and cathepsin G were derived from the α subunit. The latter supposition was confirmed by first digesting laminin with thrombin to completely remove the β subunit, followed by digestion with chymotrypsin, cathepsin G, or plasmin. We conclude that the β subunit of laminin is highly protease labile. In contrast, the α subunit contains a large region resistant to serine proteases. Electron microscopic studies of the purified fragment of laminin derived from digestion with cathepsin G demonstrated that the protease resistant region of the α subunit contained three arms of similar appearance (32 nm) and included the intersection of the three short arms of the laminin molecule.     

Biochemical Differences Between Crop Tissue and Crop Milk of Pigeons (Columba livia)

Biochemical differences between crop tissue (CT) and crop milk (CM) of pigeons were evaluated in terms of activity of certain enzymes, content of protein and nucleic acids and mitogenisity in vitro. Whereas the activities of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, maltase, trehalase and cellobiase were significantly higher in CT, those of alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, acid phosphatase and lactase were greater in CM. The CM also showed significantly higher levels of protein, DNA and RNA than CT. In contrast, the in vitro mitogenic effect of CT was greater than that of CM, and this property was enhanced during the breeding period. The biochemical composition of crop milk did not differ significantly in the first 4 days of secretion. It appears that certain factors responsible for growth stimulation accumulate in the crop tissue of pigeons during incubation.     

Nature of the anchors of membrane-bound aminopeptidase,amylase, and trypsin and secretory mechanisms in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera) midgut cells

Spodoptera frugiperda larvae have a microvillar aminopeptidase and both soluble and membrane-bound forms of amylase and trypsin. Membrane-bound aminopeptidase is solubilized by glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (GPI-PLC) and detergents, suggesting it has a GPI anchor. Membrane-bound trypsin is not affected by GPI-PLC, although it is solubilized by papain and by different detergents. Membrane-bound amylase is similar to trypsin, although once solubilized in detergent it behaves as a hydrophilic protein. Musca domestica trypsin antiserum cross-reacts with only one polypeptide from S. frugiperda midgut. With this antiserum, trypsin was immunolocalized in the anterior midgut cells at the microvillar surface and on the membranes of secretory vesicles found in the apical cytoplasm and inside the microvilli. The data suggest that in this region trypsin is bound to the secretory vesicle membrane by a hydrophobic anchor. Vesicles migrate through the microvilli and are discharged into the lumen by a pinching-off process. Trypsin is then partly processed to a soluble form and partly, still bound to vesicle membranes, incorporated into the peritrophic membrane. In posterior midgut cells, trypsin immunolabelling is randomly distributed inside the secretory vesicles and at the microvilli surface, suggesting exocytosis. Amylase probably follows a route similar to that described for trypsin in anterior midgut, although membrane-bound forms (peptide anchor) solubilize apparently as a consequence of a pH increase inside the vesicles.     

Effects of rearing density on larval growth and activity of digestive enzymes in Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Density dependent responses of 4th, 5th and 6th instar gypsy moth larvae were studied at the level of larval mass, midgut loading and activities of three digestive enzymes (alpha-amylase, trypsin and leucine aminopeptidase). High density significantly reduced larval mass while midgut loading (expressed as relative midgut mass) did not change except in the 5th instar where it was increased at high density. Specific amylase and leucine aminopeptidase activities were not affected by crowding. Specific trypsin activity was on average higher in crowded than in isolated larvae. High density also affected the correlations between midgut protein content and activities of two proteolytic enzymes suggesting differences in regulatory mechanisms of insect digestion. The importance of these changes for survival under stressful conditions is discussed.     

Properties of larval and imaginal membrane-bound digestive enzymes from Trichosia pubescens

Trichosia pubescens larval midgut ceca cells display in their plasma membranes α-glucosidases (M_r 95,000; pH_o 5.5; K_m 5.7 mM; K_i for TRIS 8.9 mM), trehalases (M_r 69,000; pH_o 5.3; K_m 0.92 mM; K_i for TRIS 57 mM), and aminopeptidases (M_r 95,000; pH_o 8.7; K_m 0.19 mM) which are solubilized by Triton X-100. The enzymes were purified by electrophoresis and used to raise antibodies in a rabbit. T. pubescens imaginal midgut cells display in their plasma membranes an α-glucosidase (M_r 156,000; pH_o 5.8; K_m 2.3 mM; K_i for TRIS 0.2 mM), a trehalase (M_r 93,000; pH_o 5.5; K_m 0.72 mM; K_i for TRIS 45.5 mM), and an aminopeptidase (M_r 210,000; pH_o 9.0; K_m 0.47 mM). Antiserum produced against the larval enzymes shows no precipitation arc when tested by double immunodiffusion or by immunoelectrophoresis with Triton X-100-solubilized membrane proteins from imaginal midguts. Otherwise, a similar test showed that larval midgut cecal enzymes and larval ventriculus enzymes display complete immunological identity. The data suggest that, despite the fact the larval and imaginal aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, and trehalase probably have similar functions, the genes coding for them in larvae and imagoes must differ.     

Glycosidases in the american oyster,Crassostreavirginica Gmelin,digestive tract

Activities for the glycosidases, cellobiase, maltase and chitobiase toward p-nitrophenyl-derived substrates, were found in the digestive diverticula of Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin). Chitobiase activity was also detected in the crystalline style, but specific activity was higher in the digestive diverticula. No activity was detected for either cellobiase or maltase in the style at pH values of 4.0, 4.25, 5.0 or 6.0 in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer or 7.0 in 100 mM phosphate (K₂HPO₄) buffer. Implications for digestive physiology are discussed.