The developmental patterns of lysosomal enzyme activities during Ca++-induced sporangium formation in Achlya bisexualis

The present paper describes intracellular changes in α-mannosidase specific activity during Ca⁺⁺-induced sporangium formation in the water mold Achlya bisexualis. The enzyme, which is concentrated in a cellular fraction with lysosome-like characteristics, undergoes a four-fold increase during sporangium differentiation. Addition of cycloheximide (100 μg/ml) or actinomycin D (10 μg/ml) at any time during the developmental sequence prevents further increase in the enzyme activity. These data suggest that coincident RNA and protein synthesis are essential for the accumulation of enzyme activity. Mixing of cell extracts from different developmental stages provides evidence that activators or inhibitors of the enzyme activity are not responsible for the enzyme activity evident at the different stages.     

Comparative toxicity of some synthetic insecticides,and a growth inhibitor,in the migratory locust,Locusta migratoria

1. The comparative toxicity of four synthetic insecticides (Dieldrin, Methomyl, Fenitrothion and Permethrin) in the different developmental stages of the migratory locust shows that resistance tends to increase with the developmental larval stages except in the adults which show lower resistance than the fifth larval stage.2. The resistance to a growth inhibitor, Teflubenzuron in the different developmental stages shows the reverse phenomenon—the younger larvae were more resistant than the fourth and fifth larval stages while the adults were almost not affected by this product.3. A comparison of the toxicity of the synthetic insecticides in the two forms of the insect, the solitarious and the gregarious, shows that the solitary insects were more resistant than the gregarious ones.     

4种杀虫剂对南亚实蝇各虫态不同日龄的毒力测定

为明确南亚实蝇Bactrocera tau Walker不同发育阶段、不同日龄以及不同性别成虫对常用杀虫剂的敏感度,本研究采用胃毒法测定了杀虫剂对南亚实蝇室内种群幼虫和成虫的活性,采用浸泡法测了杀虫剂对卵和蛹的活性.结果表明4种杀虫剂对南亚实蝇不同日龄各虫态的毒杀活性存在差异,随日龄增加,各虫态对不同药剂的耐药性增加,且耐药性的强弱不同.高效氟氯氰菊酯EC对南亚实蝇卵、2日龄和5日龄幼虫具有较好的毒杀活性,LC50分别为2.88 mg/L、2.08 mg/L和6.39 mg/L,辛硫磷EC、多杀霉素SC以及高效氯氰菊酯EC的杀虫活性较差,LC50分别为4.71 mg/L、3.95 mg/L和11.60 mg/L;幼虫对高效氟氯氰菊酯EC的耐药性增长较快,对多杀霉素SC的耐药性增加较慢;多杀霉素SC对2日龄和5日龄的蛹和雌雄成虫的毒杀活性较高,但耐药性增加较快,蛹对辛硫磷EC的耐药性增长较慢,雌雄成虫均对高效氯氰菊酯EC耐药性增长较慢,不同日龄的雌成虫的耐药性均高于雄成虫.由于南亚实蝇世代重叠严重,在成虫暴发期之前,可将高效氟氯氰菊酯EC作为首选药剂使用,在成虫暴发期之后防治时可将多杀霉素SC作为优选药剂使用,防治最佳时期为各虫态的初期.     

Enzyme systems of insecticide detoxication in the Colorado beetle

The activity of three enzymatic systems of xenobiotic metabolism (cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases, non-specific esterases and glutathione S-transferases) was studied at different stages of development of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Significant sex and ontogenetic differences in the content of cytochrome P-450, position of maxima of CO-difference spectra of the cytochrome P-450 reduced form and substrate specificity of cytochrome P-450 were revealed. The activity of non-specific esterases was shown to increase depending on the age of larvae. The insecticide 1-naphtholenol methylcarbamate which is metabolized by the system of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases is more toxic in the larvae than at the imago stage, which is correlated with the activity of this system at different stages of ontogenesis. The microsomal monooxygenase inhibitor, piperonylbutoxide, increases the insecticide toxicity in the Colorado beetle imago more than 2-fold. The experimental results testify to different contribution of the detoxication systems to the sensitivity of the Colorado beetle to insecticides at various metamorphosis stages.     

牧草盲蝽实时定量PCR内参基因的筛选

【目的】筛选出适合牧草盲蝽Lygus pratensis在不同条件下稳定表达的内参基因。【方法】选取编码牧草盲蝽α-微管蛋白、β-微管蛋白、肌动蛋白、延伸因子、琥珀酸脱氢酶复合体A、泛素、转录起始因子TFIID亚基、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶、核糖体蛋白L32及TATA盒结合蛋白的10条基因为候选内参基因,采用qRT-PCR技术测定其在牧草盲蝽不同性别成虫、成虫不同组织、不同龄期、对功夫菊酯不同抗性成虫、不同温度及不同杀虫剂分别处理后的成虫共6类样品中的表达量;采用BestKeeper, geNorm, NormFinder及RefFinder 4种计算程序对各候选基因的表达稳定性进行评价。【结果】依据获得的有效qRT-PCR数据前提,利用不同计算方法综合分析得出：在牧草盲蝽成虫不同组织中和对功夫菊酯不同抗性成虫中最稳定表达的内参基因均为RPL32;不同温度处理、不同性别成虫中、不同杀虫剂处理和不同龄期牧草盲蝽中最稳定表达的内参基因分别为UBQ, SDHA, β-tubulin和TAF。通过geNorm软件判断配对变异数确定的内参基因最佳数目,结合RefFinder对基因表达稳定性综合排序的结果可得：牧草盲蝽不同成虫组织中、不同性别成虫中、不同龄期、对功夫菊酯不同抗性成虫中、不同温度及杀虫剂分别处理的成虫等各组的最优内参基因组合分别为RPL32+TAF, SDHA+GST, TAF+GST+UBQ, RPL32+GST, UBQ+ACT+β-tubulin和β-tubulin+TAF+RPL32。【结论】本研究获得的牧草盲蝽在不同条件下表达最稳定及最适内参基因组合,都可用于后续的基因定量表达研究。     

Identification and characterization of a selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase in Setaria cervi

Setaria cervi a bovine filarial parasite secretes selenium glutathione peroxidase during in vitro cultivation. A significant amount of enzyme activity was detected in the somatic extract of different developmental stages of the parasite. Among different stages, microfilariae showed a higher level of selenium glutathione peroxidase activity followed by males then females. However, when the activity was compared in excretory secretory products of these stages males showed higher activity than microfilariae and female worms. The enzyme was purified from female somatic extract using a combination of glutathione agarose and gel filtration chromatography, which migrated as a single band of molecular mass approximately = 20 kDa. Selenium content of purified enzyme was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy and found to be 3.5 ng selenium/microg of protein. Further, inhibition of enzyme activity by potassium cyanide suggested the presence of selenium at the active site of enzyme. This is the first report of identification of selenium glutathione peroxidase from any filarial parasite.     

Glutathione S-transferase in the defence against pyrethroids in insects

The correlation between the natural levels of GST and the tolerance to the insecticide decamethrin (dMT), as well as the interaction between the molecules of affinity purified enzyme and the insecticide were investigated in order to collect further information on the obscure role of the Glutathione S-transferase system (GST) as a mechanism of defence against pyrethroids. The studies were carried out, comparatively, on the larvae and pupae developmental stages of the coleopteran Tenebrio molitor, which exhibit varying natural levels of GST activity. No stage dependent susceptibility of the insect against pyrethroid insecticides was found during the first 24 h, however 48 h after treatment, the KD50 dose increased significantly due to the recovery of some individuals from the larvae stage. Simultaneous injection of decamethrin with compounds which inhibit GST activity in vitro, resulted in an increased tolerance, which was more pronounced in the pupae stage. Inhibition studies combined with competitive fluorescence spectroscopy and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the insecticide binds probably to the active site of the enzyme inhibiting its activity towards CDNB in a competitive manner, but is not conjugated with GSH. According to this, GST offers a passive protection towards pyrethroid insecticides by binding to their molecule in a sequestering mechanism.     

麦长管蚜miRNA实时荧光定量PCR内参基因的筛选

[目的]筛选特定条件下麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae稳定表达的微小RNA(miRNA)表达分析内参基因.[方法]根据麦长管蚜miRNA Illumina测序结果筛选出miR-10-3p,miR-993,miR-276,miR-275,miR-252a,miR-1,miR-375,pc-15,pc-73和1个常用...     

Molecular identification of glutathione S-transferase genes and their potential roles in insecticides susceptibility of Grapholita molesta

Grapholita molesta is one kind of serious fruit-boring pests in the world, which caused huge economic losses to the fruit industry including pear and apple. The heavy usage of synthetic insecticides resulted in different degrees of resistance of G. molesta to some commonly used insecticides. However, the tolerance mechanisms of G. molesta to insecticides are still unclear. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) belong to the superfamily of detoxifying enzymes and mainly play important roles in detoxification metabolism and insecticide susceptibility of insects. In this study, we first evaluated the toxicity of three insecticides including emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole and lambda-cyhalothrin on G. molesta at different developmental stages. Synergism study showed that the susceptibility of G. molesta larvae to these three insecticides obviously increased when the enzyme activity of GST was inhibited by diethyl maleate compared with the controls. Next, we screened out six GmGST genes which are upregulated after insecticides treatment from a total of 21 GmGST genes and analysed their sequence characteristics and expression profiles. RNAi and bioassay results further revealed that the mortality of 5th instar larvae significantly increased after exposure to LC₃₀ of emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole and lambda-cyhalothrin when silencing of GmGSTo2, GmGSTs1 and GmGSTz1 compared with the controls. In conclusion, this study indicated that GmGSTo2, GmGSTs1 and GmGSTz1 play important roles in insecticides susceptibility of G. molesta to three commonly used insecticides, which is significance for its future integrated management.     

Developmental changes of sepiapterin synthase activity associated with a variegated purple gene in Drosophila melanogaster

A variegated position effect on the autonomous gene, purple, has been studied enzymologically in Drosophila melanogaster. Sepiapterin synthase, the enzyme system associated with pr ⁺, was examined for activity in different developmental stages of the fly. The results indicate that T(Y:2) pr ^c5, cn/pr^c4 cn flies (flies in which pr ⁺ has been translocated and which exhibit variegation) have a reduced amount of enzyme activity as compared with both Oregon-R and pr ¹ flies. This reduction in activity was not found in larval stages, which suggests that the inactivation process probably occurs in late larval or early pupal stages. The phenotype of the variegated adult has white eyes with red-colored spots and patches where drosopterins occur. The phenotype of the fly carrying the translocation is modified by the presence of additional Y chromosomes. This extends the observation from other systems that extra heterochromatin acts to suppress the variegated position effect. The advantages of studying the variegation by measuring enzyme activity, as well as the phenotypic expression, are several; for example, the developmental time at which variegation occurs may be estimated even though drosopterin synthesis is not occurring.The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is operated by Union Carbide Corporation for the Department of Energy under Contract No. W-7405-eng-26.     

Alkaline phosphatase in the integument of Ceratitis capitata: Developmental profile and functional properties

Electrophoretic analysis of alkaline phosphatase from the integument during development, reveals two bands of enzyme activity. One corresponding to phosphatase activity during pupation and just prior to eclosion and the other during the middle of the pupal stages. On the contrary in the haemolymph there is one band on enzyme activity through all the developmental stages. The haemolymph alkaline phosphatase band does not comigrate with any integumental enzyme band. The developmental profile of the integumental alkaline phosphatase activity has also been compared to that of the haemolymph. It was found that the pattern of activity is completely different. In the integument, two peaks of enzyme activity were found: one just prior to pupation and the other during eclosion. These two peaks do not coincide to that of haemolymph alkaline phosphatase activity. The pH optimum for both enzyme forms of third instar larvae, although broad especially for haemolymph form, was clearly in the alkaline range, with a peak at pH 8.5–9.0. The two isozymes have different affinities for the substrate tyrosine-O-phosphate. Tyrosine-O-phosphate is the preferred substrate for the integumental enzyme form with a K_m of 0.4 mM. We suggest that alkaline phosphates from the integument is specific for the hydrolysis of tyrosine-O-phosphate.     

Studies on the mechanisms of histidase development in rat skin and liver. I. Basis for tissue specific developmental changes in catalytic activity.

Skin and liver histidases of the rat follow markedly differing developmental courses. In skin, the enzyme activity emerges in late fetal life, rises to a maximum during the first postnatal week and then declines; in liver, histidase activity initially appears in the neonatal period and progressively rises thereafter. The enzymes in both tissues, however, are immunologically identical, as demonstrated by Ouchterlony double diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunotitration analyses of histidase in adult animals. Furthermore, although crude preparations of skin and liver histidase differ slightly in electrophoretic mobility on acrylamide gels, the isoelectric points and Michaelis constants of the enzyme from both skin and liver are the same. During development neither dissociable activators nor inhibitors of the enzyme are evident, which might account for the divergent developmental patterns, nor are enzyme inhibitors found in tissues devoid of histidase activity. No immunologically cross-reacting materials are detectable in skin and liver at developmental stages prior to the emergence of enzyme activity, nor in tissues not expressing histidase catalytic activity. Furthermore, there is no evidence of elaboration of immunological variants of histidase in skin and liver during development. These data are compatible with the view that all developmental changes in catalytic activity are due to altered amounts of the same enzyme antigen.     

Effect of insecticides on Trichogramma exiguum (Trichogrammatidae: Hymenoptera) preimaginal development and adult survival

The effect of insecticides on Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner emergence, adult survival, and fitness parameters was investigated. Insecticides tested were lambda cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, profenophos, spinosad, methoxyfenozide, and tebufenozide. All insecticides, with the exception of methoxyfenozide and tebufenozide, adversely affected Trichogramma emergence from Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) host eggs when exposed at different preimaginal stages of development (larval, prepupal, or pupal). Regardless of the developmental stage treated, none of the insecticides tested had a significant effect on the sex ratio or frequency of brachyptery of emerged females. However, the mean life span of emerged T. exiguum females significantly varied among insecticide treatments, and was significantly affected by the developmental stage of parasitoid when treated. Based on LC50 values, spinosad and prophenofos were the most toxic compounds to female T. exiguum adults, followed by lambda cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, and thiodicarb. Insecticides field-weathered for four to 6 d on cotton leaves showed no activity against female T. exiguum adults.     

Spatio-temporal accumulation and activity of calcium-dependent protein kinases during embryogenesis, seed development, and germination in sandalwood

Western-blot analysis and protein kinase assays identified two Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) of 55 to 60 kD in soluble protein extracts of embryogenic cultures of sandalwood (Santalum album L.). However, these sandalwood CDPKs (swCDPKs) were absent in plantlets regenerated from somatic embryos. swCDPKs exhibited differential expression (monitored at the level of the protein) and activity in different developmental stages. Zygotic embryos, seedlings, and endosperm showed high accumulation of swCDPK, but the enzyme was not detected in the soluble proteins of shoots and flowers. swCDPK exhibited a temporal pattern of expression in endosperm, showing high accumulation and activity in mature fruit and germinating stages; the enzyme was localized strongly in the storage bodies of the endosperm cells. The study also reports for the first time to our knowledge a post-translational inhibition/inactivation of swCDPK in zygotic embryos during seed dormancy and early stages of germination. The temporal expression of swCDPK during somatic/zygotic embryogenesis, seed maturation, and germination suggests involvement of the enzyme in these developmental processes.     

亚致死剂量阿维菌素和氟虫睛处理小菜蛾对寄生蜂菜蛾绒茧蜂生长发育的影响

分别在小菜蛾体内的菜蛾绒茧蜂处于卵期、早期幼虫和中期幼虫时,饲喂小菜蛾2龄幼虫亚致死剂量（＝LC₁₀）的阿维菌素和氟虫睛,研究上述杀虫剂处理对寄主体内菜蛾绒茧蜂结茧率和羽化率的影响。结果表明： 在菜蛾绒茧蜂处于卵期、早期幼虫和中期幼虫时,饲喂小菜蛾LC₁₀剂量阿维菌素处理的菜叶后,菜蛾绒茧蜂的结茧率分别下降26.6%,22.8%和5.8%,饲喂小菜蛾LC₁₀剂量氟虫睛处理的菜叶后,菜蛾绒茧蜂的结茧率分别下降76.9%,42.5%和18.5%。上述阿维菌素处理对菜蛾绒茧蜂成虫羽化率影响不显著,但上述氟虫睛处理可显著抑制菜蛾绒茧蜂成虫羽化率,在菜蛾绒茧蜂处于卵期、早期幼虫和中期幼虫时,饲喂小菜蛾LC₁₀ 剂量氟虫睛处理的菜叶可导致菜蛾绒茧蜂成虫羽化率分别下降53.1%,36.1%和47.8%。结果显示,即便是对寄主小菜蛾幼虫很低的剂量（LC₁₀剂量）也会显著危害小菜蛾幼虫体内的菜蛾绒茧蜂的生长发育。此外,饲喂小菜蛾幼虫亚致死剂量杀虫剂对菜蛾绒茧蜂生长发育的影响与杀虫剂种类及蛾绒茧蜂发育阶段有关。     

Localization of aldolase activity in the embryos of loach]

The activity of aldolase was determined in different parts of the loach (Misgurnus fossilis L.) embryo at the stages from the formation of axial organs till the beginning of embryonic movements (from 19 till 38 hrs of development at 21.5 degrees). In all parts of the embryo, the activity of aldolase at first decreased (21-23 hrs) and then increased. The region of somites is characterized by the highest absolute and specific activity at all developmental stages. The increase in the number of somites is accompanied by the fall and subsequent rise of aldolase activity. In the somites of different degree of differentiation, the enzyme activity changes in a similar way. Hence, there is no correlation between the morphological and biochemical differentiation of somites. Differences in the specific aldolase activity between the anterior and posterior halves of the embryo and the regions of head, somites and tail were found at the stages of 19-23 hrs of development. The maternal aldolase only is present at these stages, as was shown earlier. It means that the early stages of biochemical differentiation may be realized not by means of differential activation of genes controlling the enzyme, but by means of regylation of translation on the templates stored in oogenesis.     

Selection of isolates of entomopathogenic fungi for controlling Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and their compatibility with insecticides used in tomato crop

The activity of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana towards eggs and larvae of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) was evaluated. Our data showed that the isolates were pathogenic to both developmental stages tested and the eggs were more susceptible than the 1st instars. The isolates URPE-6 and URPE-19 of M. anisopliae were more pathogenic to eggs and larvae, respectively. The compatibility of these two isolates with the insecticides chlorfenapyr, spinosad, indoxacarb, abamectin, and neem were evaluated. Spinosad and indoxacarb were compatible with the two M. anisopliae isolates in all tested concentrations. At the average recommended concentration, chlorfenapyr was compatible to URPE-6 and abamectin to UFPE-19. The use of entomopathogenic fungi associated with compatible insecticides may be a useful alternative to control T. absoluta.     

Effects of various insecticides on the development of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma dendrolimi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

The toxicity of six insecticides, acephate, methomyl, ethofenprox, cartap, chlorfluazuron, and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) was tested on different developmental stages of the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma dendrolimi (Matsumura). Each of the insecticides tested showed different degrees of toxicity to the parasitoid, Ethofenprox showed the highest toxicity and cartap showed relatively higher toxicity compared with the other insecticides. The development of the parasitoids treated with these two insecticides was normal, similar to that of the control group. Only the emergence of adult wasps from host eggs was disturbed. Emergence of the host, Mamestra brassicae larva was reduced following treatment with ethofenprox, cartap and methomyl. However, adult female wasps, which emerged from host eggs treated with the insecticides had the ability to oviposit normally.