Trehalases from the American cockroach,Periplaneta americana: multiple occurrence of the enzymes and partial purification of enzymes from male accessory glands

Trehalase activities were found in several tissues of the adult American cockroach, Periplaneta americana. Among these, male accessory glands, fat body, thoracic muscle, hepatic cecum, blood and mid-gut contained high trehalase activity; activity in the male accessory gland was especially high. The enzymic properties of soluble trehalases were investigated and the enzymes from the male accessory gland were highly purified.

The properties of these enzymes were electrophoretically and kinetically distinct from each other. The presence of enzymes with somewhat different properties in different tissues suggests that trehalose utilization and trehalase activity may be regulated by way of a tissue-specific mechanism. The detailed properties of these enzymes are presented with a discussion of their regulation.