Biochemical studies of amylases in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.: Comparative analysis in diapausing and nondiapausing strains

Different amylase enzymes were identified by analysis of digestive fluid and haemolymph in diapausing and nondiapausing strains of silkworm, Bombyx mori. The diapausing strain showed negligible digestive amylase activity at a pH range of 3–11, while the nondiapausing strain registered strikingly higher amylase activity at pH 9.2. Higher levels of undigested starch was found in the faecal matter of the diapausing strain, which is consistent with the negligible digestive amylase activity. Development specific expression of haemolymph amylase activity was seen in nondiapausing and diapausing strains. In the nondiapausing strain the digestive amylase activity was at its peak during intermoult and depressed during moult. PAGE analysis revealed the occurrence of only anodal digestive and haemolymph amylases in the diapausing strain, whereas both cathodal and anodal enzymes were seen in the digestive fluid and haemolymph of the nondiapausing strain.