Enzymatic analysis of uricotelic protein catabolism in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Excess protein ingested by blood meals of mosquitoes is catabolized by a uricotelic pathway. We have established enzyme activity profiles for xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), the enzyme that catalyzes uric acid synthesis, and related it to intestinal proteolytic activities in female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.During the first day after eclosion the meconium containing urate and urea of larval/pupal origin is discharged, together with XDH activity. Females of constant body size and of defined age were given measured blood meals by enema. XDH activity and uric acid synthesis correlate with the size of the blood meals. Upon completion of protein digestion and catabolism, XDH is excreted in an active form and its activity returns to the residual level. Maximal XDH activity always precedes intestinal proteolytic activities by a few hours. Regulation of XDH activity appears to be purely metabolic, independent of endocrine factors.Small females fed identical volumes of blood produce fewer eggs than their larger sisters and consequently catabolize a higher proportion of blood protein to uric acid.Old females are less fecund and show smaller investments of protein into yolk than younger ones. Despite reduced XDH activities, they excrete equal amounts of urate as young females. Obviously in young females XDH activity is in excess of biochemical requirements.