Multicopper blue proteins (MCBPs) are multidomain proteins that utilize the distinctive redox ability of copper ions. There are a variety of MCBPs that have been roughly classified into three different groups, based on their domain organization and functions: (i) nitrite reductase-type with two domains, (ii) laccase-type with three domains, and (iii) ceruloplasmin-type with six domains. Together, the second and third group are often commonly called multicopper oxidases (MCOs). The rapid accumulation of genome sequence information in recent years has revealed several new types of proteins containing MCBP domains, mainly from bacteria. In this review, the recent research on the functions and structures of MCBPs is summarized, mainly focusing on the new types. The latter half of this review focusses on the two domain MCBPs, which we propose as the evolutionary intermediate of the MCBP family.
The Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina, is known to have outstanding predatory power. This ant can protect the host plants from attacks of phytophagous insects and therefore has been used for biological control in the tropics. We present evidence for a possible negative effect of Oecophylla on the performance of host plants. Our observation in a fruit orchard of rambutan in Sumatra suggested that the presence of Oecohylla nests on the trees statistically significantly lowered the flower-visiting rate of flying insects, involving the major pollinator Trigona minangkabau. The visiting rate of Oecophylla workers to each flower shoot of rambutan significantly negatively correlated with the visiting rate of flying insects. Empirical evidence of such an inhibitory effect on flower-visiting of pollinators cased by aggressive ants has been scarce so far.
Twenty-six species of epilachnine ladybird beetles confirmed in Sumatra and Java during 1981-1998 were enumerated and figured. They included eleven species of "Henosepilachna", thirteen species of "Epilachna", one species of Afidenta, and one species whose taxonomic status was not settled. Records of food plants were given for each species, and brief notes were added concerning some aspects of their natural history.
Body size, host preference, mate preference and the effects of inter-strain mating on fertility were compared between two sympatric "strains" of Indonesian Epilachna vigintiocnpuncn a, one on solanaceous plants and the other on the leguminous weed Centrosema pubescens.The two strains were different in body size and host preference, but seemed to lack effective reproductive barriers except host fidelity.
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