Insect Storage Proteins

Isolation, Characterisation and Molecular Imaging of a High-Molecular-Weight Insect Biliprotein, a Member of the Hexameric Arylphorin Protein Family

“…Some arylphorins, such as calliphorin from blowfly, Calliphora vicina, have been observed to reversibly dissociate into subunits at alkaline pH, eventually producing trimers as intermediates. 18,35 The CBP complex did not dissociate under these conditions, like the arylphorin (manducin) of tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. 36 …”

“…The other major class of hexamerins are the Met-rich storage proteins with Met amounting up to 10%. 6,18 Assignment of CBP to the arylphorin type of hexamerins was confirmed by the high similarities of a fairly large number of CBP cleavage peptides, many of them comprising more than 20 residues, to sequences from other arylphorins, almost all from other moth species. This information is currently being used in a cloning approach to obtain the complete sequences of the two CBP subunits.…”

“…Other predominant amino acids are Asx and Glx. 18,37 This feature was clearly reflected by the amino acid profile of CBP. The other major class of hexamerins are the Met-rich storage proteins with Met amounting up to 10%.…”

“…Therefore, these proteins are generally described as storage proteins, though details of their dynamics and fate are rare. 7,8,18,19 According to recent studies besides serving as mass resources for metamorphosis, cuticle formation and egg development, hexamerins may also function in cellular control. In termites, two different hexamerins rich in aromatic amino acids play a major role in caste determination in cooperation with juvenile hormone.…”

Fat body morphology of Eriopis connexa (coleoptera, coccinelidae) in function of two alimentary sources

“…Holling (1961) stated that predation was a complex act, affected by basic factors, such as the densities of the prey and predator and by secondary factors involving the characteristics of the environment of the prey and of the predator. Nutrients obtained from feeding are stored partly in the fat body, which is considered a multifunctional organ, because it acts in various metabolic processes with a high biosynthetic activity during insect lifespan (Levenbook 1985). Syntheses of proteins of the haemolymph, lipid substances including hormones, detoxification through the storage of the metabolism products and storage of lipid and carbohydrates are functions of the fat body (Chapman 1998;Qin et al 1997;Cruz-Landim 1985).…”