Protective action of midgut catalase in lepidopteran larvae against oxidative plant defenses

Catalase activity was detected in the midgut tissues and regurgitate of several lepidopteran pests of the tomato plant. Greatest activity in the midgut was detected in larval Helicoverpa zea, followed by Spodoptera exigua, Manduca sexta, and Heliothis virescens. We present evidence that catalase, in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical ecology 1991-09, Vol.17 (9), p.1715-1732
Main Authors: Felton, G.W. (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR), Duffey, S.S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
ANTIOXIDANTES
ANTIOXYDANT
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
CATALASA
CATALASE
COMPOSE PHENOLIQUE
COMPOSICION QUIMICA
COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE
COMPUESTOS FENOLICOS
CONTROL BIOLOGICO
CONTROL DE INSECTOS
FEUILLE
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
HELICOVERPA ZEA
HELIOTHIS VIRESCENS
HOJAS
INTESTIN
INTESTINOS
Invertebrates
LARVAS
LARVE
Lepidoptera
LUTTE ANTIINSECTE
LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE
LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM
MANDUCA SEXTA
PEROXIDASAS
PEROXYDASE
Protozoa. Invertebrata
SPODOPTERA EXIGUA
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Catalase activity was detected in the midgut tissues and regurgitate of several lepidopteran pests of the tomato plant. Greatest activity in the midgut was detected in larval Helicoverpa zea, followed by Spodoptera exigua, Manduca sexta, and Heliothis virescens. We present evidence that catalase, in addition to removing toxic hydrogen peroxide, may inhibit the oxidation of plant phenolics mediated by plant peroxidases. Small amounts of larval regurgitate significantly inhibited foliar peroxidase activity via removal of hydrogen peroxide. Treatment of foliage with purified catalase nearly eliminated peroxidase activity and was superior as a larval food source compared to untreated foliage. Tomato foliar peroxidases oxidize an array of endogenous compounds including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, coumaric acid, cinnamic acid, and guaiacol. The oxidized forms of these compounds are potent alkylators of dietary and/or cellular nucleophiles (e.g., thiol and amino functions of proteins, peptides, and amines). When tomato foliar protein was pretreated with peroxidase and chlorogenic acid and incorporated in artificial diet, larval growth was reduced compared to larvae fed untreated protein. Thus, the diminution of peroxidase activity and removal of hydrogen peroxide by catalase may represent an important adaptation to leaf-feeding. The secretion of catalase in salivary fluid during insect feeding is also suggested to be a potential mechanism for reducing hydrogen peroxide formation as an elicitor of inducible plant defenses
ISSN:0098-0331
1573-1561
DOI:10.1007/BF00993724