Purification and characterization of two serine protease inhibitors from the hemolymph of Mythimna unipuncta

Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Jun 22;31(8):761-9. doi: 10.1016/s0965-1748(00)00172-7.

Abstract

Two serine protease inhibitors, trypsin inhibitor and alpha-chymotrypsin inhibitor, were isolated from the hemolymph of Mythimna unipuncta. Mythimna trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin inhibitors were purified by gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. They displayed molecular masses of 52 kDa and 43 kDa, respectively, as determined by electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions on denaturing polyacrylamide gels. Their isoelectric points were evaluated by isoelectric focusing and two-dimensional electrophoresis. Their N-terminal sequences have been analyzed as APSDTTIAETLTITEEFFPD and FDESFGFQGPSTYEKTPLGEP, respectively. The role of these inhibitors in the regulation of the defense reaction of the insect is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chymotrypsin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hemolymph / chemistry
  • Insect Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Moths / chemistry*
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / blood
  • Trypsin Inhibitors / blood*

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Trypsin Inhibitors
  • Chymotrypsin