Cathepsin L function in insect moulting: molecular cloning and functional analysis in cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera

Citations Over TimeTop 15% of 2006 papers

Abstract

Moulting is an essential process of insect development but little is known about cysteine proteases in the process. Here, we detail a proteolytic activity profile from fifth larval instar to new pupae of the lepidopteran Helicoverpa armigera. At fifth to sixth instar moulting, the activities were significantly higher than those in non-moulting stages, and were inhibited by the cysteine protease inhibitor, 2S, 3S-trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-3-methylbutane ethyl ester (E-64), or by the cathepsin L-selective inhibitor CLIK148. Further, a 1513 bp cathepsin L cDNA (Har-CL) was isolated from the H. armigera larval cuticle and epidermis layer. Har-CL gene expression, which is correlated closely with ecdysone, was higher during larval moulting. Injection of E-64 or CLIK148 resulted in delayed fifth to sixth instar moulting, suggesting an essential role for cathepsin L in larval moulting.

Related Papers

• → Differential transcript accumulation in Cicer arietinum L. in response to a chewing insect Helicoverpa armigera and defence regulators correlate with reduced insect performance(2008)54 cited
• → JUVENILE HORMONE AND SYNTHETIC ANALOGUES: EFFECTS ON LARVAL MOULT OF SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI(1971)17 cited
• → Endocrine Mechanisms in Ticks: Effects of Insect Hormones and their Mimics on Development and Reproduction(1982)29 cited
• → Synchrony of juvenile hormone-sensitive periods for internal and external development in last-instar larvae of Oncopeltus fasciatus(1982)5 cited
• → Effect of Helicoverpa Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (HNPV) on Different Life Stages of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)(2006)