TY - JOUR

T1 - Carbohydrate digestion in sandflies: alpha-glucosidase activity in the midgut of Phlebotomus langeroni

AU - Dillon, R. J.

AU - ElKordy, E.

PY - 1997/1

Y1 - 1997/1

N2 - Midgut alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) activities were measured after ingestion of blood and sugar meals by the phlebotomine sandfly Phlebotomus langeroni. alpha-Glucosidase activity increased significantly within 1 hr after a blood meal and was maintained at significantly high activities until 48 hr postfeeding, when it fell to basal activity levels. Midgut alpha-glucosidase activity also increased within 1 hr of feeding on a sucrose meal, but there was no discernable peak in activity during the days postingestion. Differences in the induction of enzyme activity after a sugar meal compared to a blood meal might reflect the mode of ingestion of the two types of meal. The sugar meal is released intermittently into the midgut from the crop, in contrast to the blood meal, which is directed into the midgut immediately after ingestion and digested in a ''batch'' process. Nearly 90% of the alpha-glucosidase activity was associated with midgut cells of sugar fed sandflies compared to only 46% in blood fed insects. Isoelectrofocusing revealed the presence of seven alpha-glucosidases with isoelectric points between 4.3-5.8. No alpha-glucosidase activity was detected in the crop, indicating chat glycosidases originate from the midgut epithelium rather than the salivary glands. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.

AB - Midgut alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) activities were measured after ingestion of blood and sugar meals by the phlebotomine sandfly Phlebotomus langeroni. alpha-Glucosidase activity increased significantly within 1 hr after a blood meal and was maintained at significantly high activities until 48 hr postfeeding, when it fell to basal activity levels. Midgut alpha-glucosidase activity also increased within 1 hr of feeding on a sucrose meal, but there was no discernable peak in activity during the days postingestion. Differences in the induction of enzyme activity after a sugar meal compared to a blood meal might reflect the mode of ingestion of the two types of meal. The sugar meal is released intermittently into the midgut from the crop, in contrast to the blood meal, which is directed into the midgut immediately after ingestion and digested in a ''batch'' process. Nearly 90% of the alpha-glucosidase activity was associated with midgut cells of sugar fed sandflies compared to only 46% in blood fed insects. Isoelectrofocusing revealed the presence of seven alpha-glucosidases with isoelectric points between 4.3-5.8. No alpha-glucosidase activity was detected in the crop, indicating chat glycosidases originate from the midgut epithelium rather than the salivary glands. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.

KW - Phlebotomus langeroni

KW - midgut

KW - insect digestion

KW - α-glucosidase

U2 - 10.1016/S0305-0491(96)00195-2

DO - 10.1016/S0305-0491(96)00195-2

M3 - Journal article

VL - 116

SP - 35

EP - 40

JO - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

JF - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

SN - 0305-0491

IS - 1

ER -