Enzymic activities involved in the oothecal sclerotization of the praying mantid, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis saussure

Abstract

The enzyme(s) responsible for the sclerotization of mantid ootheca is secreted by the left colleterial gland. From an extract of the glands of Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, two soluble enzyme fractions of different activities were obtained. One fraction acted on N-acetyldopamine (NADA), a precursor of a representative sclerotizing agent, and produced NADA-quinone. The other did not act on NADA itself but converted the quinone to a highly reactive intermediate, such as quinone methide, which was able to react nonenzymically with nucleophilic compounds. Other insoluble enzyme preparations obtained from the silk and pupal cuticle of the Japanese giant silk moth, Dictyoploca japonica, also had these two activities.