INHIBITORS OF CARBONIC ANHYDRASE IN THE AMERICAN COCKROACH, PERIPLANETA AMERICANA (L.)

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrase activity has been demonstrated in vitro in preparations of the head, fat body, and gut of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), and in the adult housefly, Musca domestica L. The insect factor, which is soluble in aqueous media and can be separated from the particulate cell fragments of insect tissue homogenates is heat labile and sensitive to cyanide inactivation. It is strongly inhibited by sulphanilamide, p-aminoethylphenyl-sulphonamide, and p-chlorphenylsulphonamide. No inhibition has been found with N-substituted sulphonamides or with any of the organic insecticides examined, including DDT, lindane, dieldrin, nicotine, rotenone, pyrethrins, and para-oxon. Sensitivity of carbonic anhydrase to sulphonamides having an intact—SO2NH2 group is also characteristic of mammalian preparations. The data indicate that inhibition of insect carbonic anhydrase cannot be an important factor in the mode of action of DDT or other organic insecticides.