Abstract
Since the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, feeds on starch, α-amylase is an important enzyme for hydrolyzing carbohydrates into sugar to meet energy demands. It has been reported that 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) involve in the regulation of α-amylase in the red flour beetle. Injection of 20E decreased α-amylase activity in dose- and time-dependent manner. α-Amylase activity in males and females showed different patterns responding to 20E. Adults injected with high concentrations of 20E (300–500 ng/insect) had low levels of food consumption leading to a decrease in body mass. Interestingly, glucose levels in treated adults increased significantly in parallel with the increase in trehalase activity in both males and females. 20E down-regulated Amylase (TcAmy), while Trehalase-1 and -2 (TcTre-1 and -2, respectively) genes were up-regulated. Taken together, 20E caused a decrease in α-amylase activity directly at the level of gene expression and indirectly by repressing food consumption and causing low ingestion levels. However, understanding the mechanism(s) by which feeding behavior suppression is caused by 20E in the red flour beetle needs to be examined in the future.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
