Abstract
In order to demonstrate a photochemical inactivation of superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) in the anal gills of mosquito larvae by α-terthienyl, a negative staining method has been applied which utilizes the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium into a diformazan by superoxide radical and its intersection by this enzyme. The enzyme increased with the development of the larvae being minimum in the first instar and maximum in the fourth instar. Superoxide dismutase activity is inhibited by the naturally occurring thiophene α-terthienyl (2,2′:5,2″-terthiophene) in the presence of ultraviolet light, results of which are comparable with the inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamic acid, a known inhibitor of superoxide dismutase. It is suggested that the presence of superoxide dismutase in the anal gills plays some important role in providing resistance to mosquito larvae against harmful oxygen derivatives.
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