The invertase of the house cricket acheta domesticus L. (orthoptera: gryllidae)

Abstract

1. The invertase of Acheta domesticus has a pH optimum of 5.6. 2. A sigmoid temperature-activity curve was obtained when the temperature was raised from 20 to 45°C. 3. The activation energy was 6,300 cal/mol. The 50% inhibition concentration of mercuric chloride was 59 μmol and the 50% inhibition time at 50°C was 45 min. 4. Five days of starvation caused a fall of 25% of the total invertase activity. 5. The caecal tissues showed a high activity of the invertase and the lumen of both the foregut and anterior hindgut contained the highest invertase activity among the four gut regions.