Phenoloxidase Inhibitors Research Articles

Effects of 4-hexylresorcinol on the phenoloxidase from Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae): In vivo and in vitro studies.

Insecticidal effects of 4-hexylresorcinol, a phenoloxidase (PO) inhibitor, were determined on Hyphantria cunea (Drury) under laboratory conditions. The LC50 for the 15-d-old larvae was estimated to be 2.95 g/L after 96 h exposure. The activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and PO showed a decrease in larvae treated with 4-hexylresorcinol, and the IC50 of GST and PO were estimated to be 0.8 and 0.43 g/L, respectively, 24 h after treatment. The PO from the hemolymph of fall webworm was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel-filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography, and then enzymatic characteristics and the mechanism of inhibition were determined using L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as the substrate. The purified PO showed a single band on SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of about 70 kDa. The optimum pH for PO activity was observed at pH 7.0, optimum temperature was found to be 45 °C, and PO activity was strongly inhibited by Zn(2+) . IC50 values were estimated to be 8.2, 19.14, and 24.04 μmol/L for 4-hexylresorsinol, kojic acid, and quercetin, respectively. The inhibitory potencies (i.e., I50 of each compound/I50 of 4-hexylresorcinol) of kojic acid and quercetin on H. cunea PO were estimated to be 1.87 and 2.89, respectively. 4-hexylresorcinol was determined to be a competitive inhibitor, and kojic acid and quercetin were determined to be mixed inhibitors. PO is one of the most important enzymes in an insect's immune system, and the use of PO inhibitors seems to be a promising approach for pest control due to their potential safety for humans.

The bromotyrosine derivative ianthelline isolated from the arctic marine sponge Stryphnus fortis inhibits marine micro- and macrobiofouling.

The inhibition of marine biofouling by the bromotyrosine derivative ianthelline, isolated from the Arctic marine sponge Stryphnus fortis, is described. All major stages of the fouling process are investigated. The effect of ianthelline on adhesion and growth of marine bacteria and microalgae is tested to investigate its influence on the initial microfouling process comparing with the known marine antifoulant barettin as a reference. Macrofouling is studied via barnacle (Balanus improvisus) settlement assays and blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) phenoloxidase inhibition. Ianthelline is shown to inhibit both marine micro- and macrofoulers with a pronounced effect on marine bacteria (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values 0.1-10μg/mL) and barnacle larval settlement (IC50 = 3.0μg/mL). Moderate effects are recorded on M. edulis (IC50 = 45.2μg/mL) and microalgae, where growth is more affected than surface adhesion. The effect of ianthelline is also investigated against human pathogenic bacteria. Ianthelline displayed low micromolar MIC values against several bacterial strains, both Gram positive and Gram negative, down to 2.5μg/mL. In summary, the effect of ianthelline on 20 different representative marine antifouling organisms and seven human pathogenic bacterial strains is presented.

Inhibition of Phenoloxidase Activity Delays Development inBactrocera dorsalis(Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract Phenoloxidase (PO) is a multicopper enzyme, which plays an important role in melanin synthesis. PO is necessary for defense against intruding microorganisms and parasites, and is important in wound healing and cuticle pigmentation. As a specific inhibitor of PO, kojic acid (KA) is commonly used to characterize the functional properties of PO. In this study, we investigated the effect of KA on PO activity during the development of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, which is a destructive pest of many horticultural crops. After feeding on a KA-containing artificial diet, the larval and pupal developmental periods were significantly prolonged. In addition, the larvae did not grow to normal size and rates of pupation and emergence were decreased when B. dorsalis larvae had been fed with KA-containing diet for 6 days. Compared to the control, PO activities from whole bodies of B. dorsalis were inhibited, so did in larval cuticles. Consistent with these, kinetic analysis showed that the catal...

The expression and phylogenetics of the Inhibitor Cysteine Knot peptide OCLP1 in the honey bee Apis mellifera

Small cysteine-rich peptides have diverse functions in insects including antimicrobial defense, phenoloxidase activity regulation, and toxic inhibition of ion channels of prey or predator. We combined bioinformatics and measurements of transcript abundance to start characterizing AmOCLP1, a recently discovered Inhibitor Cysteine Knot peptide in the honey bee Apis mellifera. We found that the genomes of ants, bees, and the wasp Nasonia vitripennis encode orthologous sequences indicating that OCLP1 is a conserved peptide and not unique to the honey bee. Search of available EST libraries and quantitative real time PCR analyses indicate that the transcript of AmOCLP1 is ubiquitous with expression in life stages ranging from embryos to adults and in all tested tissues. In worker honey bees AmOCLP1 expression was not associated with age or task and did not show clear enrichment in any of the tested tissues. There was however a consistent trend toward higher transcript levels in the abdomen of foragers relative to levels in the head or thorax, and compared to levels in the abdomen of younger worker bees. By contrast, in drones AmOCLP1 transcript levels appeared higher in the head relative to the abdomen. Finer analyses of the head and abdomen indicated that the AmOCLP1 transcript is not enriched in the stinger and the associated venom sac or in cephalic exocrine glands. The evolutionary conservation in the Hymenoptera, the ubiquitous expression, and the lack of enrichment in the venom gland, stinger, exocrine glands, and the brain are not consistent with the hypotheses that OCLP1 is a secreted honeybee toxin or an endotoxin acting in the central nervous system. Rather we hypothesize that OCLP1 is a conserved antimicrobial or phenoloxidase inhibitor peptide.

EFFECTS OF INHIBITORS ON HAEMOLYMPH PHENOLOXIDASE FROM ROSACEOUS BRANCH BORER, OSPHERANTERIA COERULESCENS (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE)

Abstract The rosaceous branch borer, Ospheranteria coerulescens, is an important pest of rosaceous trees. This insect feeds on the twigs and branches of living trees and causes their death. The characterization of the insect phenoloxidase (PO) is of interest when doing comparative investigations, and so that we may be able to understand its biochemical properties. When designing new methods of insect control such as the use of PO inhibitors, an understanding of the biochemical properties is fundamental. In this study, PO from hemolymph of the rosaceous branch borer was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel-filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography. The biochemical properties were characterized using l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as the specific substrate. The apparent molecular weights of the three isoforms of PO were determined by SDS-PAGE to be 85.23, 79.45, and 66.06 kDa. Optimal pH for PO activity was pH 8, and the optimal temperature was 45°C. Phenoloxidase lost less than 50% of its relative activity after a 60 min incubation at the optimal temperature. The effects of ions and chemical materials such as K+, Ba2+, Zn2+ and EDTA on PO showed that PO activity was strongly inhibited by Zn2+. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) were 88.61 mM and 0.14 μmol/min, respectively. The inhibitory effects of kojic acid, 4-hexylresorsinol, and quercetin on PO were determined, and the IC50s (inhibitory concentration) were estimated as 23.31 for kojic acid, 35.75 for 4-hexylresorcinol, and 60.8 μM for quercetin. The inhibitory potency of kojic acid was 1.54 times higher than that of 4-hexylresorcinol and 2.58 times higher than that of quercetin. Phenoloxidase was effectively inhibited by 4-hexylresorcinol, and the inhibition type was competitive. The inhibition types of PO by kojic acid and quercetin were found to be mixed.

Identification of serum component involved in generation of neo-lectin with agglutinating and phenoloxidase activities in human serum

Human serum albumin (HSA) was identified as the component involved in generation of neo-lectin molecules with both lectin and phenoloxidase activities. Pronase treated HSA was able to agglutinate hen RBC and oxidize hydroquinone. Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) treated HSA agglutinated both hen and sheep RBC as well as oxidized dopamine. The hemagglutinating activities of pronase/SDS treated HSA observed against hen RBC were dosimetric. The oxidation of pronase/SDS treated HSA with hydroquinone/dopamine, respectively, was inhibitable by inhibitors of phenoloxidase, namely, phenylthiourea and tropolone. Very low concentrations of HSA could generate these humoral neo-lectin molecules.

Hemocyanin-derived phenoloxidase activity: A contributing factor to hyperpigmentation in Nephrops norvegicus

The phenomenon of hyperpigmentation (melanosis) in shellfish has long been attributed to phenoloxidase enzymes. Over the last number of years, the oxygen carrier hemocyanin, has demonstrated several immune- and physiological functionalities, most notably, inducible phenoloxidase activity. In this study, hemocyanin purified from the hemolymph of Nephrops norvegicus displays diphenoloxidase activity in the presence of a number of elicitors and retains structural and functional integrity throughout the process of freeze–thawing (at −25°C). Conversely, cellular phenoloxidase activity (present in cell-lysates), demonstrates >98% reduction in activity after freeze–thawing. We present evidence that hemocyanin may act as a causative agent of hyperpigmentation in N. norvegicus. The inhibition of hemocyanin-derived phenoloxidase activity is discussed, and for the first time, the biophysical interactions of shellfish hemocyanin with known phenoloxidase inhibitors are presented.

Effect of pH on phenol oxidase activity on decaying Sphagnum mosses

Inhibition of phenol oxidase (PO) activity by low pH is a potential key mechanism to limit decomposition in acidic Sphagnum mires, but few controlled experiments have been performed. The possible effects of assay pH and of auto-oxidation of the commonly used substrate L-dihydroxy phenylalanine (L-DOPA) have remained unreported. We conducted a series of experiments in order to reveal realistic response of PO activity to the pH gradient, taking into account the possible effects of auto-oxidation and assay pH. We found positive responses to pH with 60–100% increase of PO activity with one pH unit (3.5–4.5). In alkaline solutions, L-DOPA was readily auto-oxidized, which may hamper the use of this reagent with alkaline samples. Adjustment of assay pH resulted in variable responses of PO activity to temperature and sample pH. Combinations of matching sample pH and assay pH consistently showed a positive response of PO activity to pH, indicating that control of assay pH is an essential prerequisite of obtaining realistic results of PO activity. The positive relationship of PO activity and pH indicates that the inhibition of enzymic oxidation of phenolic compounds may contribute to the decay resistance of Sphagnum in acidic mire habitats.

SiRNA-mediated knockdown of two tyrosinase genes from Schistosoma japonicum cultured in vitro

The cross-linking process of eggshell proteins in helminths is dependent on the activities of tyrosinases (TYRs), which can be inhibited by phenol oxidase inhibitors. Two genes encoding TYRs, SjTYR1 and SjTYR2, have been identified in Schistosoma japonicum. In this study, siRNA-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) was performed to silence these two SjTYR genes to evaluate their roles in eggshell formation. The effects of individual or double knockdown of the SjTYR genes were compared by determining SjTYR1/SjTYR2 transcript levels, enzyme activities, and by observing the morphology and amounts of intrauterine eggs. Results showed that SjTYR transcript levels were significantly reduced on the 3rd day post-RNAi. Significant reductions in TYR enzyme activities, as well as obvious changes in morphology and the number of intrauterine eggs followed the reductions in SjTYR transcript levels. On the 8th day after simultaneous knockdown of both SjTYR genes, which effected a 40% reduction in SjTYR1 transcript level and a 59% reduction in SjTYR2 transcript level, we observed an 80% reduction in diphenol oxidase (DPO) activity of TYRs, and a 74% reduction in the number of normal eggs in female uteri. Knockdown of both SjTYR genes has a greater effect than single knockdown of the SjTYR genes. These results demonstrate that both SjTYRs play an important role in eggshell sclerotization of S. japonicum, and that their enzyme activities depend on the transcript levels of two SjTYR genes.

Effects of known phenoloxidase inhibitors on hemocyanin-derived phenoloxidase from Limulus polyphemus

Inhibitors of phenoloxidase are used routinely to characterise the structural and functional properties of phenoloxidases. Hemocyanin-derived phenoloxidase activity is also sensitive to standard phenoloxidase inhibitors. In this study, we characterise the effects of a number of phenoloxidase inhibitors on hemocyanin-derived phenoloxidase activity from the chelicerate, Limulus polyphemus. Both inhibition type and K(i) values were similar to those observed for hemocyanin-derived phenoloxidase from another chelicerate, Eurypelma californicum. In addition, substrate inhibition was observed at concentrations above 2mM dopamine. The conformation in which two of the inhibitors, namely tropolone and kojic acid, would bind near the Cu(II) centre of hemocyanin is proposed.

Production of protocatechualdehyde using tyrosinase purified from potato

Tyrosinase is responsible for the enzymatic browning of fruits and vegetables and usually catalyze the conversion of monophenols to o-diphenols and oxidation of diphenols to corresponding quinines. However, when 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid is provided as the substrate, it catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation reaction to generate 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (protocatechualdehyde, PA. In the present study, tyrosinase was purified from potato with 27.9 purification fold by salting out with ammonium sulfate, DEAE-Sepharose and Sephadex G-150 column chromatography. The purified tyrosinase was confirmed by tyrosinase active staining following SDS-PAGE. Tyrosinase activity was visualized in the gel as a dark band. The molecular weight of tyrosinase from potato was 38kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. Purified tyrosinase mediated oxidative decarboxylation of 3,4-dihydroxymandelate. The identity of the reaction product, PA was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as well as ultraviolet spectral studies. Phenol oxidase inhibitors such as potassium cyanide, sodium azide, and phenylthiourea inhibited the participation of the active site copper of the enzyme in the catalysis.

Detection of natural and induced phenoloxidase activities in human serum

Natural and induced phenoloxidase activities were detected in human serum using nine different phenolic substrates, namely, tyrosine, tyramine, L-DOPA, DL-DOPA, dopamine, catechol, hydroquinone, protocatechuic acid and pyrogallol. Phenoloxidase activity was induced anew in serum using exogenous elicitors, such as proteases or detergents. Among the proteases and detergents tested, pronase, SDS and Tween 20 were the best elicitors of phenoloxidase activities in serum, wherein, hydroquinone was the best phenolic substrate for both untreated as well as pronase treated serum and SDS or Tween 20 treated serum resulted in highest oxidation of dopamine or tyrosine, respectively. In the present study, all these oxidative reactions were inhibited by phenoloxidase inhibitors, namely, PTU and tropolone, thereby, confirming the role of phenoloxidase in human serum.

Small molecule perimeter defense in entomopathogenic bacteria

Two gram-negative insect pathogens, Xenorhabdus nematophila and Photorhabdus luminescens, produce rhabduscin, an amidoglycosyl- and vinyl-isonitrile-functionalized tyrosine derivative. Heterologous expression of the rhabduscin pathway in Escherichia coli, precursor-directed biosynthesis of rhabduscin analogs, biochemical assays, and visualization using both stimulated Raman scattering and confocal fluorescence microscopy established rhabduscin's role as a potent nanomolar-level inhibitor of phenoloxidase, a key component of the insect's innate immune system, as well as rhabduscin's localization at the bacterial cell surface. Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy visualized rhabduscin at the periphery of wild-type X. nematophila cells and E. coli cells heterologously expressing the rhabduscin pathway. Precursor-directed biosynthesis created rhabduscin mimics in X. nematophila pathway mutants that could be accessed at the bacterial cell surface by an extracellular bioorthogonal probe, as judged by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Biochemical assays using both wild-type and mutant X. nematophila cells showed that rhabduscin was necessary and sufficient for potent inhibition (low nM) of phenoloxidases, the enzymes responsible for producing melanin (the hard black polymer insects generate to seal off microbial pathogens). These observations suggest a model in which rhabduscin's physical association at the bacterial cell surface provides a highly effective inhibitor concentration directly at the site of phenoloxidase contact. This class of molecules is not limited to insect pathogens, as the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae also encodes rhabduscin's aglycone, and bacterial cell-coated immunosuppressants could be a general strategy to combat host defenses.

The Effect of Alkylphenols on Lobster Shell Hardening

Alkylphenols, anthropogenic estrogenic endocrine disruptors in vertebrates, have been found in lobsters (Homarus americanus) in New England sites. We hypothesize that alkylphenols interfere in the shell hardening during molting. We used an in vitro cuticle bioassay to investigate the effects of 2 alkylphenolic compounds—2,4-bis-(dimethylbenzyl) phenol (compound 3) and bisphenol A (BPA; 4,4#-dihydroxy-2,2-diphenylpropane (also referred to as 4,4#-(propan-2-ylidene) diphenol))—on tyrosine incorporation during the hardening of new cuticle following lobster molting. During sclerotization, both alkylphenols and cold tyrosine competed with C 14 -tyrosine incorporation in a concentration-dependent manner. This process was also phenoloxidase dependent, as treatment with phenylthiourea (PTU; a phenoloxidase inhibitor) significantly decreased C 14 -tyrosine incorporation. We also found that incorporation of C 14 -2,4-bis-(dimethylbenzyl) phenol during the shell hardening process was inhibited by cold alkylphenol, cold tyrosine, or PTU, and competition was concentration dependent. Furthermore, incorporation of tyrosine and derivatives into new cuticle decreased with time after molting from 27% incorporation 1 day after a molt to 6% by 4 days after a molt. In nonmolting cuticles, there was no incorporation of alkylphenol or tyrosine derivatives. When lobsters were injected with 2,4-bis-(dimethylbenzyl) phenol during the premolt stage, it took the shells 12 ± 1 days to harden sufficiently to resist deflection by 5 lb pressure exerted by a pressure gauge, compared with 7 ± 1 days for control shells. Thus, shell hardening is delayed significantly by the presence of 2,4-bis-(dimethylbenzyl) phenol. The effects of this compound on shell hardening may result in lobsters susceptibility to microbial invasion and, therefore, may contribute to the onset of shell disease.

Antifouling Bastadin Congeners Target Mussel Phenoloxidase and Complex Copper(II) Ions

Synthetically prepared congeners of sponge-derived bastadin derivatives such as 5,5'-dibromohemibastadin-1 (DBHB) that suppress the settling of barnacle larvae were identified in this study as strong inhibitors of blue mussel phenoloxidase that is involved in the firm attachment of mussels to a given substrate. The IC₅₀ value of DBHB as the most active enzyme inhibitor encountered in this study amounts to 0.84 μM. Inhibition of phenoloxidase by DBHB is likely due to complexation of copper(II) ions from the catalytic centre of the enzyme by the α-oxo-oxime moiety of the compound as shown here for the first time by structure activity studies and by X-ray structure determination of a copper(II) complex of DBHB.

The phenylthiourea is a competitive inhibitor of the enzymatic oxidation of DOPA by phenoloxidase

Phenoloxidase is a key enzyme of melanization catalyzing the oxidation of phenols. Phenylthiourea (PTU) is the well-known and widely used inhibitor of phenoloxidase. However, the mechanism of its action is not quite clear. In the present work, the effect of PTU on the enzymatic oxidation of 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-l-alanine (DOPA) by phenoloxidase was studied by spectrophotometric methods. The inhibition constant of PTU was estimated as 0.21 ± 0.09 µM and the competitive type of inhibition was determined for this reaction.

Inhibitors of oxidative enzymes affect water uptake and vase life of cut Acacia holosericea and Chamelaucium uncinatum stems

Cut Acacia holosericea (Velvet Leaf Wattle) foliage has a short vase life, possibly because of blockage in xylem vessels. We indirectly investigated a hypothesised role for peroxidase and phenoloxidase enzyme activities in xylem occlusion of Acacia stems by using their inhibitors. We also tested these inhibitors with cut Chamelaucium uncinatum (Geraldton waxflower), another woody stemmed cut flower.The peroxidase inhibitors used were 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (AT), catechol (CH), hydroquinone (HQ), p-phenylene diamine (PD) and copper sulphate (CS, Chamelaucium only). The catechol oxidase inhibitors were tropolone (TP), 4-hexylresorcinol (HR) and 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (DN). A laccase inhibitor, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CM), was also used. Other phenoloxidase inhibitors tested were p-chlorophenol (CP), p-nitrocathechol (NC), p-nitrophenol (NP) and sodium metabisulphite (SM). 2-Mercaptoethanol (ME), phenyl hydrazine (PH) and salicylhydroxamic acid (SH) were used as inhibitors of both peroxidase and phenoloxidase.Twelve inhibitors (CH, HQ, DN, HR, TP, CM, CP, NC, NP, SM, PH and SH) significantly improved water uptake, maintained relative fresh weight and increased vase life of Acacia at least once in two experiments. In Chamelaucium, six inhibitors had significant positive effects on water relations (CH, PD, CS, CM, CP and PH) and vase life (AT, CH, PD, CS, ME and PH), while four of them (DN, TP, NC and NP) were phytotoxic at applied concentrations. Only one of the 46 inhibitor treatments inhibited transpiration and increased fresh weight, suggesting that the inhibitors mainly acted by increasing water uptake. Overall, results indicate that oxidative enzyme activities, potentially through phenolic deposition, contribute to xylem occlusion in woody cut stems of Acacia and Chamelaucium.

In vitro effects on bacterial growth of phenoloxidase reaction products

An active phenoloxidase preparation from the freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus exhibited a strong antibacterial effect in vitro on the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae whereas a weaker but still significant effect against Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In most cases reduction of bacterial growth was stronger when dopamine was used as substrate as compared to L-dopa. The effect on bacteria was abolished if no substrate was available for the phenoloxidase or in the presence of the phenoloxidase inhibitor phenylthiourea.

The mode of action of venom from the endoparasitic wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) involves Ca+2‐dependent cell death pathways

The endoparasitoid Pimpla hypochondriaca injects venom during oviposition to condition its lepidopteran hosts. Venom is a complex mixture of proteins and polypeptides, many of which have been identified as enzymes, including phenoloxidase, endopeptidase, aminopeptidase, hydrolase, and angiotensin-converting enzyme. Constituents of the venom have been shown to possess cytolytic and paralytic activity, but the modes of action of factor(s) responsible for exerting such effects have not been deciphered. In this study, we examined the mode of action of isolated venom using cultured cells (BTI-TN-5B1-4). A series of blockage and inhibition assays were performed using a potent inhibitor (phenylthiourea, PTU) of venom phenoloxidase, and anti-calreticulin antibodies. Monolayers exposed to venom alone were highly susceptible with more than 84.6+/-2.3% dead within 15 min. Susceptible cells displayed a retraction of cytoplasmic extensions, rounding, and swelling prior to lysis in more than half (55.7+/-1.7%) of the dying cells. Within 15 min of exposure to venom, cells displayed qualitative increases in [Ca(+2)](i) as evidenced by staining with the calcium-sensitive probe fluo-4 AM, and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) was undetectable by 5 min post-treatment with venom. These venom-mediated changes occurred regardless of whether an external source of calcium was present, or whether venom was pre-treated with PTU. In contrast, venom toxicity was attenuated by treatment with anti-calreticulin antibodies. Not only did fewer cells die when exposed to antibody-treated venom but also cell swelling diminished and no increases in intracellular calcium were detected. A possible mode of action for the venom is discussed.

A Novel Protein Acts as a Negative Regulator of Prophenoloxidase Activation and Melanization in the Freshwater Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus

Melanization is an important immune component of the innate immune system of invertebrates and is vital for defense as well as for wound healing. In most invertebrates melanin synthesis is achieved by the prophenoloxidase-activating system, a proteolytic cascade similar to vertebrate complement. Even though melanin formation is necessary for host defense in crustaceans and insects, the process needs to be tightly regulated because of the hazard to the animal of unwanted production of quinone intermediates and melanization in places where it is not suitable. In the present study we have identified a new melanization inhibition protein (MIP) from the hemolymph of the crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus. Crayfish MIP has a similar function as the insect MIP molecule we recently discovered in the beetle Tenebrio molitor but interestingly has a completely different sequence. Crayfish MIP as well as Tenebrio MIP do not affect phenoloxidase activity in itself but instead interfere with the melanization reaction from quinone compounds to melanin. Importantly, crayfish MIP in contrast to Tenebrio MIP contains a fibrinogen-like domain, most similar to the substrate recognition domain of vertebrate l-ficolins. Surprisingly, an Asp-rich region similar to that found in ficolins that is likely to be involved in Ca2+ binding is present in crayfish MIP. However, crayfish MIP did not show any hemagglutinating activity as is common for the vertebrate ficolins. A mutant form of MIP with a deletion lacking four Asp amino acids from the Asp-rich region lost most of its activity, implicating that this part of the protein is involved in regulating the prophenoloxidase activating cascade. Overall, a new negative regulator of melanization was identified in freshwater crayfish that shows interesting parallels with proteins (i.e. ficolins) involved in vertebrate immune response.