α-Amylases of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) and their inhibition by two plant amylase inhibitors

Valencia, Arnubio; Bustillo-Pardey, Alex Enrique; Ossa, Gustavo E; Chrispeels, Maarten J.

doi:10.1016/s0965-1748(99)00115-0

Cited by 105 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Unlike the higher termites in which at least one gut region (hindgut or paunch) is extremely alkaline (as high as 10.5), we found the beetle gut environment is less extreme, although the MG is alkaline (pH 8.38; Table 1). This is in contrast to pH conditions found in many other insect and mammalian guts where highly alkaline or acidic environments are required for proper food digestion (Brune and Kü hl, 1996;Fallingborg, 1999;Valencia et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Compartmentalized microbial composition, oxygen gradients and nitrogen fixation in the gut ofOdontotaenius disjunctus

et al. 2013

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Coarse woody debris is an important biomass pool in forest ecosystems that numerous groups of insects have evolved to take advantage of. These insects are ecologically important and represent useful natural analogs for biomass to biofuel conversion. Using a range of molecular approaches combined with microelectrode measurements of oxygen, we have characterized the gut microbiome and physiology of Odontotaenius disjunctus, a wood-feeding beetle native to the eastern United States. We hypothesized that morphological and physiological differences among gut regions would correspond to distinct microbial populations and activities. In fact, significantly different communities were found in the foregut (FG), midgut (MG)/posterior hindgut (PHG) and anterior hindgut (AHG), with Actinobacteria and Rhizobiales being more abundant toward the FG and PHG. Conversely, fermentative bacteria such as Bacteroidetes and Clostridia were more abundant in the AHG, and also the sole region where methanogenic Archaea were detected. Although each gut region possessed an anaerobic core, micron-scale profiling identified radial gradients in oxygen concentration in all regions. Nitrogen fixation was confirmed by 15 N 2 incorporation, and nitrogenase gene (nifH) expression was greatest in the AHG. Phylogenetic analysis of nifH identified the most abundant transcript as related to Ni-Fe nitrogenase of a Bacteroidetes species, Paludibacter propionicigenes. Overall, we demonstrate not only a compartmentalized microbiome in this beetle digestive tract but also sharp oxygen gradients that may permit aerobic and anaerobic metabolism to occur within the same regions in close proximity. We provide evidence for the microbial fixation of N 2 that is important for this beetle to subsist on woody biomass.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Compartmentalized microbial composition, oxygen gradients and nitrogen fixation in the gut ofOdontotaenius disjunctus

et al. 2013

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“…An optimum pH, between 6.0 and 7.0, was also found in several insect midgut pH, such as T. molitor, H. hampei, and C. maculatus (Valencia et al, 2000;Franco et al, 2002), suggesting that a-amylases from those insect-pests might behave similarly to ZSA. The presence of calcium chloride increased ZSA stability, especially at pH between 6.0 and 8.0.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Structure and enzyme properties of Zabrotes subfasciatus α‐amylase

Pelegrini

Murad

Grossi-de-Sá

et al. 2006

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol

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Digestive alpha-amylases play an essential role in insect carbohydrate metabolism. These enzymes belong to an endo-type group. They catalyse starch hydrolysis, and are involved in energy production. Larvae of Zabrotes subfasciatus, the Mexican bean weevil, are able to infest stored common beans Phaseolus vulgaris, causing severe crop losses in Latin America and Africa. Their alpha-amylase (ZSA) is a well-studied but not completely understood enzyme, having specific characteristics when compared to other insect alpha-amylases. This report provides more knowledge about its chemical nature, including a description of its optimum pH (6.0 to 7.0) and temperature (20-30 degrees C). Furthermore, ion effects on ZSA activity were also determined, showing that three divalent ions (Mn2+, Ca2+, and Ba2+) were able to enhance starch hydrolysis. Fe2+ appeared to decrease alpha-amylase activity by half. ZSA kinetic parameters were also determined and compared to other insect alpha-amylases. A three-dimensional model is proposed in order to indicate probable residues involved in catalysis (Asp204, Glu240, and Asp305) as well other important residues related to starch binding (His118, Ala206, Lys207, and His304).

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“…The Dr. Amador Villacorta (personal communication, 2003) reported that C. kapakata did not present any borer under field conditions. The α-amylase inhibitor genes, which have potential to promote the resistance to the borer have been tranfered to coffee by genetic transformation, but efficiency has not yet been confirmed in borer control (Jiménez et al, 2000;Valencia et al, 2000;Grossi-de-Sá et al, 2004). Sera and Cotarelli (personal communication, 2004) observed that under field conditions, some species of coffee (C. eugenioides and C. kapakata) did not present any infestation of H. hampei when compared with C. canephora and C. arabica.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%