Insect prophenoloxidases (PPOs) are important immunity proteins for defending against the invading pathogens and parasites. As a Type-III copper-containing proteins, unlike Homo sapiens tyrosinases, the insect PPOs and most bacterial tyrosinases contain no signal peptides for unknown reason, however they can still be released. To this end, we fused different signal peptides to Drosophila melanogaster PPOs for in vitro and in vivo expression, respectively. We demonstrate that an artificial signal peptide can help PPO secretion in vitro. The secreted PPO appeared larger than wild-type PPO on molecular weight sizes due to glycosylation when expressed in S2 cells. Two asparagine residues for potential glycosylation in PPO1 were identified when a signal peptide was fused. After purification, the glycosylated PPO1 lost zymogen activity. When PPO1 containing a signal peptide was over-expressed in Drosophila larvae, the glycosylation and secretion of PPO1 was detected in vivo. Unlike insect PPO, human tyrosinase needs a signal peptide for protein expression and maintaining enzyme activity. An artificial signal peptide fused to bacterial tyrosinase had no influence on the protein expression and enzyme activity. These Type-III copper-containing proteins from different organisms may evolve to perform their specific functions. Intriguingly, our study revealed that the addition of calcium inhibits PPO secretion from the transiently cultured larval hindguts in vitro, indicating that the calcium concentration may regulate PPO secretion. Taken together, insect PPOs can maintain enzyme activities without any signal peptide.
- MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- Drosophila melanogaster * imunologie metabolismus MeSH
- glykosylace MeSH
- hmyzí proteiny metabolismus genetika MeSH
- katecholoxidasa * metabolismus MeSH
- larva metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prekurzory enzymů * metabolismus MeSH
- proteinové prekurzory metabolismus MeSH
- proteiny - lokalizační signály * MeSH
- proteiny Drosophily metabolismus genetika MeSH
- tyrosinasa metabolismus MeSH
- vápník metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Plants consistently synthesize and accumulate medically valuable secondary metabolites which can be isolated and clinically tested under in vitro conditions. An advancement with such important phytochemical production has been recognized and utilized as herbal drugs. Bioactive andrographolide (AGL; C20H30O5) isolated from Andrographis paniculate (AP) (Kalmegh) is a diterpenoid lactones having multifunctional medicinal properties including anti-manic, anti-inflammatory, liver, and lung protective. AGL is known for its immunostimulant activity against a variety of microbial infections thereby, regulating classical and alternative macrophage activation, Ag-specific antibody production during immune disorder therapy. In vitro studies with AGL found it to be effective against multiple tumors, neuronal disorders, diabetes, pneumonia, fibrosis, and other diverse therapeutic misadventures. Generally, virus-based diseases like ZIKA, influenza A virus subtype (H1NI), Ebola (EBOV), Dengue (DENV), and coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics have greatly increased scientific interest and demands to develop more effective and economical immunomodulating drugs with minimal side effects. Trials and in vitro pharmacological studies with AGL and medicinally beneficial herbs might contribute to benefit the human population without using chemical-based synthetic drugs. In this review, we have discussed the possible role of AGL as a promising herbal-chemo remedy during human diseases, viral infections and as an immunity booster.
- MeSH
- antivirové látky chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- diterpeny chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- imunitní systém účinky léků MeSH
- léčivé rostliny chemie imunologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- virové nemoci farmakoterapie MeSH
- zdraví MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
The adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) are known to be involved in insect immunity, thus their role in the cockroach Periplaneta americana infected with the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea was examined in this study. The application of I. fumosorosea resulted in a significant increase in both Akh gene expression and AKH peptide levels. Further, co-application of I. fumosorosea with Peram-CAH-II significantly enhanced cockroach mortality compared with the application of I. fumosorosea alone. The mechanism of AKH action could involve metabolic stimulation, which was indicated by a significant increase in carbon dioxide production; this effect can increase the turnover and thus efficacy of toxins produced by I. fumosorosea in the cockroach's body. I. fumosorosea treatment resulted in a significant decrease in haemolymph nutrients (carbohydrates and lipids), but co-application with Peram-CAH-II restored control level of lipids or even further increased the level of carbohydrates. Such nutritional abundance could enhance the growth and development of I. fumosorosea. Further, both I. fumosorosea and Peram-CAH-II probably affected oxidative stress: I. fumosorosea alone curbed the activity of catalase in the cockroach's gut, but co-application with Peram-CAH-II stimulated it. Interestingly, the hormone alone had no effect on catalase activity. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrate the interactions between the fungus and AKH activity; understanding this relationship could provide insight into AKH action and may have practical implications for insect pest control in the future.
- MeSH
- dezinsekce metody MeSH
- hmyzí hormony farmakologie MeSH
- katalasa metabolismus MeSH
- kyselina pyrrolidonkarboxylová analogy a deriváty farmakologie MeSH
- oligopeptidy farmakologie MeSH
- oxid uhličitý metabolismus MeSH
- oxidační stres MeSH
- Periplaneta účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
This study describes defense functions of the insect neuropeptide sericotropin, which is recognized as an agent that stimulates silk production in some lepidopteran larvae. Sericotropin, expressed in brain tissue of the wax moth Galleria mellonella in all developmental stages, is not expressed in silk glands, indicating its tissue specificity. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of sericotropin in the brain-subesophageal complex being predominantly and densely distributed under the plasmatic membrane and in axonal parts of neurons. Injection of venom from Habrobracon hebetor and topical application of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae with symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. into or onto G. mellonella larvae resulted in upregulation of the sericotropin gene and peptide, suggesting a role for sericotropin in defense and immunity. Accordingly, two synthetic fragments of sericotropin killed entomotoxic Xenorhabdus spp. bacteria in a disc diffusion antimicrobial test. Further, total metabolism, monitored by carbon dioxide production, significantly decreased after application of either venom or EPN, probably because of muscle impairment by the venom and serious cell damage caused by EPN, especially in the midgut. Both venom and EPN upregulated expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides gallerimycin and galiomicin in Galleria brain; however, they downregulated prophenoloxidase and phenoloxidase activity in hemolymph. These results suggest that sericotropin is a multifunctional peptide that plays an important role in G. mellonella defense and immunity.
- MeSH
- hlístice fyziologie MeSH
- interakce hostitele a parazita imunologie MeSH
- larva účinky léků metabolismus parazitologie MeSH
- můry účinky léků metabolismus parazitologie MeSH
- neuropeptidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese účinky léků MeSH
- vosí jedy toxicita MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The effect of Habrobracon hebetor venom and the role of the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in poisoned adult females of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus were studied 24 and 48h after treatments. Venom application elicited total neuromuscular paralysis in firebugs, but the co-application of venom and Pyrap-AKH significantly reduced paralysis (up to 3.2 times) compared to the application of venom only. Although the mechanisms of their action are unknown, both agents might affect neuromuscular junctions. Venom application significantly increased the expression of both P. apterus Akh genes (Pyrap-Akh 5.4 times and Peram-Cah-II 3.6 times), as well as the level of AKHs in the central nervous system (2.5 times) and haemolymph (3.0 times). In the haemolymph, increased AKH levels might have led to the mobilization of stored lipids, which increased 1.9 times, while the level of free carbohydrates remained unchanged. Total metabolism, monitored by carbon dioxide production, significantly declined in paralysed P. apterus individuals (1.4 times and 1.9 times, 24 and 48h after the treatment, respectively), probably because of a malfunction of the muscular system. The results suggest an active role of AKH in the defence mechanism against the stress elicited by neuromuscular paralysis, and the possible involvement of this hormone in neuronal/neuromuscular signalling.
- MeSH
- alostáza MeSH
- biologické markery metabolismus MeSH
- centrální nervový systém účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- energetický metabolismus účinky léků MeSH
- hemolymfa účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- Heteroptera účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- hmyzí hormony agonisté genetika fyziologie sekrece MeSH
- hrudník MeSH
- injekce MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- kyselina pyrrolidonkarboxylová agonisté analogy a deriváty MeSH
- nervosvalové spojení účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- neuropeptidy agonisté analýza genetika fyziologie sekrece MeSH
- oligopeptidy agonisté genetika fyziologie sekrece MeSH
- paralýza chemicky indukované veterinární MeSH
- upregulace účinky léků MeSH
- vosí jedy antagonisté a inhibitory izolace a purifikace toxicita MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
The role of adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus adults infected by the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae was examined in this study. It was found that co-application of EPN and AKH enhanced firebug mortality about 2.5 times within 24h (from 20 to 51% in EPN vs. EPN+AKH treatments), and resulted in metabolism intensification, as carbon dioxide production in firebugs increased about 2.1 and 1.6times compared to control- and EPN-treated insects, respectively. Accordingly, firebugs with reduced expression of AKH receptors showed a significantly lower mortality (by 1.6 to 2.9-folds), and lower general metabolism after EPN+AKH treatments. In addition, EPN application increased Akh gene expression in the corpora cardiaca (1.6times), AKH level in the corpora cardiaca (1.3times) and haemolymph (1.7times), and lipid and carbohydrate amounts in the haemolymph. Thus, the outcomes of the present study demonstrate involvement of AKH into the anti-stress reaction elicited by the nematobacterial infection. The exact mechanism by which AKH acts is unknown, but results suggested that the increase of metabolism and nutrient amounts in haemolymph might play a role.
- MeSH
- corpora allata metabolismus MeSH
- hemolymfa metabolismus MeSH
- Heteroptera metabolismus parazitologie MeSH
- hmyzí hormony metabolismus MeSH
- kyselina pyrrolidonkarboxylová analogy a deriváty metabolismus MeSH
- oligopeptidy metabolismus MeSH
- orgánová specificita MeSH
- Rhabditida fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
