Acetylcholinesterase in Tribolium Confvsum Duval

Abstract

Occurrence of AChE analogous to vertebrate AChE has been demonstrated in T. confusum. The findings are based upon substrate specificity, substrate concentration pattern, sensitivity to Selective inhibitors and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Variations in the titre of AChE has been shown in relation to various stages in the life cycle of this insect. The most interesting changes relate to a multifold increase in its activity shortly after hatching which probably corresponds to the time when the nervous system integrates function. Under the influence of starvation, AChE activity tends to increase slightly. Studies on intracellular localization of the enzyme shows that the maximum activity is located in microsomes and mitochondria. Aging seems to have no effect on the overall distribution pattern of AChE in the particulate and the soluble fraction of the larval homogenate.