TOXIC EFFECTS OF THE UREASE-DERIVED PEPTIDE JABURETOX IN THE HEMOCYTES OF RHODNIUS PROLIXUS (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE)

STANISÇUASKI, F.; CARLINI, C.R.; PERIN, A.P.A.; UBERTI, A.F.; MOYETTA, N.R.; FRUTTERO, L.L.; COSTE GRAHL, M.V.; BROLL, V.

La Falda, Córdoba.

Jornada; XXI Jornadas Científicas de la Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba; 2017

Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba

Jaburetox (JBTX) is a recombinant peptide derived from a Canavalia ensiformis urease that presents toxic effects upon several species of insects, fungi and yeasts. Although the toxicity of this compound has been reported more than 20 years ago,its mechanism of action is not fully understood. In the present work, we characterized the effects of JBTX in hemolymphatic cells of the insect model and Chagas? diseasevector, Rhodnius prolixus. In vivo and in vitroexperiments indicated that JBTX interacts with a subset of hemocytes and that it can be found in various subcellular compartments. The injection with the peptide increased the gene expression of the mRNA of the enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) and chitin synthase. Nevertheless, the treatment did not modify the enzymatic activities of UAP and acid phosphatase (a possible UAP regulator). In addition, it did not induce changes in the phosphorylation state of proteins. Finally, JBTX activated the hemocyteswithout increasing their phagocytic behavior. Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of the toxic effects of JBTX, a peptide with biotechnological applications and a prospective tool for rational insect control.