Survey of a Salivary Effector in Caterpillars: Glucose Oxidase Variation and Correlation with Host Range

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 36; no. 8; pp. 885 - 897
• Main Authors: Eichenseer, Herb, Mathews, M. C, Powell, Jaimie S, Felton, Gary W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York New York : Springer-Verlag 01-08-2010; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Microscopy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chemical ecology; Ecology; Entomology; Enzymatic activity; Enzymes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Glucose Oxidase - metabolism; Helicoverpa zea; Herbivores; Hymenoptera; Infectious diseases; Insects; Lepidoptera; Lepidoptera - enzymology; Lepidoptera - physiology; Life Sciences; Nicotiana tabacum; Plant biology; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plants; Plants and fungi; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Salivary Glands - enzymology; Species Specificity; Silk gland; Herbivore offense; Labial gland; Lepidoptera; Caterpillar; Heliothines; Elicitor; Hymenoptera; Induced resistance; Plant defense; Effector; Saliva; Glucose oxidase; Enzyme; Insecta; Interspecific comparison; Helicoverpa zea; Animal plant relation; Arthropoda; Host plant; Host range; Noctuidae; Oxidoreductases; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1007/s10886-010-9830-2

Salivary glucose oxidase (GOX) has been reported in a few insect species where it plays a role in protection against infectious disease. Our recent research has focused on the role of this salivary enzyme in the noctuid Helicoverpa zea, where it functions as an effector to suppress the induced defenses of the host plant Nicotiana tabacum. In this study, we examined the labial gland GOX activities in 23 families of Lepidoptera (85 species) and two families of plant-feeding Hymenoptera (three species). We analyzed the relationship between host breadth and GOX activities, and we found a significant relationship, where highly polyphagous species were more likely to possess relatively high levels of GOX compared to species with more limited host range. We also examined the effect of diet on GOX activity and found that the host plant had a significant effect on enzyme activity. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to caterpillar host breadth.