EFFECTS OF THE MICROBIAL METABOLITE DESTRUXIN A ON ION TRANSPORT BY THE GUT AND RENAL EPITHELIA OF Drosophila melanogaster Journal Articles uri icon

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abstract

  • Destruxins have been implicated in the infection process by entomopathogenic fungi and have been also found to be highly toxic when applied topically or ingested by different insect species. To gain insight into the mechanism of action of this toxin on insect internal organs, we have evaluated the effects of destruxin A on Drosophila melanogaster Malpighian tubules and gut tissues. Destruxin A was toxic when injected into adults; the calculated EC50 was 0.11 mM. Destruxin A significantly inhibited fluid secretion rate by Malpighian tubules as well; the calculated IC50 was 0.25 μM. The Na+ concentration in the secreted fluid increased significantly when tubules were exposed to 0.25 μM destruxin A, whereas pH and the concentrations of Ca2+ and K+ did not change. In gut, there was no effect of destruxin on H+ flux, but there was a significant decrease in K+ and Ca2+ absorption. The concentration of Ca2+ and K+ in the hemolymph of destruxin A‐injected flies was not significantly different from those of control flies after 3 h. Taken together, these results show that destruxin A produces differential effects on ion transport by renal and gut tissues. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

publication date

  • July 2012