EFFECTS OF THE MICROBIAL METABOLITE DESTRUXIN A ON ION TRANSPORT BY THE GUT AND RENAL EPITHELIA OFDrosophila 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 destruxinAonDrosophila melanogasterMalpighian tubules and gut tissues. DestruxinAwas toxic when injected into adults; the calculatedEC50was 0.11 mM. DestruxinAsignificantly inhibited fluid secretion rate byMalpighian tubules as well; the calculatedIC50was 0.25 μM. TheNa+concentration in the secreted fluid increased significantly when tubules were exposed to 0.25 μMdestruxinA, whereas pHand the concentrations ofCa2+andK+did not change. In gut, there was no effect of destruxin onH+flux, but there was a significant decrease inK+andCa2+absorption. The concentration ofCa2+andK+in the hemolymph of destruxinA‐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