Identification of tryptophan and beta-carboline as paralysins in larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor

Kotanen, S.; Huybrechts, J.; Cerstiaens, A.; Zoltan, K.; Daloze, D.; Baggerman, G.; Forgo, P.; De Loof, A.; Schoofs, L.

doi:10.1016/J.BBRC.2003.08.121

Title

Identification of tryptophan and beta-carboline as paralysins in larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor

Author

Kotanen, S.

Huybrechts, J.

Cerstiaens, A.

Zoltan, K.

Daloze, D.

Baggerman, G.

Forgo, P.

De Loof, A.

Schoofs, L.

Abstract

Acidic methanolic, whole body extracts of larval Tenebrio molitor (Insecta, Coleoptera) and other juvenile insects are highly toxic to adults of the same species and other species: injection causes instant paralysis to death. Referring to their dramatic effect in mature insects, the responsible compounds have been designated as "paralysins." Two paralysins have already been identified in the flesh fly, Neobellieria bullata, i.e., beta-alanine-tyrosine (BAY) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK). We report here the isolation, from larval T molitor, of two additional paralysins, respectively, the essential amino acid, tryptophan (Trp), and the saturated beta-carboline, 1,2,3,4,-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (THCA). (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Biochemical and biophysical research communications. - New York, N.Y.

Publication

New York, N.Y. : 2003

ISSN

0006-291X

DOI

10.1016/J.BBRC.2003.08.121

Volume/pages

310 :1 (2003) , p. 64-71