title: Effect of age on cholinesterase activity and protein of unfed larval ticks.
abstract: The cholinesterase (AChE) activity and total protein in homogenates of unfed larvae of Amblyomma americanum (L.), A. cajennense (Fabricius), A. maculatum Koch, Anocentor nitens Neumann, and Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) were determined weekly in ticks 1-6 wk of age. There was a considerable variation in total protein, AChE, and the ratio of AChE to protein as the ticks aged. However, AChE activities were constant or increased with age and total protein levels were constant or decreased. No direct relationship was detected between AChE activity and total protein levels. The ratio of AChE to protein increased as the unfed larval ticks aged.
authors.affiliation: Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kerrville, Texas 78209-0232.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013217:Starvation; D013987:Ticks / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D002802:Cholinesterases