title: Jack bean urease alters serotonin-induced effects on Rhodnius prolixus anterior midgut.
abstract: Urease isoforms from jack bean seeds are toxic to insects, and this entomotoxic effect is mostly due to the release of a peptide by insect digestive enzymes. We previously demonstrated that jack bean urease (JBU) has antidiuretic effects on Rhodnius prolixus Malpighian tubules, decreasing the serotonin-stimulated secretion of fluid. Now, we evaluate the toxicity of the intact JBU and its effect on R. prolixus anterior midgut, to further elucidate the mechanism of action of JBU in insects. JBU decreases the serotonin-induced fluid transport by the anterior midgut in vitro when injected into the lumen. A decrease in the levels of cAMP is observed in tissues treated with JBU (in the presence of serotonin). JBU also causes a dose-dependent increase in the frequency of serotonin-induced contractions in the anterior midgut, but does not alter the frequency of spontaneous contractions. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin and the prostaglandin antagonist AH6809 block JBU's potentiation of serotonin-induced contractions, indicating that prostaglandins might act as second messengers for JBU action. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) increases the frequency of serotonin-induced contractions, again supporting the role of prostaglandins as second messengers for JBU action. JBU and PGE(2) increase cGMP levels in the anterior midgut, indicating that this molecule might also be part of the JBU pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. fernanda.staniscuaski@ufrgs.br
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stanisçuaski
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Te Brugge
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Carlini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orchard
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D032449:Canavalia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000378:metabolism*; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D044004:Xanthones / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014118:Toxins, Biological; D044004:Xanthones; D012701:Serotonin; C053876:6-isopropoxy-9-oxoxanthene-2-carboxylic acid; C032815:canatoxin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D007213:Indomethacin