title: Proteolytic enzymes from Bromelia antiacantha as tools for controlled tissue hydrolysis in entomology.
abstract: A crude extract with high proteolytic activity (78.1 EU/mL), prepared from ripe fruit of Bromelia antiacantha was used to hydrolyze and remove soft tissues from the epigyne of Apopyllus iheringi. This enzymatic extract presented four actives isoforms which have a broad substrate specificity action. Enzyme action on samples was optimized after evaluation under different conditions of pH, enzyme-substrate ratio and time (parameters selected based on previous studies) of treatment (pH 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 at 42°C with different amount of enzyme). Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate conditions resulting in complete digestion of epigyne soft tissues. Optimal conditions for soft tissue removal were 15.6 total enzyme units, pH 6.0 for 18 h at 42°C.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Enzimas Hidrolíticas, Facultad de Ciencias, UdelaR, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macció
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallés
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cantera
keywords: Bromelia antiacantha; Epigyne; Hydrolysis tissue