title: Differential Sequestration of a Cytotoxic Vismione from the Host Plant Vismia baccifera by Periphoba arcaei and Pyrrhopyge thericles.
abstract: We sought to compare the abilities of the specialist Lepidoptera Pyrrhopyge thericles (Hesperiidae) and the generalist Periphoba arcaei (Saturniidae) to assimilate three highly cytotoxic compounds from their larval host plant, Vismia baccifera (Clusiaceae) and to determine whether either insect discriminated in its assimilation of the compounds that are structurally similar but of variable cytotoxicity. Vismione B (1), deacetylvismione A (2), and deacetylvismione H (3) are cytotoxic compounds isolated from V. baccifera. Compound 1 was found in the 2nd and 3rd instars of P. arcaei, but not in the mature larvae or the pupae. Pyrrhopyge thericles assimilated trace quantities of compound 1 and deacetylvismione A (2), which were both found in the 3rd and 4th instars. In extracts of V. baccifera, compound 2 is present at levels approximately 6-fold greater than compound 1, indicating that the generalist P. arcaei is capable of selectively sequestering cytotoxic compounds from its host plant. Compounds 1 and 2 show comparable cytotoxicities in three different cancer cell lines, suggesting that properties other than cytotoxicity are responsible for the selective sequestration of 1 by P. arcaei. This study represents the first time that sequestration of this class of compounds has been recorded in the Lepidoptera.
authors: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama.|Department of Plant Science, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, H9X 3V9.|Department of Geography, McGill University, 845 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2T5.
authors: Ciara
authors: C
authors: Raudsepp-Hearne
authors: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama.
authors: Annette
authors: A
authors: Aiello
authors: Centro de Investigaciones Farmacognósticas de la Flora Panameña (CIFLORPAN), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Panamá, Apartado 10767, Estafeta Universitaria, Panamá, Republica of de Panamá|University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, Republic of South Africa.
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: Hussein
authors: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama.|National Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation, City of Knowledge, Building 233, Panama, Republic of Panama.
authors: Maria V
authors: MV
authors: Heller
authors: Department of Plant Science, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, H9X 3V9.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Johns
authors: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama. capsont@gmail.com.|Department of Plant Science, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, H9X 3V9. capsont@gmail.com.|, 1743 18th St., Washington, DC, 20009, USA. capsont@gmail.com.
authors: Todd L
authors: TL
authors: Capson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D003603:Cytotoxins; C455128:vismione B; C120972:vismione H; C051736:vismione A
keywords: Aposematic; Clusiaceae; Cytotoxic; Hesperiidae; Lepidoptera; Saturniidae; Sequestration