Inhibitory effect of valienamine on the enzymatic activity of honeybee (Apis cerana Fabr.) α-glucosidase

Valienamine, an aminocyclitol with similar configuration to α-glucose, has a strong inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase. α-Glucosidase plays an important role in insect carbohydrate metabolism. The inhibitory effect of valienamine on the enzymatic activity of honeybee (Apis cerana Fabr.) α-glucosidase was investigated. Our results show that valienamine inhibition of honeybee α-glucosidase was pH- and dose-dependent, but temperature-independent. Valienamine is shown to be a potent and competitive reversible inhibitor of honeybee α-glucosidase in vitro with an IC50 value of 5.22 × 10−5 M and Ki value of 3.54 × 10−4 M at pH 6.5, 45 °C. Valienamine has the potential to be developed into novel insecticides.