Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1981590 FEBS Open Bio 2015 6 Pages PDF
Abstract

•Heteropterans produce 4-keto-2-aldehydes that function as anti-predatory defenses.•4-Oxo-(E)-2-hexenal (OHE) induces permanent locomotive impairments in crickets.•Covalent binding of OHE to biologically active thiols is a potential cause affecting insect locomotion.

Heteropterans produce 2-alkenals and 4-keto-2-alkenals that function as defense substances or pheromones. However, in spite of advances in heteropteran chemistry, it is still unclear how these compounds affect insect physiology. We found that exposure to 4-oxo-(E)-2-hexenal (OHE) induced permanent paralysis and death in crickets, an experimental model. The depletion of free thiols in leg tissues of OHE-treated crickets and the in vitro adduct formation of OHE with a thiol compound suggest that covalent binding of OHE to biologically active thiols is a potential cause affecting crickets’ locomotion.

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Life Sciences Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Biochemistry
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