An Ancient Detoxification Mechanism Co-Opted in the Recent Transition to Mustard-Feeding by Drosophilid Flies: A Role for Glutathione S-Transferase
Author
Hailey, Alexander LenardIssue Date
2013Advisor
Montfort, William R.
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
Herbivorous insects comprise more than 25% of all known living species; however, knowledge of the evolutionary adaptive processes that enable insects to overcome toxic plant defense compounds is unknown. In this study, we investigated the possible evolutionary co-option of the generalized mercapturic acid detoxification pathway in mustard feeding Scaptomyza that recently derived from microbe feeding drosophilids. The first step of this pathway utilizes the ancient dimeric detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) to catalyze conjugation of toxic electrophilic substrates, such as mustard derived isothiocyantes (ITCs), to glutathione (GSH). Of all GSTs, the insect specific GstD1 was selected as a candidate gene. Our findings showed S. nigrita GSTD1 (SnigGSTD1A) has a specificity constant (k(cat)/K(m)) two-fold to five-fold higher against the exceptionally toxic benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) when compared to non-mustard feeding drosophilids. X-ray crystallographic structure comparison suggests that mutations in and around the hydrophobic substrate binding pocket (H-site) may be responsible for this enhanced activity against ITCs.Type
textElectronic Thesis
Degree Name
B.S.Degree Level
bachelorsDegree Program
Honors CollegeBiochemistry and Molecular Biophysics