Enzymatic Activity of Aphroproteins

N. N. Maksyutova¹, I. A. Tarchevsky^1,3*, D. V. Yusupova², E. L. Gvozdeva³, T. A. Valueva³, and V. G. Yakovleva¹

¹Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Lobachevskogo 2/31, Kazan, 420503 Russia; E-mail: tarchevsky@sci.kcn.ru

²Kazan State University, ul. Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, 420008 Russia; E-mail: Leila.Gabdrakhmanova@ksu.ru

³Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 33, Moscow, 117071 Russia; E-mail: inbio@glas.apc.org

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received September 24, 1998; Revision received February 4, 1999

---

Chitinase and proteinase activities were found in aphroproteins excreted by larvae of the cicada Aphrophora costalis Mats; this accounts for their fungicidal effect. Aphroproteins did not show DNase or RNase activities and did not exhibit properties of proteinase inhibitors. The data suggest that larval foam protects the larva and host plant from entomogenous and phytopathogenic fungi.

---

KEY WORDS: aphroproteins, liquid excretion of cicada Aphrophora costalis Mats larvae, chitinases, proteinases, natural fungicides

---