Encapsulation of parasitoid eggs in phenoloxidase-deficient mutants of Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology Vol. 36; no. 7; pp. 523 - 529
• Main Authors: Rizki, R.M., Rizki, T.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cynipidae; Diptera; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophilidae; encapsulation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; host-parasite relationships; Hymenoptera; Insecta; Invertebrates; Leptopilina boulardi; monophenol monooxygenase; mutants; ova; parasites; parasites of insect pests; parasitoid; Phenoloxidase; Physiology. Development; Phenoloxidase; encapsulation; parasitoid; Leptopilina boulardi; Drosophila melanogaster; Encapsulation; Egg; Enzyme; Insecta; Drosophilidae; Hemocyte; Enzymatic activity; Arthropoda; Mutation; Invertebrata; Melanization; Phenol oxidase; Diptera
• ISSN: 0022-1910; 1879-1611
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-1910(90)90104-N

Eggs of the parasitoid Leptopilina boulardi, strain L104, are routinely encapsulated by haemocytes in Drosophila melanogaster larvae, and the capsules subsequently melanize. In D. melanogaster mutant strains deficient for phenoloxidase activity, L104 eggs are encapsulated by host haemocytes but the cellular capsules do not melanize and harden. These observations suggest that phenoloxidases are not essential for recognition of nonself and encapsulation of foreign objects in D. melanogaster, but they are required for blackening and hardening of haemocytic capsules.