Summary
Glycosidase inhibitors are widespread in plants and can be sequestered by Lepidoptera, for which they can presumably serve as defences by making the insects indigestible to a range of potential predators. As a result of this study of eight British species of moth and butterfly it was found that glycosidase inhibitors in the insects could then be detected in the larval food plants which were not previously known to contain them; however, some were only detectable in the plants after concentration. In some cases the inhibition of specific glycosidases by Lepidoptera was detected even though the insects had not apparently acquired them from their food plants. Inhibition ofβ-N-acetylglucosaminidase was observed in most of the adult Lepidoptera analysed but further work is required to identify the inhibitors, though they are likely to be nitrogen-containing compounds. Weak anti-HIV activity was also observed in the glycosidase-inhibiting fractions ofAcherontia atropos and the plantUrtica dioica.
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Nash, R.J., Watson, A.A. Inhibition of glycosidases by Lepidoptera; roles in the insects and leads to novel compounds?. Chemoecology 5, 167–171 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240601
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240601