We have developed a novel reporter for the analysis of gene expression using a Drosophila prophenoloxidase (proPO) gene. We have expressed proPO in transgenic flies using the GAL4-UAS system and characterized ectopic expression in imaginal discs. proPO staining is fast and robust, requiring only inexpensive reagents, and performs similarly to β-galactosidase (β-gal) staining. Double staining us...

1. Pheromones are chemical signals that function not only as mate attractors, but may also relay important information to prospective mates. In order for the information to be reliable, the signal must be costly to produce and this is likely to result in condition dependent expression of the signal. 2. We present results from two experiments on the grain beetle Tenebrio molitor examining phenot...

Coral reefs are threatened by increasing levels of coral disease and the functional loss of obligate algal symbionts (bleaching). Levels of immunity relate directly to susceptibility to these threats; however, our understanding of fundamental aspects of coral immunology is lacking. We show that three melanin-synthesis pathway components (mono-phenoloxidase, ortho-diphenoloxidase (tyrosinase-typ...

Phenoloxidase (PO) is a major component of the insect immune system. The enzyme is involved in encapsulation and melanization processes as well as wound healing and cuticle sclerotization. PO is present as an inactive proenzyme, prophenoloxidase (PPO), which is activated via a protease cascade. In this study, we have cloned a full-length PPO1 cDNA and a partial PPO2 cDNA from the Indianmeal mot...

Eyestalk ablation is the most common procedure to induce gonadic maturation in commercial hatcheries of penaeid shrimp. In addition to reproduction, other physiological and metabolic processes are affected by removal of the X-organ sinus gland complex located in the eyestalk. In this study, the effect of unilateral and bilateral eyestalk ablation on the concentration of several hemolymph metabo...