Exploring peptidases from the milkweed bug Spilostethus pandurus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) by proteomics, transcriptomics and gene expression analysis for the hydrolysis of food proteins
Albuquerque W, Ghezellou P, Sharweda M and others. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics, May 2026.
Go to the paper May need a subscription · doi:10.1016/j.cbd.2026.101855
What this paper is about
Spilostethus pandurus is a seed-feeding milkweed bug and a crop pest across its range. This study purified its digestive enzymes and identified them using mass spectrometry, transcriptome comparison and gene amplification.
The result is a catalogue of the peptidases the insect uses to break down the proteins in the seeds it eats, with predicted sequences and functions for each.
Summarised here from the abstract below. Not the authors’ words.
Abstract
The evolutionary success of insects in terms of biodiversity is promoted by their ability to adapt to a wide variety of feeding habits. As a polyphagous pest, the milkweed bug Spilostethus pandurus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) feeds on various seeds and plants, using a rich portfolio of peptidases for nutrition acquisition. However, there is only sparse knowledge about its proteolytic system. In the present study, peptidases from S. pandurus were purified using chromatographic techniques, putatively identified using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, comparative transcriptome analyses and gene amplification via polymerase chain reaction. Their complete sequences, catalytic functions, and physiological roles were further predicted based on bioinformatic tools and literature review, while their applicability for the hydrolysis of food proteins has been demonstrated. Understanding the proteolytic profile of S. pandurus could offer valuable insights into its interactions with the environment and host plants. Furthermore, these findings could contribute in the future to pest management strategies, plant protection efforts and the application of insect-derived enzymes as essential part of yellow biotechnology applications.
Abstract reproduced from the published paper, which is licensed CC BY. Copyright remains with the authors.
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title = {Exploring peptidases from the milkweed bug Spilostethus pandurus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) by proteomics, transcriptomics and gene expression analysis for the hydrolysis of food proteins (listing)},
author = {{Milkweed USA}},
year = {2026},
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