INHIBITION STUDIES OF SOME KEY ENZYMES OF THE TERMITE AMITERMES EVEUNCIFER (SILVERSTRI) WORKERS: CLUE TO TERMITES SALT INTOLERANCE
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Date
2014
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Science Focus
Abstract
Table salt which contains predominantly NaCl is used locally to control termites by pouring the salt on them or their habitat. This treatment is both toxic and lethal to the insects. Salts, containing cation and anion, will either inhibit or activate enzyme activity. It is suspected that either Na or Cl ion or both might be inhibiting or totally deactivating the activities of some crucial enzymes in termites thereby killing them. To provide a scientific explanation for this treatment and possibly design a pesticide for the destructive insect, we examined the effects of NaCl (table salt), some other chlorides and sodium salts on some important enzymes produced by termites. All the chloride salts tested inhibited all the enzymes even at a low concentration of 0.1mM. At this concentration, the effect was well pronounced on both the metabolic and detoxifying enzymes with the greatest effect on β-Glucosidase more than NaCl. However, it was observed that some chloride salts such as the chlorides of barium, calcium and magnesium were more potent on cellulase than NaCl (table salt), the conventional pesticide. Only CoCl inhibited 3-Mercaptopyruvate Sulphur Transferase (3 MST) activities more than NaCl but all other chlorides except NH4Cl and BaCl2 inhibited rhodanese more than NaCl. Also, NaCl inhibited all other enzymes more than cellulase. Finally, all the sodium salts tested except NaCH3COO and Na2SO4 inhibited cellulase more than NaCl.
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Fagbohunka, B.S., Ezima, E.N., Adeyanju, M.M., Alabi, M.A., Oyedele, D.E. And Adeneye, O.A. (2014). Inhibition Studies of Some Key Enzymes of the Termite, Amitermes eveuncifer (Silverstri) Workers: Clue to Termites Salt Intolerance. Science Focus, 19(1): 81-87.