We have shown that the peritrophic matrix (PM) of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) larvae fed on insect resistant corn lines, or cell culture lines expressing a unique 33-kD cysteine protease appears to be cracked and torn. To determine if this damage is due to degradation of all, or a few PM proteins, we have undertaken the proteomic analysis of PMs dissected from larvae fed on resistant or susceptible plants, and artificial diet. The initial 2-D electrophoresis analysis of PM proteins from larvae fed on artificial diet indicated that approximately 30 proteins were visible on Commassie Blue-stained gels. Four proteins were selected for identification by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Tentative matches for two spots were found in the Drosophila genome. One spot (TrMBL Q9VV46) was most similar to insect cuticle chitin-binding proteins and the other spot (TrMBL Q9VRJ9) shared some similarity with an OTU (ovarian tumor)-like cysteine proteinase. Changes in the PM proteome in response to insect diet will be investigated.
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