Eastern subterranean termite chitinase activity in response to pentoxyfylline treated diet

Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) chitinase activity can be assayed both colorimetrically and through Native substrate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The objectives of this experiment were to examine the protein level response of R. flavipes chitinase in response to a novel (insecticidally) chitinase inhibitor. A diet (filter paper) was treated with two concentrations of pentoxyfylline (a known Family 18 chitinase inhibitor in fungi) both with and without soybean trypsin inhibitor (certain chitinases are produced as zymogens and require trypsin mediated activation) and fed to the termites for a period of fifteen days or until there was 100% mortality in test population. Control treatment termites were fed filter paper treated with acetone. Groups of termite workers were removed from the feeding units at seven time points (1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 15 days after treatment) and chitinase activity was assayed by both methods described previously. Response variables measured include protein activity and termite mortality in response to pentoxyfylline treatments (+/- trypsin inhibitor).