Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #186237
Title: DISTRIBUTION OF ELONGATION FACTOR-1ALPHA IN LARVAL TISSUES OF THE FALL ARMYWORM, SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA

Author
item HABIBI, JAVAD - UNIV OF MO
item Goodman, Cynthia
item STUART, MELISSA - STILL UNIV OF HEALTH SCI

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2006
Publication Date: 10/22/2006
Citation: Habibi, J., Goodman, C.L., Stuart, M.K. 2006. Distribution of elongation factor-1alpha in larval tissues of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Journal of Insect Science. 6:32.

Interpretive Summary: The fall armyworm causes major damage to numerous crops throughout the USA. Novel means are needed to control this insect, that are both environmentally friendly and effective. Therefore, the more we know about the biology of this insect and the potential tools that can be used to control it, the more easily we can minimize the damage this insect does in the field. In our study, we showed that an antibody was able to recognize a specific protein factor that was found in most of the fall armyworm’s tissues and is very important for the growth and development of these insects. This insight will allow researchers to design more effective control agents as well as to use the antibody itself as an anti-insect weapon by incorporating it into biopesticides to cause a quicker kill of the insects. The development of faster acting or improved biopesticides will aid producers by giving them new tools against pest insects that are safe and environmentally friendly and, therefore, capable of increasing crop yields while enhancing sustainability.

Technical Abstract: Elongation factor-1alpha (EF-1a) promotes the delivery of aminoacyl-tRNA to the acceptor site of the ribosome during protein synthesis. The enzyme has a number of functions, including regulation of apoptosis and interacting with cytoskeleton. We determined the distribution of EF-1a in larval tissues of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, with a monoclonal antibody generated to EF-1a from Sf21 cells. All tissues examined contained detectable amounts of immunoreactive EF-1a, athough concentrations varied among different cell types within a given tissue. In the midgut, the intensity of the signal was much stronger on the apical part of the columnar epithelial cells, especially on brush-border microvilli, than the basal parts of these cells. No signal was observed on goblet cells and basement membrane.