REGULATION OF DIGESTIVE ENZYME LEVELS IN INSECTS

Because of confusion over the use of the term secretagogue we propose that the direct interaction of an element of the meal with digestive e nzyme-producing cells, resulting in increased rates of enzyme synthesi s or secretion, should be referred to as a prandial mechanism, Most st udies suggest that paracrine and/or prandial mechanisms are the main f actors controlling digestive enzyme synthesis and secretion in insects , Distinguishing between the two mechanisms is a significant challenge , In many insects, soluble proteins are potent stimulants of proteinas e synthesis and secretion probably through the prandial/paracrine path ways, The details of the mechanisms involved are unknown, Hormones (ot her than paracrine) probably play a role in modulating the levels of d igestive enzymes rather than in their absolute control, Feeding can ef fect the control of digestive enzyme synthesis at either the transcrip tional or translational level.