The pro-phenoloxidase of coleopteran insect, Tenebrio molitor, larvae was activated during cell clump cell adhesion of insect cellular defense reactions

To characterize the proteins involved in cell clump/cell adhesion of insect cellular defense reactions, me induced the cell clump/cell adhesion reacti on in vitro with the hemolymph of larvae of the coleopteran insect, Tenebri o molitor. The 72 kDa protein was specifically enriched in the residues of cell clump/cell adhesion and was purified to homogeneity. A cDNA clone for the 72 kDa protein was isolated. We found that the 72 kDa protein was an ac tivated phenoloxidase from Tenebrio pro-phenoloxidase, We suggest that acti vated phenoloxidase is involved in the cell clump/cell adhesion reaction as well as in the synthesis of melanin, (C) 1999 Federation of European Bioch emical Societies.