ALDOLASE ACTIVITY IN CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE, TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM DUVAL (TENEBRIONIDAE, COLEOPTERA)

Abstract

Certain biochemical characteristics of aldolase in Tribolium confusum homogenate have been determined. The Michaelis constant (Km) has been calculated to be 1.2 × 10−3 M. The effect of various inhibitors suggests that T. confusum aldolase resembles muscle aldolase.Intracellular localization of the enzymatic activity shows that aldolase is contained mainly in the soluble fraction and to a less extent, in an unbound form, in nuclei.Aldolase activity has been demonstrated in relation to various stages in the life cycle of this insect. Such a study reveals that the Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway is not a prominent energy-yielding pathway in T. confusum.