Trehalose-hydrolysing enzymes of Metarhizium anisopliae and their role in pathogenesis of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Trehalose is the main haemolymph sugar in most insects including the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, and is potentially a prime target for an invading pathogenic fungus. There was considerably more trehalose-hydrolysing activity in the haemolymph of caterpillars infected with Metarhizium anisopliae than in controls. This appeared to be due primarily to additional isoforms; one of which could also hydrolyse maltose and was designated an α-glucosidase. A comparable isoform was identified in in vitro culture of the fungus, supporting a fungal origin for the in vivo enzyme. The in vitro fungal enzyme, α-glucosidase-1 (α-gluc-1), was purified to homogeneity and partially characterised. A study with the trehalase inhibitor trehazolin and C 14 trehalose suggested that extracellular hydrolysis is important for fungal mobilisation of trehalose. Haemolymph glucose increases significantly during mycosis of tobacco hornworm larvae by M. anisopliae, consistent with the hydrolysis of trehalose by extracellular fungal enzymes. The implications for the host insect are discussed.