Alteration of protein and amino acids at different developmental stages of Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera : Acrididae)‎

Abstract EN

The composition changes in total protein and total amino acids (AA) of Schistocerca gregaria Forsskål (Orthoptera: Acrididae) were estimated according to stages and gender.

The concentrations of protein and amino acids in samples showed wide range variations.

Results showed that S.

gregaria contained high amount of total protein contents (49.64 – 67.9% of dry matter).

Seventeen amino acids were detected as the basic components of proteins, which play an important role in insect metabolism they were; threonine (Thr), valine (Val), methionine (Met), isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), phenylalanine (Phe), lysine (Lys), histidine (His), arginine (Arg), cysteine (Cys), aspartic acid (Asp), serine (Ser), glutamic acid (Glu), glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), tyrosine (Tyr) and proline (Pro).

The results revealed the AA possibly divided based on essentiality: essential, semi-essential and nonessential; which average concentrations in males and females were 1.94-2.42 and 2.19-2.44 mg/100 mg, respectively.

Semi-essential with the average concentrations in both sex’s males and females were 1.5- 1.71 and 1.46-1.7 mg/100 mg.

And non-essential AA its average concentrations in males and females were 3.24-3.89 and 3.53-4.04 mg/100 mg respectively.

Also, another possibly divided based on the concentrations as high >3, moderate >2 and low <2 mg/100 mg.

Differences of amino acids were found during developmental stages and sexual maturation.

The average concentrations of AA showed detraction of the immature and mature stages of two sexes comparing with the first nymphal stages.

The present investigations could give a sight about the physiology of total protein and AA in S.

gregaria.