Antioxidant enzymes in larvae of the Antarctic fly, Belgica antarctica

Abstract

Activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as glutathione (GSH) concentration were analysed in whole body homogenates of larvae of the Antarctic fly, Belgica antarctica (Diptera, Chironomidae). Significantly higher levels of SOD (0.44 units/mg protein) and CAT (6.54 units/min/mg protein) were obtained, compared with the same enzymes from larvae of two temperate insects: Tipula paludosa (Diptera, Tipulidae) and Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). The antioxidant defence pattern found in B. antarctica suggests that its antioxidant capacity is adequate for the extreme environment in which the larvae live.