Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Studies on the Protease and Other Enzymes from the Venom of Lethocerus cordofanus

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Lethocerus cordofanus Mayr is a giant water bug of the Hemipteran family Belostomatidae. It is an aquatic predator existing principally, though not exclusively, on fish. Its mode of feeding is to hold the prey with its forelimbs and inject it with a salivary gland secretion through its proboscis. After 10–15 min the interior of the prey is liquefied, and the water bug feeds by sucking the liquid from the husk, again through its proboscis. The behaviour of animals of this genus, which are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, has been described in some detail1.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cullen, M. J., Trans. Roy. Entomol. Soc. (in the press).

  2. Russel, F. E., and Sanders, P. R., Animal Toxins (Pergamon, Oxford, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hill, R. L., Adv. Prot. Chem., 20, 37 (1965).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ambler, R. P., and Meadway, R. J., Biochem. J., 108, 893 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bradley, D. E., J. Gen. Microbiol., 35, 471 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Burton, K., and Peterson, G. B., Biochem. J., 75, 17 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Canfield, R. E., J. Biol. Chem., 738, 2698 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Poulik, M. D., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 44, 390 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Dawson, R. M. C., et al. (eds.), Data for Biochemical Research, 254 (Oxford University Press, 1960).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford,

    A. R. REES & R. E. OFFORD

Authors
  1. A. R. REES
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. E. OFFORD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

REES, A., OFFORD, R. Studies on the Protease and Other Enzymes from the Venom of Lethocerus cordofanus. Nature 221, 675–677 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221675a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/221675a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation