본 연구에서는 호랑나비의 용기 동안 혈림프, 지방체, 표피, 큐티클 및 중장에서 항산화효소의 활성을 조사하였다. 혈림프와 지방체에서 항산화효소 활성의 변화가 두드러지게 나타났다. SOD, CAT 및 GST의 활성은 높은 활성을 보인 반면, GPX와 GR은 상대적으로 활성이 매우 낮으므로 곤충의 변태기 동안 항산화과정에서 이들 효소의 역할은 매우 미미할 것으로 생각된다. 더불어 CAT의 활성은 대부분의 조직에서 용화 직후에 높은 활성을 보이며 상대적인 활성도 매우 높게 나타나고 있어 과산화수소의 분해에는 GPX보다는 CAT가 주로 관여할 것으로 생각된다. 또한 GPX와 GR의 활성보다는 GST의 활성이 전 조직에서 비교적 높게 나타나는 것으로 보아 lipid peroxidation을 통한 항산화 과정에도 GPX보다는 주로 GST가 관여할 것으로 생각된다.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the activities of five different antioxidant enzymes in various tissues of Papilio xuthus during pupal stage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in haemolymph was the highest just after pupation and then decreased gradually until 7 days after pupation but the activity in other tissue was constant during metamorphosis. This result indicates that primary antioxidant process of reactive oxygen species proceed in haemolymph. Catalase (CAT) activity in studied tissues was also the highest just after pupation and its relative activity was also high during pupal stage, suggesting that CAT is the primary enzyme in catalysis of hydrogen peroxide. Glutathion peroxidase (GPX) activity was constant and its relative activity was very low in all tested tissues. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in haemolymph was high at 3 days and 5 days after pupation, and the activity in fat body was the highest at the 1 day after pupation and then decreased gradually for 7 days after pupation. Glutathion reductase (GR) activity in haemolymph and fat body was high at 1 day after pupation, but relatively low GR activity was detected in the rest tissues. Based on these results, GST activity was higher than that of GPX and GR, and it is also believed that GST was more involved in reduction process through lipid peroxidation than GPX.
