Purification and properties of the low molecular weight protein from haemolymph of the tsetse fly, glossina morsitans morsitans
Abstract
Tsetse fly is an insect of great economic
importance to man because it transmits sleeping
sickness to both man and his livestock. The insect
feeds on a bloodmeal thereby transmitting the disease
from infected to healthy individuals. The tsetse fly,
Glossina spp. belongs to the order Diptera and family
Glossinidae and 22 species have been identified. The
fly is mainly found in humid areas especially along the
river valleys and bushes in Sub-Saharan Af~ica.
Insects are known to posses haemolymph as the
circulatory fluid equivalent to blood and lymph in
vertebrates. In both cases, the circulating fluids
have been shown to contain lipoproteins as the major
component. Various haemolymph proteins serving a wide
range of functions haVe been described in many insect
species. Whereas some of these proteins have been well
studied in some insect species, the same has not been
done in the tsetse fly despite its great economic
importance.
This study therefore, investigates the properties
of a low molecular weight protein isolated from
haemolymph of adult male G.~ morsitans. The protein
was purified from haemolymph by a combination of
density gradient ultracentrifugation and gel permeation -,
chromatography. The protein has a molecular weight of
23,000 dalton as determined by electrophoresis on
polyacrylamide gels.
Citation
M.Sc ThesisSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Facult of Science, University of Nairobi
Description
Master of Science Thesis