Screening and partial characterization of inhibitors of insect β-N-acetylglucosaminidase

Microbial culture broths were screened for novel β-N- acetylglucosaminidase (GlcNAcase) inhibitors specific for the enzyme of insect origin. Four strains of actinomycetes, Streptomyces griseoloalbus JCM4480, S. clauifer JCM5059, S. anulatus NBRC13369 and S. griseus subsp. rhodochrous NBRC13849, produced unique compounds showing selective inhibition of the insect GlcNAcase. In contrast, 4 fungal strains, Paecilomyces sp. F13, F30, P. carneus F2281 and Verticillium sp. F40, were found to produce GlcNAcase inhibitors showing a broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against GlcNAcases from insects, mammals, plants and fungi. These results indicated obvious differences in GlcNAcases between insects and other organisms. This is the first report of enzyme inhibitors specific for the GlcNAcase of insect origin.