Acid phosphatase activity in the midgut of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) larvae

Abstract

Acid phosphatase activity has been used to characterise lytic activities within honeybee larvae midgut cells. Significant nascent or free acid phosphatase activity was found in the midgut of 2-, 3-, 3.5- and 5-day-old honeybee larvae. Free acid phosphatase in the cytosol of the midgut cells appeared to be a prelude to cellular autolysis. The source of free acid phosphatase activity was not lysosomal as there was no sign of acid phosphatase activity spreading or leaking from lysosomes. The fine structural localization of acid phosphatase in lysosomes and cytoplasm in honeybee larvae was compared with findings previously reported in other insects.