Investigation of Protein Content and Protein Fractions Changes in Different Biological Stages, Tomato Leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has become one of the most important pests of tomato in our county in recent years. In this study, protein contents and protein fractions changes of tomato leafminer were determined during different biological stages such as larvae, pupae and adult. The samples were obtained from laboratory colony, continuously reared for 4 years in Insect Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale Province, Turkey. Protein contents of samples in different biological stages were determined using the Bradford method. To seperate protein fractions, by 12% Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel (SDS-PAGE) analysis was performed. As a result of the study, it was determined that the content of protein in different biological stages of the tomato leafminer was significantly changed. The highest amount of protein was 9.41% in adult male individual, while the lowest amount of protein was 5.19% in II. instars. The gel image obtained from SDS-PAGE analysis, it was determined that the molecular weights of the protein fractions separated in size varied from about 49 kDa to 265 kDa. Among the bands detected, a band of 69 kDa molecular weight was determined at all biological stages. In results, it was determined that different biological stages of tomato leafminer had different protein contents.