Figure 4. Activities of specific protease types in different tissues of Nezara viridula as shown by the use of class-specific inhibitors.

Samples mixed with inhibitors were pre-incubated for 30 min at 37 °C. Residual protease activity was assayed using specific chromogenic substrates such as (a) BApNa for trypsin, (b) SAAPFpNA for chymotrypsin, (c) LpNA for aminopeptidase, (d) pGPLpNA for cysteine protease, and (e) AApNA for cathepsin B. Statistical differences between treatments for each enzyme type are indicated with different letters indicating significant differences between groups (P ≤ 0.05; Student’s t-test).