Abstract
Studies were made on the salivary phenolase of the rice plant leafhoppers.The phenolase occurred in the V-cells of the principal glands of Nephotettix cincticeps UHLER and Inazuma dorsalis MOTSCHUSKY, and in the E-follicle of Laodelphax sriatellus FALLEN and Nilaparvata lugens STAL. The occurrence of this enzyme was also examined in the salivary glands of various homopterous insects.The phenolase oxidized o-diphenols, especially dopa and its derivatives, but not monophenols including ttyrosine. In addition, it seemed to act on aromatic diamines and α-naphtol. Its activity was effectively inhibited by potassium cyanide, sodium dietyldithiocarbamate, sodium azide and phenylthiourea. The presence of the enzyme in the ejected sheath material was demonstrated with N.cincticeps and I. dorsalis.
