AMYLASE, PROTEASE, AND LIPASE ACTIVITY OF BUTTERFLY OF Junonia almana AND Junonia atlites.

Major gut digestive enzymes of butterflies are hydrolytic enzymes, i.e. amylase, protease, and lipase. Junonia is the most abundant butterfly species in the arboretum area of Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Indonesia. This study was aimed to determine the amylase, protease, and lipase activity of butterflies of Junonia almana and Junonia atlites. All enzyme activity was measured at the maximum wavelength of remaining substrates or products with the UVvisible spectrophotometric method. Both butterflies have higher amylase activity than protease and lipase activity. Amylase activity of J. atlites higher than J. almana at its optimum temperature and pH, i.e. 37 °C and 6.8. This study has provided the first information about amylase, protease, and lipase activity in J. atlites and J. almana butterfly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]