Identification of a putative azadirachtin‐binding complex from Drosophila Kc167 cells

Cell-proliferation in Drosophila Kc167 cells was inhibited by 50% when cell cultures contained 1.7 × 10–7 M azadirachtin for 48 h (a tertranortriterpenoid from the neem tree Azadirachta indica). Drosophila Kc167 cells exhibited direct nuclear damage within 6-h exposure to azadirachtin (5 × 10–7 M and above) or within 24 h when lower concentrations were used (1 × 10–9 M). Fractionation of an extract of Drosophila Kc167 cells combined with ligand overlay technique resulted in the identification of a putative azadirachtin binding complex. Identification of the members of this complex by Peptide Mass Fingerprinting (PMF) and N-terminal sequencing identified heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) as one of its components. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 64:200–208, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.