DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES ON DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE AND ITS INDUCTION BY OXADIAZOLONE

Glutathione S-transferase activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was detected in various developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaste r, The specific activity of the enzyme was 110, 35, 25 and 15nmol/min/ mg protein in crude extracts prepared from eggs, larvae, pupae and adu lt stages respectively, The enzymes from larval, pupal and adult stage s were purified and compared. Incorporation of the widely used herbici de oxadiazolone at concentrations of 375 and 563 part/million into the culture media caused 4- and 2.5-fold increase in the enzyme activity in pupal and adult stages respectively.