A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF JUVENILE-HORMONE METABOLYZING ENZYMES IN 2 SPECIES OF DROSOPHILA - DURING DEVELOPMENT

The course of changes in the activities of enzymes degrading juvenile hormone (JH), epoxyde hydrolase (JHEH) and JH-esterase (JHE) was studi ed in two lines of Drosophila virilis (101 and 147) and in two lines o f D. melanogaster (Canton-S and 921283). It was established for D. vir ilis that changes in the JH titre during pupal-adult development is de termined by the activity level of JHE rather than JHEH, while in D. me lanogaster developmental changes in JH titre are related to changes in the activity level of both JHE and JHEH. In adults of 33. virilis, th e high level of JH-hydrolysing activity is determined by JHE and in th ose of D. melanogaster by JHEH. Differences in the course of changes i n the JHE activity level between adults of lines 101 and 147 of D. vir ilis were found, and also in the JHEH activity level between adults of lines Canton S and 921283 of 33. melanogaster. It was shown that atta inment of a definite JHE activity level in females of lines 101 and 14 7 agrees well with the onset of oviposition of fertilized eggs, The po ssible role of JHE in reproduction of 33. virilis is discussed. Copyri ght (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd