UDP-N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE - GLYCOPROTEIN N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE-1-PHOSPHOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN PUPAE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT-FLY CERATITIS-CAPITATA

An insect N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase activity was charac terized for the first time, in pupae of the dipteran Ceratitis capitat a. The membrane-associated enzyme transferred N-acetylglucosamine-1-ph osphate from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine to mannose residues present in hi gh-mannose type oligosaccharides of endogenous glycoproteins as well a s to exogenously added uteroferrin. The catalytic properties of the C. capitata enzyme resembled those found in mammalian cells, in the amoe ba Acanthamoeba castellanii and in the slime mold Dictyostelium discoi deum.