ROLE OF DOPA DECARBOXYLASE AND N-ACETYL TRANSFERASE IN REGULATION OF DOPAMINE CONTENT IN DROSOPHILA-VIRILIS UNDER NORMAL AND HEAT-STRESS CONDITIONS

Activity levels of DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), an enzyme responsible for dopamine (DA) synthesis, and of N-acetyl transferase (NAT), an enzyme responsible for its degradation, were studied under normal and stress conditions in two lines of Drosophila virilis which are in contrast c oncerning their DA content under normal conditions and its alterations under stress. Interlinear differences in DDC activity were detected, and genetic analysis was carried out, It was found out that neither DD C nor NAT activity in D. virilis changed under stress, Based on the re sults of this study and data obtained earlier by the authors, a mechan ism of DA content control under normal and stress conditions was propo sed, (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd, AII rights reserved.