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Science 7 April 1972:
Vol. 176. no. 4030, pp. 51 - 52
DOI: 10.1126/science.176.4030.51
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Articles

Biosynthesis of agr and beta-Ecdysones from Cholesterol outside the Prothoracic Gland in Bombyx mori

Koji Nakanishi 1, Hiroshi Moriyama 2, Tetsuo Okauchi 3, Shoji Fujioka 3, and Masato Koreeda 4

1 Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York 10027
2 Tokyo Sericultural Station, Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
3 Food Research Laboratories, Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd., Juso, Osaka, Japan
4 Department of Chemistry, Columbia University

Labeling experiments have established that cholesterol is converted into agr-and beta-ecdysones in isolated abdomens of silkworm larvae. Since the isolated abdomens do not contain the prothoracic glands, a doubt is cast on the long-standing principle in insect endocrinology that the prothoracic glands are the source of ecdysone secretion.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Larval Testes of the Tobacco Budworm: A New Source of Insect Ecdysteroids.
M. J. LOEB, C. W. WOODS, E. P. BRANDT, and A. B. BOAKOVEC (1982)
Science 218, 896-898
   Abstract »    PDF »
3,beta-Hydroxy-5agr-cholestan-6-one: A Possible Precursor of agr-Ecdysone Biosynthesis.
S. SAKURAI, N. IKEKAWA, T. OHTAKI, and H. CHINO (1977)
Science 198, 627-629
   Abstract »    PDF »
Biosynthesis of agr-Ecdysone by Prothoracic Glands in vitro.
H. Chino, S. Sakurai, T. Ohtaki, N. Ikekawa, H. Miyazaki, M. Ishibashi, and H. Abuki (1974)
Science 183, 529-530
   Abstract »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)