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Science 24 April 1964:
Vol. 144. no. 3617, pp. 419 - 420
DOI: 10.1126/science.144.3617.419
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Articles

Sclerotization in the Blowfly Imago

C. E. Sekeris 1

1 Physiologisch-chemisches Institut der Universität München, Müinchen, Germany

N-acetyldopamine has been identified as a dihydroxyphenylalanine metabolite in the blowfly imago during eclosion. The activity of the dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase, the main enzyme responsible for its formation, which is minimal during the pupal stage, increases I day before eclosion. The similarity of dihydroxyphenylalanine metabolism in Calliphora during eclosion and during puparium formation justifies the assumption that N-acetyldopamine can be regarded as the sclerotizing agent of the imaginal cuticle. It is concluded that the formation of this substance is under the control of ecdysone.

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