The pharate adult clasper as a tool for measuring chitin synthesis and for identifying new chitin synthesis inhibitors.
A rapid, reliable, repeatable bioassay for measuring chitin synthesis is described. It utilizes the clasper from male pharate adult European corn borers and measures the incorporation of [14C]N-acetylglucosamine. Chitin synthesis is maximum in claspers taken from animals 5 and 6 days postpupation. The system is very sensitive to inhibition by the phenylbenzoyl ureas and polyoxins and should be useful for identifying potential inhibitory agents.
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D002686:Chitin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004132:Diflubenzuron / Q000494:pharmacology; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology
D001549:Benzamides; D011741:Pyrimidine Nucleosides; D002686:Chitin; C002458:polyoxorim; D004132:Diflubenzuron; C023984:penfluron; D000117:Acetylglucosamine