Sclerotization of mosquito cuticle.
The mode of sclerotization of Aedes aegypti pupal and adult cuticle was examined by employing biochemical and radioactive techniques. During larval-pupal metamorphosis, tyrosine is converted to tanning precursors and is incorporated into aryl-amino adducts and beta-crosslinks. The major hydrolysis product of beta-crosslinks in pupal cases is identified to be arterenone. Examination of tanning modes in five different mosquito species shows that the ratio of quinone to beta-sclerotization not only differs within the life stages of the insects, but also differs between species.
D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000254:growth & development; D003465:Culex / Q000254:growth & development; D011679:Pupa; D013045:Species Specificity; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
D014443:Tyrosine