title: SCLEROTIZATION IN THE BLOWFLY IMAGO.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004175:Diptera; D004298:Dopamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004440:Ecdysone; D006728:Hormones; D007814:Larva; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D011679:Pupa; D012106:Research
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; C006374:N-acetyldopamine; D004440:Ecdysone; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: CARBOXY-LYASES; DIPTERA; DOPA; DOPAMINE; EXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDY; HORMONES; METAMORPHOSIS, BIOLOGICAL