Properties of Orange-Pupa-Inducing Factor (OPIF) in the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus L.
Diapause pupae of the swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus L. exhibit diapause-green, orange and brownish-orange color polymorphism. Development of orange pupae involves a neuroendocrine factor inducing orange pupa (Orange-Pupa-Inducing Factor, OPIF), which is secreted from the head-thoracic region during late pharate pupal stages, in particular from the ganglia of short-day animals located posteriorly from the second thoracic ganglion2 (TG2). This report describes certain properties of OPIF using bioassays involving ligated abdomens of short-day pharate pupae. Localization of OPIF in the central nervous system of short-day larvae indicated that it was present predominantly in TG2, thoracic ganglion3 (TG3) and abdominal ganglion1 (AG1) complexes. OPIF activity in TG(2,3)-AG1 complexes was over two times higher than in the more posteriorely located ganglia. The developmental profile of OPIF in last instar short-day larvae revealed that OPIF activity in larval ganglia posterior to TG2 became gradually higher as larval growth proceeded, suggesting that OPIF might be accumulated in TG(2,3)-AG(1-7) complexes as larvae prepare for pupal molting. Furthermore, ligated abdomens of short-day larvae developed into pupae of an orange type when a 2% NaCl extract containing OPIF prepared from TG(2,3)-AG(1-7) complexes of long-day larvae was injected into ligated abdomens of short-day pharate pupae, indicating that OPIF is also present in long-day larvae. Additionally, a biochemical investigation using gel filtration chromatography showed that the molecular weight of OPIF was about 10 kDa.
Yamanaka
Akira
A
Department of Physics, Biology and Informatics, Faculty of Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan. yamanaka@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Adachi
Miwa
M
Imai
Hiroshi
H
Uchiyama
Terumasa
T
Inoue
Moeko
M
Islam
A T M Fayezul
AT
Kitazawa
Chisato
C
Endo
Katsuhiko
K
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002080:Butterflies / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D011679:Pupa / Q000187:drug effects
D007301:Insect Hormones