title: The enzyme NBAD-synthase plays diverse roles during the life cycle of Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: This report shows the biochemical characterization and life cycle-dependent expression of Drosophila melanogaster N-beta-alanyldopamine synthase (NBAD-synthase or Ebony protein). This enzyme not only catalyzes the synthesis of NBAD, the main sclerotization and pigmentation precursor of insect brown cuticles, but also plays a role in brain neurotransmitter metabolism. In addition to the epidermis expression our immunodetection experiments show the novel localization of NBAD-synthase in different regions of the adult brain, in the foregut of pharate adult and, surprisingly, in the epidermis of the trachea during embryogenesis. These results demonstrate that NBAD-synthase is a versatile enzyme involved in different, previously unknown, time- and tissue-dependent processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, FCEyN, University of Buenos Aires, IIBBA-CONICET and Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, Buenos Aires 1405, Argentina.
authors.forename: Martín M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schachter
authors.forename: Jimena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berni
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Quesada-Allué
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000201:enzymology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D009420:Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology; D014132:Trachea / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C116191:e protein, Drosophila