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Prothoracicotropic hormone — like activity in the embryonated eggs of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.)

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Summary

Prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-like activity was obtained from embryonated eggs of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar. Activity was detected using an in vitro prothoracic gland stimulation bioassay. Doseresponse kinetics of crude extract revealed a 4-fold activation range with a maximum activation of 35-fold. Nearly 70% of the activity was sensitive to denaturation by heat or organic solvent extraction. Heat and organic solvent-stable activity is due to a protein. Dose-response kinetics suggest the presence of a small molecular weight PTTH with pre-hatch eggs providing a rich source of the hormone.

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Abbreviations

Ar :

activation ratio

ED 50 :

50 percent effective dose

eq :

equivalent

HPLC :

high performance liquid chromatography

PC :

prothoracic gland

PTTH :

prothoracicotropic hormone

RIA :

radioimmuno assay

TFA :

trifluoroacetic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Insect Neurobiology and Hormone Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 20705, Beltsville, MD, USA

    Edward P. Masler, Robert A. Bell, Thomas J. Kelly & Alexej B. Borkovec

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Maryland, 20705, College Park, MD, USA

    Belgaum S. Thyagaraja

Authors
  1. Edward P. Masler
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  2. Robert A. Bell
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  3. Belgaum S. Thyagaraja
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  4. Thomas J. Kelly
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  5. Alexej B. Borkovec
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Masler, E.P., Bell, R.A., Thyagaraja, B.S. et al. Prothoracicotropic hormone — like activity in the embryonated eggs of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.). J Comp Physiol B 161, 37–41 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258744

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00258744

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