Abstract
Herein we demonstrate that Drosophila larvae possess a synthetic activity capable of converting phenylalanine to tyrosine. This system is readily extractable and displays many characteristics of phenylalanine hydroxylase systems described in other organisms, the most notable being that a tetrahydropteridine is required for full expression of activity. The level of phenylalanine hydroxylase activity present in the organism varies with the stage of development: from an undetected level of activity at the first larval instar, there is a rapid increase in phenylalanine hydroxylase activity which reaches a peak at the time of puparium formation, after which there is a rapid decrease again to an undetected level.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belzecha, K., Laskowska, T., and Mochnacka, I. (1964). Hydroxylation of phenylalanine in insects and some vertebrates. Acta Biochem. Polon. 11191
Bricteaux-Gregoire, S., Verly, W., and Florkin, M. (1956). Utilization of the carboxyl carbon of L-phenylalanine for the synthesis of the amino-acids of silk by Bombyx mori. Nature 1771237.
Bublitz, C. (1969). A direct assay for liver phenylalanine hydroxylase. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 191249.
Chen, P., and Hanimann, F. (1965). Ionenaustausch chromatographische Untersuchungen über die freien Aminosäuren und deren Derivate in Drosophila melanogaster. Z. Natureforsch. 20b307.
Fan, C. L., and Brown, G. M. (1979). Partial purification and some properties of biopterin synthetase and dihydrobiopterin oxidase from Drosophila melanogaster. Biochem. Genet. 17351.
Fukuda, T. (1956a). Biochemical studies on the formation of silk protein. III. The conversion of C14-labeled phenylalanine to tyrosine in the silkworm larva (Bombyx mori). J. Biochem. 43137.
Fukuda, T. (1956b). Conversion of phenylalanine into tyrosine in the silk worm larva (Bombyx mori). Nature 177429.
Kaufman, S. (1971). Phenylalanine hydroxylase (rat liver). Adv. Enzymol. 17603.
Lowry, O., Rosenbrough, N., Farr, A., and Randall, R. (1951). Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. Biol. Chem. 193265.
Mitchell, H. K. (1978). An apparatus for microinjection of Drosophila. In Ashburner, M., and Wright, T. R. F. (eds.), The Genetics and Biology of Drosophila, Vol 2A, Academic Press, New York, p. 150.
Mitchell, H. K., and Mitchell, A. (1964). Mass culture and age selection in Drosophila. Drosophila Inform. Serv. 39135.
Murdock, L., Hopkins, T., and Wirtz, R. (1970). Phenylalanine metabolism in cockroaches, Periplaneta americana: Tyrosine and benzoyl-β-glucoside biosynthesis. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 36535.
Tobler, J. E., Yim, J. J., Grell, E. H., and Jacobson, K. B. (1979). Developmental changes of sepiapterin synthetase activity associations with a variegated purple gene in Drosophila melanogaster. Biochem. Genet. 17197.
Waalkes, T., and Udenfriend, S. (1957). A fluorometric method for the estimation of tyrosine in plasma and tissues. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 50733.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Geltosky, J.E., Mitchell, H.K. Developmental regulation of phenylalanine hydroxylase activity in Drosophila melanogaster . Biochem Genet 18, 781–791 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484593
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484593