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Occurrence of biopterin in the wings ofMorpho butterflies

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Abstract

A blue fluorescent compound was isolated fromMorpho butterfly wings. Based on thin layer chromatographic, UV and CD-spectrophotometric and HPLC analyses, the blue fluorescent compound was identified as L-erythro biopterin. Biopterin is a major component of blue fluorescent pteridines in bothM. sulkowskyi andM. adonis. Pterin and isoxanthopterin can also be detected as minor components in these species. This paper is the first to report the presence of biopterin in butterfly wings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nissan Research Center, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 237, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan

    H. Tabata

  2. Nissan ARC Co., Ltd., 237, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan

    T. Hasegawa

  3. Biological Laboratory, Kitasato University, 228, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

    M. Nakagoshi, S. Takikawa & M. Tsusue

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  1. H. Tabata
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  2. T. Hasegawa
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  3. M. Nakagoshi
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  4. S. Takikawa
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  5. M. Tsusue
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Tabata, H., Hasegawa, T., Nakagoshi, M. et al. Occurrence of biopterin in the wings ofMorpho butterflies. Experientia 52, 85–87 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01922422

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01922422

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