IDENTIFICATION AND METABOLIC FATE OF OVARIAN 22-ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHORIC ESTER OF 2-DEOXYECDYSONE IN OVARIES AND EGGS OF AN INSECT, LOCUSTA MIGRATORIA

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)88689-0

Newly-laid eggs of Locusta migratoria contain as the major ecdysteroid conjugate donated by the female to its offspring the 22-adenosine monophosphoric ester of 2-deoxyecdysone (3); during embryonic development this conjugate is hydrolysed to free 2-deoxyecdysone (1), which is subsequently metabolized to 3-dehydro-2-deoxyecdysone (7) and 2-deoxy-3-epi-ecdysone (5): the latter substance is accumulated at late stages of development as a 3-phosphoric ester (6). 22-Phospho-2-deoxyecdysone (4) also appears as embryonic development proceeds, either from partial hydrolysis of the maternal conjugate or from phosphorylation of free 2-deoxyecdysone (1).