Biomaterial Database

Alpha-Glycerol phosphatase and glycerol kinase activities in tissues of the silkmoth Hyalophora cecropia during the larval-pupal transformation. 1975

A M Jungreis, and J C Dailey, and M L Hereth

Magnesium metabolism has been studied in Hyalophora cecropia during the larval-pupal transformation (LPT) (Jungreis, A. M., Am. J. Physiol. 224: 27--30, 1973). Throughout this period, it accumulated in midgut (0.5 M at ecdysis), presumably as osmotically inactive Mg3(PO4)2. Glycerol accumulation in hemolymph was also first noted during this period. Since total alpha-glycerol phosphate present in hemolymph declined between the larval and pupal stages of development, the relationship between magnesium and alpha-glycerol phosphate metabolism was studied. Specific and total alpha-glycerol phosphatase (degradative) and glycerol kinase (synthetic) enzyme activities were measured in fat-body and midgut tissue throughout the LPT. At both feeding larval and diapause pupal stages in development in both tissues, total glycerol kinase activity is greater than that of alpha-glycerol phosphatase with degradative/synthetic activity ratios of 0.2--0.5. In fat body, ratios remained constant or shifted in the direction of synthesis during the LPT, whereas those measured in midgut tissue increased in the direction of degradation with a maximum ratio of 5.8 noted following spinning. The increase in degradative/synthetic activity ratios in midgut tissue is attributed to a greater rate of loss of glycerol kinase than alpha-glycerol phosphatase enzyme activity. Orthophosphate, presumably released from alpha-glycerol phosphate within the cells of the pharate pupal midgut tissue, combines with magnesium to form osmotically inactive Mg3(PO4)2 crystals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D007915	Lepidoptera	A large order of insects comprising the butterflies and moths.
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D008675	Metamorphosis, Biological	Profound physical changes during maturation of living organisms from the immature forms to the adult forms, such as from TADPOLES to frogs; caterpillars to BUTTERFLIES.	Biological Metamorphosis,Biological Metamorphoses,Metamorphoses, Biological
D009036	Moths	Insects of the suborder Heterocera of the order LEPIDOPTERA.	Antheraea,Giant Silkmoths,Giant Silkworms,Silkmoths, Giant,Silkworms, Giant,Antheraeas,Giant Silkmoth,Giant Silkworm,Moth,Silkmoth, Giant,Silkworm, Giant
D010710	Phosphates	Inorganic salts of phosphoric acid.	Inorganic Phosphate,Phosphates, Inorganic,Inorganic Phosphates,Orthophosphate,Phosphate,Phosphate, Inorganic
D010744	Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases	A group of hydrolases which catalyze the hydrolysis of monophosphoric esters with the production of one mole of orthophosphate.	Phosphatase,Phosphatases,Phosphohydrolase,Phosphohydrolases,Phosphomonoesterase,Phosphomonoesterases,Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolase,Hydrolase, Phosphoric Monoester,Hydrolases, Phosphoric Monoester,Monoester Hydrolase, Phosphoric
D010770	Phosphotransferases	A rather large group of enzymes comprising not only those transferring phosphate but also diphosphate, nucleotidyl residues, and others. These have also been subdivided according to the acceptor group. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 2.7.	Kinases,Phosphotransferase,Phosphotransferases, ATP,Transphosphorylase,Transphosphorylases,Kinase,ATP Phosphotransferases
D011679	Pupa	An inactive stage between the larval and adult stages in the life cycle of INSECTA.	Chrysalis,Pupae
D005990	Glycerol	A trihydroxy sugar alcohol that is an intermediate in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It is used as a solvent, emollient, pharmaceutical agent, or sweetening agent.	1,2,3-Propanetriol,Glycerin,1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane,Glycerine