Metabolism of Ecdysteroids During the Embryogenesis ofManduca Sexta

Abstract

The combination of ion suppression, reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (IS-RPHPLC) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) employing two relatively non-specific, complimentary antisera was used to identify and quantify ecdysteroids of divergent polarities during embryogenesis of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Newly layed eggs (0–1 hr) contained high levels (>30 μg/g) of a maternally derived, polar conjugate of 26-hydroxy-ecdysone (26E) but less than 0.6 and 0.2 μg/g of the polar conjugates of ecdysone (E) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), respectively. The only free ecdysteroid detected was 26E (0.4 μg/g). Between 4 and 12 hr after oviposition, marked deconjugation activity occurred as titers of free 26E increased to 14 μg/g while levels of conjugated 26E fell to 19 μg/g. By this time there were only negligible levels of free E (less than 0.1 μg/g). After 12 hr, the deconjugation of the maternal polar 26E-26-phosphate conjugate slowed and levels of free 26E fell as it was metabolized. At 24 hr, low titers of free 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone (20,26E, 0.4 μg/g) and a β-D-glucose conjugate of 26E (0.8 μg/g) were detected, presumably formed by embryonic 20-monooxygenase and uridine diphospho-α-D-glucose (UDPG) glucosyltransferase activities, respectively. About the time of the deposition of the first larval cuticle (66–72 hr), these 26E metabolites reached high concentrations, (5 μg/g free 20,26E and 7 μg/g 26E-glucose conjugate) while free 26E fell to 2 μg/g. In newly hatched larvae, the 26E-glucose conjugate was the major detectable ecdysteroid. At no time during embryogenesis did the concentrations of free E and 20E exceed 0.5 μg/g and 0.3 μg/g, respectively.