The Hydroxylation of Naphthalene-1-C14 by House Fly Microsomes1

Abstract
Techniques used in isolating a sub-cell fraction of house fly (Musca domestica L.) tissue capable of converting naphthalene to l-naphthol and 1:2-dihydro-1:2-dihydroxy naphthalene are described. Incubation conditions studied include pH, temperature, time, substrate level, microsome level, and co-factor requirements. The hydroxylating activity of house fly microsomes appears to vary with the growth and development of the life stages, with older adults exhibiting greatest activity and larvae the least. The co-factor TPNH seems to be more critical in the microsomal activity of mature adults.