DIFFERENCES IN AMINO ACID COMPOSITIONS OF PUPAL SHEATHS BETWEEN WILD AND BLACK PUPA STRAINS IN SOME SPECIES OF INSECTS

Abstract

Amino acid analysis of the acid hydrolyzates of the pupal sheaths of Bombyx mori L., Drosophila virilis and Musca domestica was pursued by the application of the Hitachi KLA-2 type amino acid analyzer. [beta] -alanine was found in the pupal sheath of wild strains of these insects, but not in some black pupa strains. However, [beta] -alanine was detected in the bp black pupa mutant of the silkworm, revealing to be different from the sooty black pupa mutant in which no [beta] -alanine is contained.