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. 1989 Sep;86(17):6826–6829. doi: 10.1073/pnas.86.17.6826

What is molt-inhibiting hormone? The role of an ecdysteroidogenesis inhibitor in the crustacean molting cycle

Yoko Naya 1,*, Mayumi Ohnishi 1, Midori Ikeda 1, Wataru Miki 1, Koji Nakanishi 1
PMCID: PMC297939  PMID: 16594067

Abstract

The in vivo molt-inhibitory effects of the ecdysone biosynthesis inhibitors 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine and xanthurenic acid were investigated. These ecdysone biosynthesis inhibitors, isolated from the eyestalks of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), were injected into eyestalk-ablated crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). The active factor was found to be species-nonspecific within crabs and crayfish. The seasonal profiles of the xanthurenic acid and ecdysone titers exhibited a staggered relationship. Moreover, the activity of a 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine aminotransferase varied during the molting cycle. The data suggested that 3-hydroxy-L-kynurenine, which is secreted from the X-organ-sinus gland complex of crustaceans, is released into the hemolymph, and after accumulating at the surface of the Y-organ, is converted into the active form, xanthurenic acid. Xanthurenic acid was found to profoundly repress ecdysteroidogenesis in vitro.

Keywords: 3-hydroxykynurenine, xanthurenic acid, hemolymph

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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